19850223_ZD_AdrianNicols
102 ton Bogie Limestone Hopper Wagon (outer).
DETAILS FOR THIS VEHICLE., Location : Warrington Arpley Yard., Date : 02/06/2023., Type : Bogie Limestone Hopper Wagon., Weight : 101.5 t GLW / 25.6 t Tare., Number : BM 19705., Number Series : BM 19701 to BM 19706., Builder : 2000 by W.H. Davis Ltd, Langwith Works., TOPS Code : JEA., Design Code : JE008A., , ADDITIONAL NOTES., With the recent abrupt demise of the "Northwich Hoppers" I thought it worth uploading a couple of wagon photos to mark their passing., , From 1936 to 1997, 60 plus years the service operated with the distinctive ICI owned vacuum braked hoppers carrying Derbyshire limestone to the Soda Ash chemical plants around Northwich, (Winnington & Lostock). They were the last private owner vacuum braked fleet in service when the decision was taken to stop using them in December 1997 and in the short term replace them with hired 51t PGA hoppers. This was to allow the use of more modern air braked type 5 locomotives. Because of the high volume of stone required the PGA's were not ideal and were replaced in 2000 by a fleet of brand new higher capacity hoppers as seen above. These were obtained by Brunner Mond with a Government freight facility grant awarded in 1999. The new hoppers were fitted with AAR autocouplers and came in two variants, Inners (no buffers) and Outers (buffers & swing head AAR couplers). This allowed haulage by locos not fitted with AAR couplers i.e. class 60's., In December 2005 Brunner Mond Ltd was sold to multinational giant TCL (Tata Chemicals Ltd) and then in 2014 the large Winnington Works ceased production but DB Schenker went ahead and bought the entire fleet off TCL in 2015 to run the Tunstead to Lostock flow with longer heavier trains. Wagons were cycled via Warrington for repairs and maintenance. Sadly with Lostock ceasing production of Soda Ash in January 2025 after 25 years service these wagons now face a doubtful future as although still lettered for Brunner Mond it remains to be seen if DB Cargo can find an alternative use for them being a somewhat bespoke design, or whether they will simply go for scrap.
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