The LNER Encyclopedia

I spent last Friday at the NNR for their steam gala, 7 locomotives were in steam including two guests. 28 photos can be found here: http://khardy.zenfolio.com/p669870892











Cheers,

Looks as if it was rather good!

I'm puzzled by that Birds eye insulated container on a Conflat A. Not my period or area of knowledge at all, but I was told that the Birds eye containers were too large for Conflat A wagons and were thus carried on larger Conflat B types - conversions from other wagons. Somebody will no doubt enlighten me.....

The container is a BR built AF highly insulated container, AF65970B, diagram 3/252, lot 3180 Earlestown 1958. Being just over 7'11" in length allows 2 to be carried on a standard Conflat A. Whether this livery was ever carried by this type of container is debatable.

The Birds Eye livery was carried by AFP containers, diagram 3/256, 3 lots, Swindon 1958 and, as these were just under 9'8" in length, only one would fit on a standard Conflat. The solution was to convert 50 (initially) vacuum fitted Pipe wagons to Conflat B, diagram 1/076. Later additions were from Flat ED (diagram 2/072) wagons. Details of the containers and wagon conversions can be found on p30 of Wagons of the Middle British Railways Era (1955-1961) by David Larkin.

From a "spectators" point of view, the Birds Eye livery on the container is probably a more memorable sight than plain white or ice blue.

Thank you. Suitably enlightening.