GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Moor Street Station: gwrms2758

Ex-Great Western Railway 2-6-2T with a parcels train of long wheelbase covered wagons in platform 3. The first wagon (No 2378) is a Fruit D wagon.

The Great Western Railway constructed a number of four wheel, 18 feet long wheelbase, ventilated covered wagons for fruit traffic (Diagram Y11 - Fruit D) in 1939, which were also used for parcels and newspaper traffic. These had screw couplings and fully fitted vacuum brakes making them suitable for running at express speeds in passenger trains, although in the mid 1960’s they were all limited to maximum speed of 45mph following a derailment incident. The wagons were 28 foot 6 inches long over the headstocks with three side doors on each side to facilitate rapid loading and unloading. Note the raised step under the closest door, which is due to the position of the lever brake handle below. Internally gas lighting was provided. Construction continued after nationalisation and a later change from the shell roof vents to a torpedo pattern prompted a new diagram number (Y14) to be issued.

The following Fruit D (diagrams Y11 and Y14) covered wagons were constructed by the Great Western Railway and British Railways at the Swindon Works.

Robert Ferris

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