Help needed identifying this NE liveried 'load' on GNSR wagon

[Robpulham]

Hello all,

Whilst browsing the scottish volume of Tatlows LNER Wagons I cane across this strange NE liveried load on the back of a GNSR 8 ton drop side wagon and wondered what it was with a view to perhaps having a go at making something similar as a wagon load myself.

[D2100]

I think it's an early container Rob. That would explain it being lettered N E , which a 'non-railway' load like a packing case wouldn't be.

[manna]

G'day Gents

Could it be a household removal container !!

manna

[jwealleans]

I'm less convinced, unless it's a very early prototype - there don't seem to be any slinging or chaining brackets or attachments and looking at the visible side, both those panels open and fold in half, but there's an upright in the middle, dividing the open side.

I can't say what it is, but it doesn't look robust enough for a container to me.

[65447]

The wagon number plate in the centre of the solebar begins with a '9', suggesting non-revenue earning. Might it be a mobile 'shed' or 'store' for the Engineering or some other Department? It is mounted on timbers that raise the height sufficiently for the side doors to be opened over the wagon sides.

[Hatfield Shed]

Likewise, for want of a better description, the appearance suggests to me a store cupboard or display case; the construction has more than a little of a suggestion of furniture joinery about it. It must have made a few journeys from the dirt deposited on the 'NE'. Do we suppose it may have been bolted to the wagon floor, given the absence of anything visible securing it to the vehicle?

[john coffin]

not being an expert in this particular area, like many others of course , I looked carefully at a larger view of the photo
and it seems that at the right hand end there is a tap. Wonder if this is an oil or liquid container which has been covered for security?

Interesting addition to any traffic though, but as a security container even more interesting.

Paul

[Trestrol]

There also looks to be an exhaust pipe poking out of the roof. could it be a mobile generator?

[jwealleans]

I'd assumed that was on the building behind, but maybe not.

[D2100]

A tap and an exhaust? Portaloo

[Robpulham]

not being an expert in this particular area, like many others of course , I looked carefully at a larger view of the photo
and it seems that at the right hand end there is a tap. Wonder if this is an oil or liquid container which has been covered for security?

Interesting addition to any traffic though, but as a security container even more interesting.

Paul

Hi Paul,

I had noticed the tap (if that's what it is) but like Jonathan with the chimney/exhaust thought that it was part of the building behind.

Many thanks for the input all, it's quite an intriguing example and one which will no doubt create a bit of comment once I have recreated it in miniature.

[65447]

There also looks to be an exhaust pipe poking out of the roof. could it be a mobile generator?

No visible air intake or waste heat vents... and who'd put such a heat-generating device inside a timber box?

[john coffin]

The tap is definitely sticking out of the side of the box, but I am not sure where the "chimney" is. It seems too small and narrow to be from a building, but it does seem that it might be a vent for any tankage within the wooden crate.

I too do not think it likely that it would contain a piece of machinery, even in those days, they tended to use metal containers for particularly
generator type devices, indeed, even the early "hoover" vehicles were inside metal containers. Interesting that it is next to a Gresley carriage,
wonder if it had anything to do with carriage cleaning?

Paul

[60527]

The vehicle appears to be LNER 982001, which was based on low side number 472 and was converted in 1909 to a Vacuum Cleaner Wagon and was based in Aberdeen. There is no known date for withdrawal.

John

[Robpulham]

The vehicle appears to be LNER 982001, which was based on low side number 472 and was converted in 1909 to a Vacuum Cleaner Wagon and was based in Aberdeen. There is no known date for withdrawal.

John

Thanks John,

The accompanying text confirms it as 982001 - A vacuum cleaner wagon certainly would explain the "tap" and exhaust/air intake.

Thanks very much.