Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Second Open no. 4808 is within a garden centre and accessible to the public during the opening hours of the garden centre. The carriage is an extension to the cafeteria and can be used by those taking tea in the cafe. The Vintage Carriage Trust Register has an entry for this coach, the details of previous use suggest that this coach has been re-furbished since entering the heritage arena - indeed the coach has currently "first" totems on each window and separate armchair seats in a "first class" style. `Although masquerading as a "first" the seating is 2+1 with an offset passage way / vestibule screens.
This set of photographs was taken 28th May 2015. Coverage is not a comprehensive, rather the content follows aspects of Mk.1 design that are relevant to our current modelling activities.
To start with a subject which has graced WT - the manner in which door hinges and commode handles are mounted to those carriages which have corrosion strips adjacent to the door openings. On this carriage the hinges and handles are on top of the strips (rather than the strips being cut to fit around the hinges and handles). My understanding from @Bob-65B is that the strips were a single piece top to bottom... on this coach a couple of the strips are in several pieces and held in place with screws (the appearance is of a post BR service modification). The first picture is of a top hinge, then a picture of the middle hinge, followed by the bottom hinge. The final picture of this section is of a commode handle.
The detail on the end of Mk1 is far more complex than might be expected... particularly if a coach is either dual brake or dual heat (or dual brake / heat). In the case of SO 4808 the buffer beam has fittings for vacuum brake and steam heat, there are no signs of the underframe having carried either ETH or air brakes. What is missing from the end details are the covers and cables for the RCH carriage lighting connections... although there is a shore supply connection at one end of the coach (appearance is of a post BR service modification).
The first photo of this section shows how the control rod of the emergency brake gear passes from side to side and over the gangway. The second photo shows a plate which provided the fixing for the chain which secured the loose end of the RCH carriage light connection. The next photo shows a lamp iron attached to the gangway rubbing plate, this item is made from several pieces of strip (rather than being cut / smithed in one piece) - there is a second lamp iron "resting" on the gangway fall plate. Finally, because the photos are of the toilet end of an open carriage, note that the gangway door is hinged (rather than sliding) and that the door is fitted with a handle and a seperate dead lock plus a bolt (which can be worked only from the exterior of the coach.
For those who may wish to include some of the detail on the gangway door, the door handle is within a casting / pressing of 4" outside diameter and the centre of that part is 37 1/2" from the gangway fall plate.
This set of photographs was taken 28th May 2015. Coverage is not a comprehensive, rather the content follows aspects of Mk.1 design that are relevant to our current modelling activities.
To start with a subject which has graced WT - the manner in which door hinges and commode handles are mounted to those carriages which have corrosion strips adjacent to the door openings. On this carriage the hinges and handles are on top of the strips (rather than the strips being cut to fit around the hinges and handles). My understanding from @Bob-65B is that the strips were a single piece top to bottom... on this coach a couple of the strips are in several pieces and held in place with screws (the appearance is of a post BR service modification). The first picture is of a top hinge, then a picture of the middle hinge, followed by the bottom hinge. The final picture of this section is of a commode handle.
The detail on the end of Mk1 is far more complex than might be expected... particularly if a coach is either dual brake or dual heat (or dual brake / heat). In the case of SO 4808 the buffer beam has fittings for vacuum brake and steam heat, there are no signs of the underframe having carried either ETH or air brakes. What is missing from the end details are the covers and cables for the RCH carriage lighting connections... although there is a shore supply connection at one end of the coach (appearance is of a post BR service modification).
The first photo of this section shows how the control rod of the emergency brake gear passes from side to side and over the gangway. The second photo shows a plate which provided the fixing for the chain which secured the loose end of the RCH carriage light connection. The next photo shows a lamp iron attached to the gangway rubbing plate, this item is made from several pieces of strip (rather than being cut / smithed in one piece) - there is a second lamp iron "resting" on the gangway fall plate. Finally, because the photos are of the toilet end of an open carriage, note that the gangway door is hinged (rather than sliding) and that the door is fitted with a handle and a seperate dead lock plus a bolt (which can be worked only from the exterior of the coach.
For those who may wish to include some of the detail on the gangway door, the door handle is within a casting / pressing of 4" outside diameter and the centre of that part is 37 1/2" from the gangway fall plate.
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