Granite waggons

To carry granite chippings from Brooke's Quarry, the Festiniog Railway built a number of Granite waggons. These waggons were originally 3-ton slate waggons built in the nineteenth century. They were modified for granite traffic from from 1919, being given raised sides and an end-discharge door.

Notes from the 009 Dundas Models kits of these wagons (believed to have been prepared with assistance from the FR Archives), state that 24 3-ton slate wagons were converted into granite waggons between March 1911 and Dec 1919. At that stage 20 existed, with 14 noted as follows:

- Nos. 808/810/815/821/843 and 851, ex Brown Marshalls built around 1868/9 and all unbraked.

- Nos. 377 and 873, from the second Brown Marshalls batch between 1870 and 1871. 377 was unbraked with old type axleboxes; 873 was braked with new type axleboxes.

- Nos. 167/338/365/443/825/926, from the later Boston Lodge built wagons between 1872-82. All braked with new type axleboxes.

All the surviving Granite wagon conversions had a long and distinguished service as ballast wagons for the Permanent Way Department during the restoration years. As a result they are very run down, and most (as of early 2006) have been designated Restricted Use Vehicles on their withdrawal from the service fleet. As such, they have yellow headstocks (as can be seen in the illustrations below) and are not permitted to run on the main line without the express permission of the CME or Civil Engineering manager. As and when they are overhauled they may be reclassified.

Numbers carried are 1967 series (except 810 which is a historic number).

Wagon 150

Four Wheel Granite wagons 150 (Braked) and 169 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

The Blue Guide describes these waggons as formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door; with wooden extension Minffordd Yard

Wagon 169

Four Wheel granite waggon 169 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 170

Four Wheel Granite wagon 170 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 173

This wagon started life as 3 ton slate waggon 29. It is one of the few surviving pre-1954 conversions with original style small end door. Restored in 2009 by the slate waggon team, it requires refurbished wheel sets and lettering to its old company number of 810 to be complete.

Wagon 174

174 with steel extension - Boston Lodge

Wagon 176

176 with steel extension - Boston Lodge

Wagon 177

177 with wooden extension - Boston Lodge

This waggon is under refurbishment at Beamish.

Wagons 178 and 179

178 and 179 at the back of the sheds in Minffordd Yard

Both of these waggons are under refurbishment at Beamish.

Wagon 181

181 with wooden extension - "Granite wagon raised sides one end door, converted (pre 1954) from Old Co. 3 ton slate wagon No. 978" (Source: Heritage Group Chronology) Boston Lodge

This waggon was moved (alongside 177,178 and 179) to Beamish in 2015, and has since been refurbished as No. 978.

Wagon 183

183 with wooden extension - formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door; with wooden extension (Source: TGBC) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 184

184 with wooden extension - formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door with wooden extension (Source: TGBC) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 810

810, recently overhauled, with 181 and 177 at Glan-y-mor Oct 2013

See also

• Wagons