Wagons
Back in 2007, GNSRA published its Abstract no. 35 “Great North of Scotland
Railway Wagons: Details of all Wagons at the Grouping” (left), which contained
extensive details, including photographs and dimensioned line drawings, of
GNSR wagon stock. This Abstract - now unfortunately out of print - is
available to GNSRA members only as a free PDF copy, which may be
downloaded from https://groups.io/g/gnsrachat/files
To join GNSRA - click here to find out about membership.
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to the Editor, who is group administrator.
The GNSR wagon stock reflected the nature of its traffic, much of which was agricultural. The company
did not serve any heavy industries, but did carry the output of several granite quarries. The whisky and
fishing industries were important sources of traffic. Loco coal wagons were required, but coal for domestic
use was carried in wagons provided either by the sender or the few local coal merchants who had their
own rolling stock.
Stock Levels
The revenue goods stock, at 31 December 1922, consisted of the following vehicles:-
•
2,625 open box wagons (2,583 of 8-12 ton capacity and 42 of 12-20). 27 of these were specifically
designated as "Loco Coal" wagons.
•
565 covered goods wagons (66 of <8 tons capacity and 499 of 8-12 tons)
•
262 cattle trucks, which includes 28 equipped for passenger train operation.
•
79 timber and rail wagons
•
1 tank wagon
•
67 "Ordinary" brake vans
•
4 "Special" brake vans
•
66 meat vans (equipped for passenger train operation and classified in Passenger diagram book)
There were 97 vehicles classified as Service Stock:-
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74 ballast wagons
•
2 mess and tool vans
•
2 breakdown cranes
•
1 travelling crane
•
18 miscellaneous vehicles
Classification
The classification of vehicles is based on the Goods Stock diagram books issued by the L&NER (NSA). No
equivalent GNSR source has been found. The vehicle types are:-
Diagram Description
1-2 8 ton Low Sided
3-5 8 ton Open Goods
6-10 10 ton Open Goods
11 10 ton Open Goods
12 16 ton Open Goods
13 8 ton Coke
14 8 ton Covered Goods
15-16 10 ton Covered Goods
17 8 ton Covered Goods
18 8 ton Cattle Wagon
19 10 ton Vitriol Tank Wagon
20-23 Goods Brake Van
24 Special Goods Brake Van
25 Fish Truck
26-27 8 ton Timber Wagon
28 10 ton Bolster Wagon
29 Twin Coupled Bolster Wagon
30 12 ton Furniture Van Wagon
31 20 ton Furniture Van Wagon
32 15 ton Agricultural Implement Wagon
33 8 ton Ballast Wagon
34 10 ton Ballast Wagon
35 12 ton Hopper Ballast Wagon
36 8 ton Sleeper Wagon
37 Ballast Plough and Brake Van
Vehicles included in the Passenger Diagram Book:-
66-69 Meat Vans
75 8 ton Covered Goods
76 cattle wagon