No.42913 'Hydra D' Well Wagon, Didcot Railway Centre

‘Hydra’ was the GWR telegraphic code for what were originally described as ‘Road Vehicle Wagons’ and were generally 4-wheel well wagons with sloping ramps at either end. Unlike 'Loriots' (see 42271) they were fitted with vacuum brakes and intended for use as part of passenger trains. The ‘D’ designates a 15ft, 15 ton capacity passenger well truck for vehicles on own wheels. The ‘Hydras’ and ‘Loriots’ were redesignated as ‘Lowmacs’ by British Rail.

 

42193 was one of ten similar wagons built to diagram G22 between 1913 and 1917. Built in 1917, it was originally preserved by the National Railway Museum. It is generally in use at Didcot as a boiler trolley.

 

Here it is sat outside of the 1932 Loco Shed. It was processed to bring out the textures of this old vehicle.

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