Granite Waggons

3-ton Slate wagons built for Festiniog Railway slate traffic in the nineteenth century, modified for Granite chippings traffic from Brookes Quarry from 1919. Raised sides and one end-discharge door.

All the surviving Granite wagon conversions had a long and distinguished service as ballast wagons for the P.Way dept. during the restoration years. As a result they are pretty run down and most (as at early 2006) have been designated restricted use vehicles on their withdrawal from the service fleet. As such, they have yellow headstocks (as can be seen in the illustrations below) and are not permitted to run on the main line without the express permission of the CME or Civil Engineering manager. As and when they are overhauled they may be reclassified, though their hook and link couplings are now banned from use on the main line without the addition of a securing shackle.

Numbers carried are 1967 series.

Wagon 150

Four Wheel Granite wagons 150 (Braked) and 169 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

The Blue Guide describes these wagons as formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door; with wooden extension Minffordd Yard

Wagon 169

Four Wheel Granite wagon 169 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 170

Four Wheel Granite wagon 170 (Un-braked) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 173

Wagon 173 This wagon started life as 3 ton slate wagon 29. It is one of the few surviving pre 1954 conversions with original style small end door. Restored in 2009 by the slate wagon team it requires refurbished wheel sets and lettering to its old company number of 810 to complete.

Wagon 174

174 with steel extension - Boston Lodge

Wagon 176

176 with steel extension - Boston Lodge

Wagon 177

177 with wooden extension - Boston Lodge

Wagon 178

178 and 179 at the back of the sheds in Minffordd Yard

Wagon 181

181 with wooden extension - "Granite wagon raised sides one end door, converted (pre 1954) from Old Co. 3 ton slate wagon No. 978" (Source: Heritage Group Chronology) Boston Lodge

Wagon 183

183 with wooden extension - formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door; with wooden extension (Source: TGBC) Minffordd Yard

Wagon 184

184 with wooden extension - formerly 3-ton slate converted before 1954; raised sides and one end discharge door; with wooden extension (Source: TGBC) Minffordd Yard

See also

• Wagons