Loading gauges

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jim s-w
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Loading gauges

Postby jim s-w » Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:55 pm

Hi all

I know this is a really dumb question but were loading gauges used for freight coming into or going out of yards. If I don't have any goods sheds do I still need a loading gauge?

Cheers

Jim
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

Steve Sykes

Re: Loading gauges

Postby Steve Sykes » Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:37 pm

My understanding is that they were used to ensure that loaded wagons were in-gauge before they were let out onto the network. So if you have any goods facility that might allow an out-of-gauge load to be created, such as end-load docks, a crane etc., then a loading gauge would be needed.

Steve

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Noel
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Re: Loading gauges

Postby Noel » Tue Oct 06, 2015 9:19 am

Steve is correct. Loading gauges were there to help ensure that newly loaded wagons were safe to travel. The goods shed is not relevant, as many open wagons were loaded outside anyway, especially if the load was bulky. Most, if not all, station goods yards and similar facilities dealing with general traffic would have had a loading gauge somewhere on site. Multiple yards at one station might only have had one gauge between them, though.

Private sidings do not generally seem to have had them, presumably because the outward loads would be known and agreed in advance with the user and not need checking.

Noel
Regards
Noel

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jim s-w
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Re: Loading gauges

Postby jim s-w » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:01 am

Thanks chaps.

That's kinda what I thought but didn't know. Next question is who does a decent midland one? Also on the subject (ish) I've not done very well in finding pics or drawings of a typical yard lamp (midland late 50s) any ideas?

cheers

Jim
Last edited by jim s-w on Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

mickeym
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Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2015 10:50 pm

Re: Loading gauges

Postby mickeym » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:17 am

Serendipity!

I'm not suggesting you just take the dimensions directly off the ebay listing of course ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Architectural-drawings-building-plans-MIDLAND-RAILWAY-LOADING-GAUGE-PLANS-/331181687230

dal-t
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Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:06 pm

Re: Loading gauges

Postby dal-t » Wed Oct 07, 2015 9:46 am

Smiths do a white-metal and etched brass model of the Midland wooden post gauge - available from Wizard Models, I believe. Can't vouch for its accuracy, though. IMHO this kind of 'incidental' yard architecture, like the lamp you are also researching, is a neglected area for genuine scale items. Over on the 'other' side of your main station (i.e. the LNWR world) we had an interesting discussion a while ago about the various types of water column, which turned out to also be something worthy of further attention. And I'm scrabbling round at the moment to find half-decent lights (that aren't all-singing and dancing so don't cost a month's pension) to fit out the dockside photo background I'm creating. I don't care what company/region, as the location is supposed to be anonymous, so if you find any Midland ones available I'll be right behind you in the queue ...
David L-T

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jim s-w
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Re: Loading gauges

Postby jim s-w » Thu Oct 08, 2015 10:00 pm

The smiths one looks like the drawing Mickey found so I'll have a look at one of those. As for lamps it's quite frustrating the gaps in info (or rather that I don't know where to look for it). Something like this is what I have in mind

http://www.rmlectronics.co.uk/page2.htm

Cheers

Jim
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!

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Noel
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Re: Loading gauges

Postby Noel » Fri Oct 09, 2015 9:57 am

Since the lamp shown in the link is from Chester in 1964 it has to be from the ex-LNWR loco shed, I believe. There is one [the same one?] shown in the John Stretton book, same photographer, but dated 1966. It is much taller and more substantial than goods yard lamps generally were. It also looks as though it may have been converted to [or built for] electricity. I would think that most small yards would have continued to be gas lit [if lit at all - some were only open during daylight hours] until closure as there seems that there would have been little economic case for conversion to electricity.

If you have Bob Essery's "Railway operation for the Modeller" or access to it there are two different Midland railway goods yard lamps shown on pp45 and 49 [upper], with a third type, which I assume is an earlier design, in p49 [lower]. They are somewhat taller, I think, than contemporary street lights, no fixed ladder, but (apart from p49 [lower]), crossbars on the post. The lamp housings are square, but of different shapes.

http://www.ipernity.com/doc/pinzac55/21765917 has similarities, but is not the same as any of the designs mentioned above...

Noel
Regards
Noel

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jim s-w
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Re: Loading gauges

Postby jim s-w » Thu Oct 15, 2015 3:07 pm

Image

I've built the Smiths kit, I filed off the moulded lifting gear and replaced it with some spare handwheels (from Brassmasters) and bits of wire and brass.

Jim
Jim Smith-Wright

http://www.p4newstreet.com

Over thinking often leads to under doing!


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