Photo:
Robert Frise - Unrestored Chalk Tippler 20 stabled in Down Yard

These internal user wagons, Nos. 20 and 35 worked for Castle Cement at their Pitstone works, and kindly donated to QRS by them in 1991. These wagons were once owned by Tunnel Portland Cement, of West Thurrock, who opened the Pitstone workings in 1937.

No. 35 was built by Bolton Railway and Ironworks Co. Ltd., now Weston Engineering of Bolton, in 1957. It has two numbers "10" and "56" possibly a date, stamped onto two of its spring hangers. This wagon also carries the only surviving builders plate. The buffer springs of No. 35 are alternate discs of metal and rubber, whilst those on No. 20 are heavy coil springs. An interesting asymmetric feature of both cars is the strengthening plate on one side and the absence of the brake handle on the same side.

Possibly this, with the curious extensions on the upper end of the bodies, is associated with the tipping machinery that was installed at Thurrock after the Second World War. It is also unusual to see oil axle boxes on a wagon that was designed to be tipped. There was a change from wooden side tippers to metal wagons at the same time. That the brake handles have been cut off rather than simply not fitted, suggests that the re-bodying of existing chassis.

With disc wheels and oil boxes, No. 20 seems to be of unusually good quality for internal use.

Reference: Ray Jackson - Quainton News No. 92 - October 2004

Photo:
Robert Frise - Restored Chalk Tippler 35 stabled in Down Yard

At West Thurrock a third similar wagon, numbered 24, was present in January 1991. The first three photos below, show the poor condition of Nos 20, 24 and 35 on 26th January 1991. The final two photos show the builders plates for wagons 20 and 35 taken at the same date. All courtesy of the Rail Album website.

Photo courtesy Rail Album website - Chalk Tippler 20.

Photo courtesy Rail Album website - Chalk Tippler 24.

Photo courtesy Rail Album website - Chalk Tippler 35.

Photo courtesy Rail Album website - Chalk Tippler 20 Builders Plate.

Photo courtesy Rail Album website - Chalk Tippler 35 Builders Plate.