NSWGR Well Wagon W2886

["Steve Shotton" <steves@castle.net.au>]

The Richmond Vale Railway Museum has recently purchased  a bridge testing
wagon from the State Rail Authority.

This wagon is a conversion of a bogie well wagon originally coded "WW" and
one of several built between 1908 and 1912 by the government railways' own
workshops and also Ritchie Brothers Ltd of Auburn (Sydney).

Originally designed to have T (D50) class or P (32) class tender bogies,
they were soon modified for heavy diamond frame fabricated bogies, although
W2886 is now fitted with roller bearing 3-piece cast bogies. The wagon is
unusual in having two hand brakes and brake cylinders fitted, one at each
end. The frame is riveted and has buffers and hook drawgear (possibly the
last freight wagon so fitted in SRA service).

Loads carried on these well wagons included items such as Lancashire
Boilers, traction engines and other large loads that were too high to load
on a regular flat wagon.

It is known that by 1970 there were only two "WW" well wagons still in
service.

The dimensions are:

Length:                        56'6"
Width:                          7'9"
Bogie Centres:          46'6"
Capacity:                    40 tons over bogies
                                    20 tons distributed
                                    8 tons in centre of well

The wagons original number and the date that it was converted into the
bridge testing wagon is not known, and if someone out there can help with
this it would be appreciated.

Also, the total number of these wagons built and the last time one was in
regular service is not known.

Cheers

Steve Shotton
RVRM