Garden Railway Forum

Hi Folks, I'm looking for details or similar prototypes to the 3 Plank, 5 ton drop-side wagons used on the 3ft narrow gauge Redlake Tramway in Dartmoor, around 1900. It's my first go at scratch building and I'm aiming to make these in 16mm scale.

There are few pictures to go on, the best are here http://ivybridge-heritage.org/redlake-tramway/ and the same are found in Ted Wade's book which doesn't contain further details, except the colour.

My main puzzles are:
The overall dimensions - which I suspect are similar to an Isle of Man M wagon.
Chassis construction - which looks like a metal frame supporting wooden chassis members. To my eye it appears to be inside sprung without the usual internal diagonal W axle box brace, and a tie bar. I haven't found another wagon prototype to support this theory, so I'm somewhat doubtful I've interpreted the photo correctly.

Any thoughts or pointers appreciated!

cheers
John

Hi John,
Can't help with your query I'm afraid ( I have to confess I'd never heard of this particular line before ), but welcome to the forum.
Please fill us in on your project so we can watch and learn, and maybe offer advice and encouragement.

Could you try a Mitchum wagon from wood valley works and add a strap pack?
(no connection but a very happy customer for their penhryn coal wagons and extra coal mould)

Hi, and welcome!

I've not heard of this line either - but it certainly had some attractive rolling stock!

The wagons seem quite distinctive, rather low-slung, due to relatively spall wheels, maybe? Short-ish wheelbase too... I don't think my eyes can be as good as yours, I can't spot anything to suggest something other than conventional W-irons?

Good luck with the model - and keep us posted!

Andrew.

Thanks for the replies and warm welcome everyone, and Happy New Year too!

Regarding the W irons, zooming in a bit and changing contrast gives a slightly better view, picture (hopefully) attached, interpretations welcome.

From my very limited knowledge it does seem unusual not to have a W, so I might just assume the detail is lost in the picture.

https://gardenrails.org/download/file.p ... e7d1baab6c

behind lilla are my faller conversions as copied from an ebay purchase for small wagons, they are plastic and working drop sides, remove three of the planks all the way round and use a hinged strap and curved brace from plasticard and you would have a smart little wagon.