February - Intercity Railway Society

Freight Corner
WAGON UPDATES by Scott Yeates (to UKRS No.3 UK Wagons 2012):
To allow members to keep their copy as up to date as possible, it is intended to provide changes via
this spot every month. It is known that various wagons reportedly withdrawn or missing from previous
editions are still in service so if any member can provide information please let Scott know, contact
details on page 2.
Scrapped: (assumed)
The following stored OTAs have all been removed from Elgin Yard on or shortly after 19 th January:
112161/178/183/207/255/310/329/341/391/396/399, 200675/736/930/933/934/945, 210144 plus an
unidentified 112xxx
FREIGHT NEWS
The 8 mile freight line has been re-opened to enable DBS to haul coal from the Unity drift mine at
Cwmgrach, near Neath to Aberthaw Power Station. Three trains a week are initially planned.
Europorte’s 11 operational Cl.92, have like DBS been given clearance to work along HS1 and intend
to operate from Calais Fréthun through to Barking.
WAGON REVIEW by Trevor Roots:
With the start of a new flow of timber traffic I thought it was appropriate to look at timber wagons with
this issue concentrating on the OTA conversions.
OTA Timber Wagons:
With an upsurge in timber moving from the Scottish highlands to processing plants south of the
border, BR began converting redundant 45t open goods wagons coded OBA & OCA in 1985 from the
following batches.
Number Code Lot No Design Code Built Manufacturer
100001-110500 OBA 3909 1977-79 Ashford Works
110501-110800 OBA 3930 OB001C/E 1978-79 Shildon Works
112000-112399 OCA 4014 OC001A 1981-82 Shildon Works
The OBAs/OCAs have a 20’9” wheelbase, FAT 7 / Brunninghaus leaf springs (the original 15 leaf
springs of the first batch being modified) and SKF roller bearings. Some OCAs had Timken roller
bearings but from photographic evidence the OTAs seem to have only been converted from those
wagons with SKF bearings. The OBAs had wooden side doors whilst the OCAs were all steel. Both
had steel ends but one difference is that OBAs had angled bottoms to the corner stanchions whereas
the heavy longer OCA stanchions were square, clearly seen in the left hand photo on page 34. In
addition to adding side stanchions and straps to retain the load, the OBAs/OCAs simply had their
sides and drop hangers removed and the ends extended upwards. Numbers are generally carried on
the solebars though some had them also on the ends.
OTAs 112318, 112387, 112302 & 210170 showing the various differences
in ends and stanchions, Elgin Yard, 23 rd January 2012
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