New Wascosa Wagons for Network Rail

[swt_passenger]

As GB said above, the original Bulk Ballast wagons are coded IOA and Falcons were JNA. There were also Falcon type wagons coded MLA and other high sided boxes coded JNA.

If you're not confused now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok thanks, I’ll leave it for now, won’t sleep otherwise!

 

[train_lover]

I'd be surprised if Network Rail have bought 260 new JNAs to replace the fleet of Coalfish wagons only to find they can't be used to and from possessions. They're very similar to the existing bogie opens so I don't know what the issue is.

I've worked trains on 100s of possessions and I'm yet to work a train that's high bodied. Every single ballast train I've taken onto site is a low body wagon. This makes it far easier for them to be unloaded/ loaded on site. You'll also have clearance issues with JNA wagons OLE, Bridges etc as you'd never be able to unload them whilst under a structure.

These JNA wagons have been brought to move bulk ballast from quarry to VQ..nothing else

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

The bulk ballast wagons, eg Mussels, come in at RA10 when loaded. Trains to site are normally RA8, and all the recent kit fits this. It was a damn nuisance when the older boxes (KEA?) were on site as they loaded to RA10 and needed a RT3973 to work off site loaded.
Pat

 

[3973EXL]

I've worked trains on 100s of possessions and I'm yet to work a train that's high bodied. Every single ballast train I've taken onto site is a low body wagon. This makes it far easier for them to be unloaded/ loaded on site. You'll also have clearance issues with JNA wagons OLE, Bridges etc as you'd never be able to unload them whilst under a structure.

These JNA wagons have been brought to move bulk ballast from quarry to VQ..nothing else

Bulk Ballast
81 70 5932 158-5 14.11.2021 | 81 70 5932 158-5, a JNA aggreg… | Flickr

Possession Work
705932211-2 81 1221 Ealnos | Anton Kendall | Flickr

The latest deliveries to Eastleigh are low sided MLA wagons to replace Coalfish.

Confusion arises as the orginal "Falcons" NLUxxxxx are JNA and all low sided tend to be referred to as "Falcons" even though there are similar MLA wagons in use. The new high sided Bulk wagons are also JNA as opposed the the originals being IOA.

29539 at Ipswich | JNA Falcon Spoil Wagon No.29539 at Ipswic… | Flickr
31 70 5992 095 7 Westbury 29th-June-2009 | A close up shot o… | Flickr

High sided wagons were banned on site due to issues with overloading and uneven loading mainly as a result of -
HSE_Bexley1997.pdf (railwaysarchive.co.uk)

 

[furnessvale]

I've worked trains on 100s of possessions and I'm yet to work a train that's high bodied. Every single ballast train I've taken onto site is a low body wagon. This makes it far easier for them to be unloaded/ loaded on site. You'll also have clearance issues with JNA wagons OLE, Bridges etc as you'd never be able to unload them whilst under a structure.

These JNA wagons have been brought to move bulk ballast from quarry to VQ..nothing else

Just a historical note. In the mid to late 1960s, engineers in the north west were allocated a large number of 5 plank wood bodied ex coal wagons for removing spent ballast from site. Two bucket loads from a 977 Traxcavator were the most they could "officially" carry.

We used to insert two fingers in the gap between spring and bump stop to check they were fit to move. Unfortunately, on many jobs we were severely underallocated wagons and had to put two more bucket loads in each one. In those cases the wagons were then removed to the nearest suitable sidings, where the topping was removed during the week so they could continue to the tip.

 

[Oxfordblues]

The first 20 of the 260 new FEAs were delivered to Eastleigh on 29 Jan. After trials and staff-familiarisation they'll eventually replace the fleet of 1950s-vintage Salmon track- and sleeper-carriers, plus the surviving 2-axle OBAs and OCAs dating from the 1970s.

 

[TrainTrackJack]

Just been past Bescot Yard and several of these are present.

 

[Oxfordblues]

I was surprised today to see a Wascosa FEA "intermodal" flat loaded with a container at the rear of GBRf's 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway. Might it have been on loan to help with a shortage at the docks, or possibly doing a trial run at 75mph loaded? I never expected to see one in revenue traffic. Anyone got any inside gen on this?

 

[Defiance149]

I was surprised today to see a Wascosa FEA "intermodal" flat loaded with a container at the rear of GBRf's 4M19 11:50 Southampton Western Docks to East Midlands Gateway. Might it have been on loan to help with a shortage at the docks, or possibly doing a trial run at 75mph loaded? I never expected to see one in revenue traffic. Anyone got any inside gen on this?

Are you sure it wasn't an ex Metronet yellow one?

 

[swt_passenger]

Are you sure it wasn't an ex Metronet yellow one?

It’s also been confirmed in a different forum that some of the new wagons are in use on intermodals.
(I originally thought it was mentioned here somewhere but it appears not…)

 

[Oxfordblues]

Are you sure it wasn't an ex Metronet yellow one?

No, definitely Wascosa: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3273121019577406&set=pcb.4936924546430059

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

From a friend I gather that the last vehicle was 81.70.424.038-2. Hope that helps someone.
Pat

 

[furnessvale]

No, definitely Wascosa: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3273121019577406&set=pcb.4936924546430059

Something blocking the link.

 

[camerar1]

On Thursday I saw 10 of the Wascosa FEA-W wagons in 4M46 14:24 Southampton Western Docks - Trafford Park.

I have posted some notes and pictures.

 

[furnessvale]

On Thursday I saw 10 of the Wascosa FEA-W wagons in 4M46 14:24 Southampton Western Docks - Trafford Park.

I have posted some notes and pictures.

Maybe a good way of accumulating mileage to test the first wagons?

 

[Adrian Barr]

The 50 high-sided JNA bogie boxes are in regular use, currently formed into three sets working bulk ballast flows from Ravenstruther to Carlisle, Stud Farm to Bescot and Mountsorrel to Eastleigh.
Seen here on 6M26 Eastleigh - Mountsorrel: https://www.flickr.com/photos/154351395@N07/52000505765/
Side view of Wascosa JNA, at Saarbrucken, on delivery to the UK: https://www.flickr.com/photos/152684342@N06/51631609162/

*

The first 110 of the 260 MLA low sided bogie boxes have gone into use, mixed among the rest of the existing "falcon" fleet. These are used on engineering possession work, usually loaded with ballast or spoil (and sometimes with scrap rail or used sleepers). Another batch of 30 of these wagons was delivered from Dollands Moor to Wembley yard on Saturday 9th July, running as a 6Z67.
These were then moved to Eastleigh as a 4O00 on 13th July behind 66789 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/154351395@N07/52214332194/
This photo at Eastleigh shows older falcons (left) vs the newly delivered Wascosa variant - https://www.flickr.com/photos/64657021@N07/51956283324/
Side view of Wascosa MLA at Eastleigh: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davekirwinphotography/51863399346/

Some coalfish disposals have already started after this influx of new wagons, for instance 15 coalfish were sent from Toton to Attercliffe for scrap on 25 May. There was also some discussion in the previous thread about the fate of the Sidetipper wagons - some news on those on the LTSV website in an update of 4 July: https://www.ltsv.com/rd/news.php

Back to the Wascosa fleet:

New Wascosa FEAs have been coming through the channel tunnel, in batches of 20, on various dates throughout the year so far. These are standard container flats which can be fitted with different types of module which are mounted like 20ft containers, e.g. an FEA "salmon" has three flat-deck modules on it.

https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/wascosa-unveils-network-rail-wagon-fleet/

To carry other infrastructure materials on the 60ft (18.3m) FEA wagons with Y33 bogies, GBRf has ordered 260 bodies of three types: a flat module for carrying track panels and sleepers; a second design with drop sides for carrying switches and rail; and a unit equipped with bolsters and stanchions for carrying rail.

Some of the FEAs have been delivered without any modules and have gone into use as standard container flats on intermodal traffic with GBRF, as noted in the previous thread.
Pics of Wascosa FEAs on intermodal traffic: https://www.47soton.co.uk/2022/02/new-wascosa-fea-w-wagons-at-eastleigh.html

However, a large number of the FEAs have arrived with flat deck "salmon" modules already fitted. If you search for "New Wascosa FEAs 6Z66" on Youtube there is various footage of these wagons being delivered, usually running as a 6Z66 Dollands Moor - Eastleigh. This was one exception to the 6Z66 headcode; a 6Y71 filmed here at Purley Oaks, with 69004 and 73965 on a train of FEAs with "salmon" modules -

Channel: All About Trains | Video: 69004 / 73965 6Y71 Dollands Moor -Eastleigh 20th Feb 2022

If you pause the video at 1:09, the white "teeth" along the side of the modules are revealed to be the fittings for strapping loads of track panels or sleepers. You can see how the decks are mounted, like containers, and there seems to be a kind of "bridging plate" between each 20ft module to avoid gaps in the deck in the middle of the wagon.

The first loading of the flat-deck "salmon" FEAs was at the new concrete sleeper works at Halling, mentioned in this post in the Rail Freight News thread:
https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/rail-freight-flows-and-news-uk.195217/page-27#post-5737142

After the wagons moved empty from Eastleigh to Hoo Junction and then to Halling, the first loaded train of sleepers departed on 29th June as a 6Z85 13:40 Halling to Hoo Junction, running via Tonbridge, Orpington and Sidcup, presumably due to the lack of a crossover at Halling. The loaded wagons were despatched to Westbury and Hinksey, on the usual network trips via Eastleigh, and the sleepers were used on a major multi-day possession site at Severn Tunnel Junction at the beginning of July. There was also another rake of FEA salmons used at Severn Tunnel which arrived and departed empty, but I understand it was used to move recovered track panels around on site.
6Z85 en-route from Halling: https://www.flickr.com/photos/136510631@N08/52181997766/
FEA loaded with sleepers on 6Z85: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60854097@N06/52182267728/
Empty FEA salmons passing Romsey: https://www.47soton.co.uk/2022/07/new-fea-w-wagons-to-westbury-romsey.html

A train of 18 empty FEA salmons reached Doncaster on 3rd June, via the Eastleigh to Scunthorpe and Scunthorpe to Doncaster infrastructure trips (which would normally convey rails from Scunthorpe). These wagons didn't move for over a month, remaining on the "Up Goods 3" reception road in Up Decoy, clearly visible from passing trains. Six of these wagons have now been shunted onto a siding in the adjacent Doncaster Wood Yard which is used for loading new track panels, and perhaps some of the others will eventually be loaded with sleepers at the concrete sleeper factory, also in the Wood Yard.

*

There are two other types of modules for the FEAs, as mentioned earlier; a "Tench" or "Super Tench" (not sure what the fishname will be) with mesh sides for general materials, and a bogie bolster for rails. I think only one of each had appeared in the UK until very recently, both arriving together on a 6Z66 from Dollands Moor to Eastleigh back on 29 January - if you search there is a video of this service on Youtube where they flash past in the middle of a consist of salmons.

The tench, with its mesh drop sides, can be seen here at Eastleigh:
https://www.47soton.co.uk/2022/07/miscellany-at-eastleigh-27th-june-2022.html

A full rake of FEA "tench" ran from Dollands Moor to Hoo Junction as a 4Z66 on 28 June, then to Tonbridge the following day as 4Z34, finally reaching Eastleigh as a 4Y68 on 6th July behind a pair of 73s:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/188130675@N02/52196822497/

*

There was a Wascosa media event at London Victoria on 28th June. GBRF 66s top & tailed a demonstration train from Eastleigh to Victoria and back (via Reading and Acton) featuring each variant of the Wascosa wagons, running out as a 4Z98 and back as a 4Z99. The bogie bolster variant (equivalent to a YLA borail "mullet" although I'm not sure what they are calling the FEA version) can be seen in the formation: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93293618@N05/52180241363/

Nice footage of 4Z98 passing West Drayton, with a good view of all the wagons:
Channel: Flyin9 Scotsman | Video: Newly Liveried 66720 TnT 66729 haul Wascosa Wagons through West Drayton for London Victoria 28/6/22

The borail, salmon and tench FEA variants from the Victoria event moved from Eastleigh to Bescot on the Eastleigh - Hinksey - Bescot infrastructure trip on Friday (15th July).

There will be 260 FEAs in total. There doesn't appear to be an "Osprey" variant with the fixed "goal posts" for conveying redundant track panels, meaning these will probably be loaded to the flat deck salmons and strapped up in the traditional way.

I expect the venerable coalfish, salmon and osprey fleets to disappear in due course, along with a few other non-standard wagons such as the last FJA super tench and the last few YLAs and YQAs (a few YQAs survive in use with "tench" units fitted). I'm not sure if the new tench / super tench FEAs are intended to displace the entire 2-axle "bass" fleet (mainly OCAs with some OBAs) - it will depend on the state of the existing fleet, how many variants of each module are built and how many "bass" are actually needed in traffic. We'll see...

 

[Oxfordblues]

From personal observation at Hinksey Sidings here in Oxford many of the new "Salmon"-type wagons appear to be in store while the 60+-years-old Salmons continue in service. Does anyone know if there's been an unforeseen design defect or if staff still need to be trained in loading the new equipment? According to my wagon-spotters' book Salmons 996102-996151 were built by Head Wrightson in 1952, so this year they're celebrating their 70th birthdays!

 

[3973EXL]

From personal observation at Hinksey Sidings here in Oxford many of the new "Salmon"-type wagons appear to be in store while the 60+-years-old Salmons continue in service. Does anyone know if there's been an unforeseen design defect or if staff still need to be trained in loading the new equipment? According to my wagon-spotters' book Salmons 996102-996151 were built by Head Wrightson in 1952, so this year they're celebrating their 70th birthdays!

My understanding is that there's a design "omission" that is to be rectified before they go into service.
I believe there's also a paperwork issue to resolve.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Here at Hinksey Sidings we still have rakes of new FEAs loaded with empty Salmon-type modules which are starting to get quite rusty. Meanwhile 60+-year-old Salmons stagger on in traffic. There must have been quite a serious design error for this situation to have arisen, with millions having been invested in the new fleet.

 

[3973EXL]

Here at Hinksey Sidings we still have rakes of new FEAs loaded with empty Salmon-type modules which are starting to get quite rusty. Meanwhile 60+-year-old Salmons stagger on in traffic. There must have been quite a serious design error for this situation to have arisen, with millions having been invested in the new fleet.

Salmons maybe 60+ years old, but a lot has been added and replaced since then. I actually preferred loading them despite some of the minor modification differences within the fleet.

The FEA principle, with different load modules which can be changed for differing traffic requirements gives flexibility, reduces wagon types etc.
When used with flatbed modules, which is not new, the problem was there from the start and not rectified on the new build. It was also a problem with FDA wagons but less so, due to the design of the modifications.

Try comparing photos of Salmons & FEA wagons to see what is missing on the FEA. It only fitted on one side of a Salmon, and there's the odd one with it missing.

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Salmons maybe 60+ years old, but a lot has been added and replaced since then. I actually preferred loading them despite some of the minor modification differences within the fleet.

The FEA principle, with different load modules which can be changed for differing traffic requirements gives flexibility, reduces wagon types etc.
When used with flatbed modules, which is not new, the problem was there from the start and not rectified on the new build. It was also a problem with FDA wagons but less so, due to the design of the modifications.

Try comparing photos of Salmons & FEA wagons to see what is missing on the FEA. It only fitted on one side of a Salmon, and there's the odd one with it missing.

Stowage for straps?
Pat

 

[3973EXL]

Stowage for straps?
Pat

You didn't disappoint me, Pat!

Salmons have a box below the sole bar on one side for securing equipment.
FDAs have no box, but there's space behind the buffer beam or between the longitudinal bolsters.
FEAs has nothing. Previous FEAs did have an access hole in the buffer beam where straps were stuffed in.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Oh dear, how disappointing. Presumably a modification is now required to add an equipment-stowage facility. Will the wagons have to be sent back to Świdnica in Poland, or can Wabtec at Doncaster do the work? Some Salmons are 70 years old (996102-996151 were built by Head Wrightson in 1952) so they'll no doubt keep going a bit longer, but it's sad to see their intended replacements rusting away.

 

[fadster]

Will the wagons have to be sent back to Świdnica in Poland, or can Wabtec at Doncaster do the work?

I suspect any modifications could be done here in the UK but the question will be who pays and the addition of a stowage box with door would possibly require a new safety case and design testing etc. The risk of a door dropping open or being left open and the straps falling out would need risk assessment.
Paul.

 

[Oxfordblues]

Does anybody here know the latest on the Salmon replacement programme? Apart from a few odd loadings most of the new Wascosa wagons for track and sleepers still appear to be in storage awaiting a modification due to an alleged design error, while the 1950s Salmons remain in traffic.

 

[Donny_m]

There are two other types of modules for the FEAs, as mentioned earlier; a "Tench" or "Super Tench" (not sure what the fishname will be)

The bogie bolster variant (equivalent to a YLA borail "mullet" although I'm not sure what they are calling the FEA version) can be seen in the formation: https://www.flickr.com/photos/93293618@N05/52180241363/

Tench and Mullet are their fish names. Tench is a freshwater fish, Mullet Saltwater.

 

[fadster]

14 of these have just gone past the Peterborough webcam heading for Whitemoor on 6L32 loaded with track panels so they are being used now. I don't know if they have strap boxes fitted or are doing something different with the hold down straps.
Paul.

 

[66701GBRF]

Are there any planned replacements for the Osprey type Salmons? The ones with the yellow ”goal posts” that allow certain length track panels to run without any (or very minimal) straps?

 

[Dunfanaghy Rd]

Are there any planned replacements for the Osprey type Salmons? The ones with the yellow ”goal posts” that allow certain length track panels to run without any (or very minimal) straps?

You would think that there should be, given that the 'Osprey' idea was to reduce Working At Height.
Pat

 

[fadster]

Hi all. It appears a number of these FEA's fitted with the flat track/sleeper modules have gone to Whitemoor with no load securing straps fitted. (Those from Hinksey included). May be they are going there to have straps fitted as I won't expect them to come out of Whitemoor loaded or, they could simply be going there for further storage. We will have to see what happens next?
Cheers, Paul.