Slate wagon in 7/8ths...

The Dyfrdwy Tramway modified a number of the early slate wagons in the early 20th century but building new 'container' bodies. This made transhipment of slate from the narrow to standard gauge, or even lorry, a lot easier. 

Records are scarce, but it is assumed around twenty bodies were made, and ten of the old wagons stripped down to their chassis and modified to allow these to fit. The bodies were three planks high, and included corner re-enforcement like the earlier wagons (this may well have been re-cycled on some the bodies), as well as straps with eye lift rings that spanned the wagon from side to side.

The inside was as flat as possible with nuts slightly countersunk to reduce damage to slates during transit. The wagons chassis and body were painted light grey, ironwork was black. The inside was left unpainted.

The wagons continued in service until the end of the tramway in the 1960s, this example is modelled on a well used wagon and body, and will shortly be joined by a second, nearly identical wagon to allow me to represent this important early containerisation in miniature on my own garden tramway. More soon...