Container flats

[paulkidger]

I was waiting at Haughley for a container train to make its painfully slow progress towards the junction after being stopped on the bank. I noticed several brand new and empty container flats. They seemed to have a link between the transverse body member (spring plank?) and each axle. Would they be 'steered axles' ? (Sorry I have forgotten the correct name).

 

[Adrian Barr]

Were they Freightliner's (relatively new) FFA-G wagons? I saw some the other day looking rather smart.

On the Freightliner website:
https://www.gwrr.co.uk/news/the-first-of-freightliners-new-ffa-g-wagons-arrive-in-the-uk/
N.B. You can right click the image at the top of the article and select "open image in new tab" (at least in Chrome), this picture shows the suspension quite well.

Some more pictures here: https://www.47soton.co.uk/2021/09/new-ffa-g-wagons-for-freightliner.html

I've only heard of "steering" bogies on the class 66 locos, but maybe someone with better technical knowledge can enlighten us.

I did find this technical document (PDF) about steering forces in relation to track damage from locos and wagons: https://www.orr.gov.uk/sites/default/files/om/rail-fgt-veh-eff.pdf

 

[paulkidger]

I was waiting at Haughley for a container train to make its painfully slow progress towards the junction after being stopped on the bank. I noticed several brand new and empty container flats. They seemed to have a link between the transverse body member (spring plank?) and each axle. Would they be 'steered axles' ? (Sorry I have forgotten the correct name).

Thanks Adrian. I have done some searching. The wagons were marked as VTG and by their new appearance may well have been unloaded at Felixstowe or Harwich. I have found an article which indicates that these new wagons do in fact have 'steering axles' as a way to reduce track forces and wear etc and by doing so claim to be more fuel efficient. I suppose i have answered my own question but I would welcome any other comments.

 

[ac6000cw]

If they are leased from VTG, might they be ECOfret2 wagons (used by GBRF)?
Those appear to have linkages as described by the OP.

 

[Adrian Barr]

If they are leased from VTG, might they be ECOfret2 wagons (used by GBRF)?
Those appear to have linkages as described by the OP.

Yes, looks like it. Those VTG "Ecofret" wagons with 40ft decks are FWA wagons; the FFA-G wagons I mentioned above are Freightliner's (slightly different) version of the same idea.

https://uk.vtg.com/news-newsletter/...l-changing-the-economics-of-container-haulage

The Ecofret’s bogies are “semi-steering”, giving a predicted 60% reduction in wheel wear compared to a “conventional” bogie allowing a potential 110,000 plus miles between wheel turns to be achieved.

Those linkages are clearly visible in these shots:

FWA Bogie:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/73574431@N06/25070318498/

Ecofret on display at the NEC:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/15038/7871797058

The wagons were marked as VTG and by their new appearance may well have been unloaded at Felixstowe or Harwich.

The FWAs are being built at Shirebrook by WH Davis - https://www.railfreight.com/railfre...mers-to-brand-new-ecofret2-intermodal-wagons/

Deliveries have been ongoing for a while, the latest batch of 15 (?) wagons (plus some hoppers) left Shirebrook on 29 June (to Doncaster) then on to Whitemoor a few days later. I don't think those particular wagons are in traffic yet, but no doubt there are some other recent deliveries around which still have that "new" look.

Someone took a photo of the new wagons being moved from Shirebrook on 29 June:

4D21 14:37 Shirebrook - Doncaster Down Decoy (29/06/22)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122599534@N05/52194284032/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122599534@N05/52195550839/