Bolster Waggons
From Festipedia, hosted by the FR Heritage Group
WAGON NOS. 131/132/133 Built 1875, Old FR Nos. 9/10/11, Four wheel all-metal close-coupled rail and timber bolster set. Built FR Co. at Boston Lodge Works in 1875. [unbraked]
WAGON NOS. 136/137/138 Built 1875, Four wheel wooden framed close-coupled rail and timber bolster set. Built FR Co. at Boston Lodge Works 1874/75. [137 & 138 unbraked]
November 1968 Set, being completely useless has been broken up. Useable iron-work taken away by East Anglian Group to be rebuilt into two bolster wagons and an intermediate match truck. [A detailed report of this extensive re-build by the EAG (using Keruen or Japanese Oak) appears in Heritage Journal No. 37 Spring 1994 pages 8 - 16].
1969, Rebuilt set returned on A.G.M. weekend. One bolster braked on one axle, set permanently coupled.
The set was worked very hard during the track laying on the deviation with the result that the bearings on the outer wagons became very worn. To keep the set running, axle sets and bearings were swopped with those from the centre waggon (which carried much less load). They were taken out of use following a snatch which pulled the end out of one of the outer wagons. Towards the end of the 1980's the London Area Group agreed to rebuild that wagon. Over a period of 10 years the other two waggons were also rebuilt.
1991 Rebuild finished on one end wagon by London Area Group using Jarrah and extra steel angle brackets. Bearings remetalled
1993, Other end wagon rebuilt by London Area Group using Jarrah and extra steel angle brackets.
Spring 1999, Centre match (137?) truck returned to Minffordd Yard after rebuilding by London Area Group using Jarrah and extra steel angle brackets.
2005 Set now not used and residing in Maenofferen bach loaded with FR's stock of heritage bull head and double head rail for eventual use in museum.
Source: GIM and personal reminiscences of Jim Hewett.
Observers of the wooden bolster set in its present condition should be aware that it has been extensively modified from its 'Old FR' form; the bolsters now sit upon the chassis, rather than being raised as they were designed by Spooner. Spooner's design was cleverly arranged to place the load at such a height as to clear an empty slate waggon if a runner was required, either between or at the ends of a bolster set; this saved on having waggons with no other, useful, purpose. This may be seen in the photograph below, taken in the LNWR yard in 1947.
