WRRC Forum

Great photo Jim, thanks for posting it.

I don't know, but I've always assumed, that the left-handed brake lever was a retro-fit to comply with the regulation to provide brake actuation on both sides of the wagon but avoided the complication or expense of a cam mechanism à la Morton brakes.

The other thing i was wondering is whether there would be any other restraint to the movement of the barrels when the wagon was in motion and we see it here only as it would be stationary for loading or unloading.

I suspect this wagon had the early version of the Morton brake without the later reversing cam that allowed the brake levers to be at opposite ends of the wagon. There is a good photo of the type of cam that would be suitable for the original version on http://www.gwr.org.uk/nowagonbrakes.html (it's just above the text The small and neat primary side lost motion clutch on a Morton brake): such a cam would have been on both ends of the cross shaft and would require the brake levers to be at the same end of the wagon.

The 1911 Regs specify RHS but in 1907 they were silent on the matter:

8. Each wagon to be fitted with a double-block brake having a cast iron block applied to one wheel of each pair, and a leverage of not less than 2 1/2 to 1 and so that the handle of the lever shall not project more than 7 inches beyond the headstock; each brake to also have a lever guard with a pin and chain (which in its lowest possible position shall not hang lower than 6 inches above the running rail or track, for holding the lever down. Safety loops must be applied to the brake gear. Split pins to be used outside all nuts on brake-rigging.

I wonder when our wagon was built or modified? The caption on the website suggests ca 1910 for the date of the photo.