Class B tank wagons

[twinklekev]

I am researching freight traffic on the Cambrian lines to Aberystwyth in the 1960's and one of the traffic flows that I've found is the "Aberystwyth Oil Train". So, the question I have is; would 14t and 20t class B tank wagons have been seen in the same train?

Any help on this would be much appreciated.

Kevin.

[red_death]

The 35t (22t capacity) class B tanks would have been around by then and my understanding is that they replaced a lot of the older tanks. Not sure how long the older tanks survived in revenue service (some 20t tanks survived as internal users into late 70s).

[maridunian]

The 14 & 20 ton tanks were unfitted (ie handbraked only) and restricted to 30mph (single star) whereas the new tanks were designed with vacuum brakes for 60mph (double star) running. These could be mixed of course, with vacuum braked wagons nearest the loco and a brake van at the tail, but speeds would be restricted to the lower limit.

With no heavy industry, Aberystwyth seems unlikely to have warranted fast block oil trains. Rather its hinterland's needs for petrol, diesel, fuel oil and bitumen suggest a mixture of tank types would have persisted for quite a long time.

In "Oil on the Rails" Alan Coppin describes (with detailed drawings) modelling the Shell-Mex, later SMBP, oil distribution depot adjacent to Aberystwyth station. There's no mention of Esso, nor is Aberystwyth in his list of oil company private sidings, so maybe that oil train was SMBP (who went straight from unfitted tanks to TTAs)?

Mike

[red_death]

The 35t tanks were used in short rakes as well as block workings. Someone posted a rather lovely picture of Machynlleth with a single class A and class B in the sidings:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114706-revolution-announce-class-b-tanks-for-n-gauge/page/12/&tab=comments#comment-4493893

I think that Mike (maridunian) could be on to something with the Aberystwyth oil depot being supplied by Shell - certainly by the mid-80s it was supplied by Shell from Stanlow.

[zwilnik]

The 35t tanks were used in short rakes as well as block workings. Someone posted a rather lovely picture of Machynlleth with a single class A and class B in the sidings:

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/114706-revolution-announce-class-b-tanks-for-n-gauge/page/12/&tab=comments#comment-4493893

I think that Mike (maridunian) could be on to something with the Aberystwyth oil depot being supplied by Shell - certainly by the mid-80s it was supplied by Shell from Stanlow.

Interesting use of grounded van bodies as buffer stops too.

[twinklekev]

There is a photo on page 42 of "The Coast Lines of the Cambrian Railways" the shows a 14t Esso tank wagon at the oil depot in Machynlleth upper yard. Although in black and white it is easy to see that the wagon could be the prototype for this;



The photo is dated 1965 so it is conceivable that Shell / BP 14t wagons could still be being used to service Aberystwyth.

Kevin.

[twinklekev]

However, it would be remiss of me not to thank those that have replied to my enquiry. Your information will prove useful if defining my "take" on the Aberystwyth oil train.

Thank you one and all.

Kevin.

[maridunian]

Here's an interesting picture.

https://flickr.com/photos/131286969@N05/49347431998

National Benzole was absorbed into SMBP in 1957 I believe. Behind the loco you can just see two SMBP 14T Class Bs in black plus a grey/silver Class A. At that time SMBP Class A tanks had a similar livery to the Esso example above, with BP in green on one side and SHELL in red on the other.

Mike

[Crepello]

Nice picture but these tanks aren't those on which the Revolution As and Bs are based--those were later introductions to the oils fleet, fitted with vacuum brakes and roller-bearing axleboxes; the one behind the loco has a shorter wheelbase and oil/grease axleboxes.