WRRC Forum

Hello Angus,
The register shows most of the B&M brake vans (all of the double digit ones) as being fitted with a vacuum through pipe.
The Brandy Bridge picture doesn't seem to have one!
Attached is an overblown scan of B&M plate no.518.
The Pickering card order for this cattle wagon does specify a "standard" B&MR numberplate. However, this may have been produced in Glasgow so the typeface may not be typical
Regards,
Stephen

I can't disagree with you Angus although in one of these pictures it does look closer to a 2 than a 5, but it is quite an unusual style of number so I think you are right.

With regard to the dates of fitting vacuum pipes, I suspect that we are in the dark.
The register that I transcribed many years ago was undated.
The late Harold Morgan reckoned that it had been produced just prior to the grouping so that the greater GWR would have some idea of the inherited stock. He said that typical examples of each wagon type were measured and that those figures were applied to the rest. It’s certainly true that many wagons of the same type have identical tare weights within the register so there may be some credence to his view. If that were the case, then our brake van may never have had a vac pipe but the “measured specimen” may have done.
Unfortunately, no.53 was condemned at Swindon without being renumbered, w/e 17.6.23 so the GWR registers probably won’t shed any further light.
Regards,
Stephen

Just re-read Rod’s comment about the number maybe starting with a 2.
In the register all B&M wagons with two digit numbers beginning with a 2 are ex- Midland 2-plank wagons.
Do we have an accurate date for the Brandy Bridge photograph? I had it in mind as about 1920 but could well be wrong.
Regards,
Stephen

As Rodney has carefully pointed out to me, I have de-valued the Midland open wagons numbered in the 20 - 29 range of B&M numbers.
They should, of course, have three planks rather than two.