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90 tonne Ballast Distribution Train Hopper Wagon.

DETAILS FOR THIS VEHICLE.

Location : Kingmoor Virtual Quarry Engineers Sidings.

Date : 25/10/2010.

Type : Skako System Ballast Hopper Wagon.

Weight : 90 t GLW / 26 t Tare.

Number : DR 92220.

Number Series : DR 92213 to DR 92222.

Builder 1992 by Powell Duffryn Ltd, Heywood Works, Lancashire. (re-used 1982 built underframes from bogie cement presflo tanks).

TOPS Code : YDA.

Fishkind Code : OCTOPUS.

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES.

These ballast hoppers coded by the engineers department as 'Octopus' are used in a fixed formation of up to 10 hoppers with a generator van. The Skako ballast distribution equipment can be seen between the two bogies. This consists of a variable height and swing radius conveyor to unload railway ballast to either side or underneath from two hopper compartments within the wagon. The train was built for use on the BR Southern Region and was once painted yellow and branded 'Network South East' it has since been sold to English, Welsh & Scottish Railway Co. (now DB Schenker). It was unique when new as up until its arrival all ballast was discharged manually from older ballast hoppers. These wagons also allowed for easier ballast distribution on lines fitted with 750v DC conductor rails as the discharge could be controlled by staff on the ground with hand held remote control units. This was a major step forward as older manual discharge hoppers would often bury the conductor rail and require digging out and most plough brake vans couldn't operate on conductor rail lines due to the risk of conductor rail displacement.

 

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Uploaded on November 2, 2010
Taken on October 25, 2010