46 ton Open Ballast/Spoil Wagon.
DETAILS FOR THIS VEHICLE.
Location : Kingmoor Yard VQ Sidings.
Date : 11/05/2014.
Type : Open Box Ballast/Spoil Wagon.
Weight : 46t GLW / 13.4t Tare.
Number : 394408.
Number Series : 394406 to 394410.
Builder : 1988 by RFS Industries Ltd, Doncaster (as MAA).
Rebuilt : 2000 by Wabtec Ltd, Doncaster Works (as MHA).
TOPS Code : MHA.
CCE Code : Coalfish.
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
This vehicle is one of 5 extra "Coalfish" engineers wagons. It had initially proved very difficult to ascertain details on this small batch of five wagons as they are not like the bulk of the HAA to MHA 'Coalfish' conversions carried out by RFS Industries between 1997-2004. These vehicles have the box body similar to that carried by the MEA and subsequent MFA conversions with the extra side stiffening. The livery is dark olive green with yellow ends dating from when they were used by the BR Trainload Coal sector having been converted by for BR in 1988-90 for use on coal flows to destinations like cement works where no hopper discharge was available. The former HAA wagons numbers being 351749, 353237, 353458, 353700 and 356725. The wagon depicted here (394408) being ex 353458 and later 392002.
With the advent of three pre privatisation freight companies by BR three vehicles were renumbered and re-coded MAA with numbers 392000 to 392002 and allocated to Transrail Ltd, the other two later followed to become 392003,004. In the year 2000 after privatisation the five original MAA conversions that had ended up working with MEA's were rebuilt again. This time the bodywork was cut down in height to be used as part of the 'Coalfish' fleet. The touched in paint around the wagon top being quite obvious. The height profile was now that of a Coalfish but not in EWS red livery. With this work completed they were re-coded MHA and given numbers in the 'Coalfish' number range albeit an isolated batch of 5 as the main number series ran from 394001 to 394400 and 394500 to 394999. My question is when and where did this second conversion take place as this vehicle has no worksplate and just a "Rebodied 1988" plate and Marcroft maintenance plate.
I would welcome comment confirming these wagons were all ex MAA's and where the "cut down" conversion work was carried out as Cardiff Cathays has been suggested but Wabtec Ltd, Doncaster seems more likely given they were still converting HAA's to MHA's at the time.
46 ton Open Ballast/Spoil Wagon.
DETAILS FOR THIS VEHICLE.
Location : Kingmoor Yard VQ Sidings.
Date : 11/05/2014.
Type : Open Box Ballast/Spoil Wagon.
Weight : 46t GLW / 13.4t Tare.
Number : 394408.
Number Series : 394406 to 394410.
Builder : 1988 by RFS Industries Ltd, Doncaster (as MAA).
Rebuilt : 2000 by Wabtec Ltd, Doncaster Works (as MHA).
TOPS Code : MHA.
CCE Code : Coalfish.
ADDITIONAL NOTES.
This vehicle is one of 5 extra "Coalfish" engineers wagons. It had initially proved very difficult to ascertain details on this small batch of five wagons as they are not like the bulk of the HAA to MHA 'Coalfish' conversions carried out by RFS Industries between 1997-2004. These vehicles have the box body similar to that carried by the MEA and subsequent MFA conversions with the extra side stiffening. The livery is dark olive green with yellow ends dating from when they were used by the BR Trainload Coal sector having been converted by for BR in 1988-90 for use on coal flows to destinations like cement works where no hopper discharge was available. The former HAA wagons numbers being 351749, 353237, 353458, 353700 and 356725. The wagon depicted here (394408) being ex 353458 and later 392002.
With the advent of three pre privatisation freight companies by BR three vehicles were renumbered and re-coded MAA with numbers 392000 to 392002 and allocated to Transrail Ltd, the other two later followed to become 392003,004. In the year 2000 after privatisation the five original MAA conversions that had ended up working with MEA's were rebuilt again. This time the bodywork was cut down in height to be used as part of the 'Coalfish' fleet. The touched in paint around the wagon top being quite obvious. The height profile was now that of a Coalfish but not in EWS red livery. With this work completed they were re-coded MHA and given numbers in the 'Coalfish' number range albeit an isolated batch of 5 as the main number series ran from 394001 to 394400 and 394500 to 394999. My question is when and where did this second conversion take place as this vehicle has no worksplate and just a "Rebodied 1988" plate and Marcroft maintenance plate.
I would welcome comment confirming these wagons were all ex MAA's and where the "cut down" conversion work was carried out as Cardiff Cathays has been suggested but Wabtec Ltd, Doncaster seems more likely given they were still converting HAA's to MHA's at the time.