Slate Waggons

All early FR slate wagons were wooden. Some were built with inside wheel bearings and a replica of one of these is under construction (see below). The quarry owners liked the wooden wagons because they were kinder to the slate, absorbing a lot of the shocks. However, they required a lot maintanence and in 1857 the decision was made that future construction would only be of iron. Later still in an attempt to carry more traffic construction of 3 ton wagons was undertaken. These were generally disliked by the quarries as they were more difficult to load and unload and were too big to pass some obstructions in the quarries.

Wagon XX

As yet unnumbered replica inside bearing wooden slate wagon under construction.

It is planned that the assembling of this wagon will be a project as part of Kid's Training Week 2010. It is being funded by the FR Heritage Group.

Wagon 79

Unbraked last original 2-ton wooden slate wagon. Gelerts Farm Museum

By the time the FR was taken over in 1954 virtually all the wooden slate wagons had rotted away and the remains were burnt so the the iron parts could be sold for scrap. Only one survived, No.79, and this is now kept in the Museum at Gelerts Farm, Welsh Highland Heritage Railway.

Wagon 475

Unbraked 2-ton wooden slate wagon. Harbour Station Vintage Weekend

As noted in the Traveller's Guide (Blue Cover Early 2000s) this wagon is, in fact, a replica, rather than a restoration. The FR Heritage Group built it, using axleboxes and wheelsets recovered from other vehicles and a set of cast-iron bobbins (the spacers between the wooden rails) recovered from the time when wooden slate wagons were burnt in the Top Yard at Boston Lodge in the 1950s (they had no further use on the newly restored FR). All the timber was new and some has subsequently been replaced by FRHG members as a couple of rails, and one headstock had become rotten owing to the wagon being stored in the open for a period; it is now kept under cover. Having researched old photographs for a suitable vehicle, FRHG applied 475 as it is an authentic number for a wagon of this type.

Wagon 639

Restored slate wagon No. 639 (Un braked 2-ton) in Glan y Mor Note Wheels = Curve spoke variety - possibly supplied by Hadfields Part of a batch 501 - 805 small iron waggon Further examples

Wagon 642

Restored slate wagon No. 642 (2-ton un-ratcheted brake) in Glan y Mor. Further examples

Wagon 823

Restored slate wagon No. 823 (Un-braked 3-ton). Glan y Mor Further examples

Wagon 876

Restored slate wagon No. 876 (Braked 3-ton). Glan y Mor Further examples

Wagon 1009

Restored slate wagon No. 1009 (2-ton brake) in Glan y Mor Further examples

Other

A page listing some of the all-metal slate wagons that have recently been photographed can be found at All-metal Slate waggons
Other related pages:

• Rhosydd Quarry
• Slate and the Festiniog Railway
• Gravity Slate Trains
• The Ffestiniog Slate Wag(g)on restoration team website

See also

• Wagons