Abandoned wagons and rolling stock on the network

[N Scorah]

There's a long forgotten wagon beside the Kilmarnock to Troon line in Ayrshire. Now surrounded by trees!

 

[Dave S 56F]

Once remember going to Great Yarmouth station vauxhall on a steam dream's tour last September 2021 and seeing some abandoned scot rail mk3,s and diesel loco rotting away in 1 of the platforms how long was that set of rolling stock been abandoned there for?

 

[43096]

Once remember going to Great Yarmouth station vauxhall on a steam dream's tour last September 2021 and seeing some abandoned scot rail mk3,s and diesel loco rotting away in 1 of the platforms how long was that set of rolling stock been abandoned there for?

They’re not abandoned: Great Yarmouth sidings are Eastern Rail Services base.

 

[theblackwatch]

I know - I go past them every day

The area has just been cleared so they may not be there for much longer.

They were recently offered for sale by Network Rail (tenders closed in late January I think), so they may well be on the move soon.

 

[D6975]

There used to be a bogie tanker wagon in a siding between Long Rock and Penzance. Looking on Google Earth it appears to still be there.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There are - or were until recently - a couple of EWS-liveried TEA 100 tonne bogie oil tankers entwined amonst the silver birch trees in what's left of Healey Mills yard.

Had wondered if there was still anything there hidden among the greenery... alas it isn't so easy to check with no Northern services at the moment.

 

[D6130]

Had wondered if there was still anything there hidden among the greenery... alas it isn't so easy to check with no Northern services at the moment.

True....but they are/were visible from passing Grand Central services.

 

[james60059]

Watching a couple of Don Coffey's excellent cab rides, there is a wagon which is abandoned on sidings just prior to Northwich Station. IIRC it came through the Channel Tunnel but was out of gauge and was left there, not sure how long ago though.

I've attached a Google Map view and circled it.

Historically, I can remember the white tanks that were abandoned by Wrawby Junction Box for many years until they eventually went.

 

[Magdalia]

There was. A wheelskate was even fitted but removed a few weeks later.


Sadly the controller responsible for it being at Shenfield passed away last year. It used to cause him wry amusement to see it still there. Here is his story:
Engineering work on the Southend line had overrun the previous two Sundays, causing mayhem to the Monday morning peak service. It was clear there was to be no repetition. All was going to time until the ballast train with this Shark started to move. It had a seized axle. Rules were hastily amended, and the Shark skidded to Shenfield to clear the line. A quick track inspection and the morning peak was saved, along with possibly a few jobs.

It is sad to read that the controller responsible wasn't able to outlive the Shenfield Shark. I'd not heard the story before, but does anyone know how long ago it was?

 

[1Z99]

There's still an abandoned Grampus wagon in the refuge sidings at Helsby station. Visible at 10:45;

 

[306024]

It is sad to read that the controller responsible wasn't able to outlive the Shenfield Shark. I'd not heard the story before, but does anyone know how long ago it was?

Early to mid 80s from memory. Maybe later? I should have made a note when he was relating the tale. Hopefully someone else has a better memory.

 

[MasterYoda]

There were some long-standing ex. royal mail wagons at Exeter Riverside Yard, until Network Rail undertook the Cowley Bridge flood defence program.

 

[robert thomas]

There's a Freighliner liveried HHA or similar which ran away lying at the side of either the Cwmgwrach branch, or the Onllwyn branch (I think it's the former)

Onllwyn

 

[satisnek]

Don't know if this counts as "on the network" but there are a couple or three ancient short-wheelbase vehicles on a disused section of track in Hartlebury Trading Estate, which are just visible from the line. The NR connection was removed in 2005, having not been used for at least 20 years.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Don't know if this counts as "on the network" but there are a couple or three ancient short-wheelbase vehicles on a disused section of track in Hartlebury Trading Estate, which are just visible from the line. The NR connection was removed in 2005, having not been used for at least 20 years.

Near to Kidderminster, and looks like there are some pics available online which were taken nearly a decade ago, the wagons looked decidedly dilapidated even then!

See link following...

Hartlebury Train Carriages - Cinestill 800T and 50mm Summicron

These train carriages are parked up on a disused bit of railway line just inside the Hartlebury Trading estate - Cinestill 800T and 50mm Summicron

www.35mmc.com

 

[317362]

I had forgotten about the Reading ones and it was me that started the thread about them!, I will go and have a look for them soonm

 

[trainmania100]

I'm guessing the MK1 coach at West grinstead hasn't been there since the line was closed and turned into a cycle way ?

 

[Merle Haggard]

Further examples of what looks like air-braked 4 wheel ballast wagons dumped alongside the line, presumably after a derailment, are on the Down side somewhere between Corby and Harringworth (between the tunnels, I think) and on or near the former Sutton station platform on the North side (Sutton Park line)

Examples of wagons still on the track, but at the very end of a long siding which has been overgrown by saplings have already been mentioned, but there was one South of Bolton on the East side but the whole area seems to have been cleared. There was another at Llandudno Junction, from memory West of the station but on a line that connected to the Llandudno Town branch.

The Maidstone ballast wagon was said to have been red-carded in 1963, so it would be interesting to know the traction that deposited it.

 

[D6130]

When I travelled on the final railtour from Perth to Forfar in 1982, there was a red-carded maroon-liveried ex-LMS 'B' passenger/parcels full brake in the Down sidings at Coupar Angus. It must have been dropped off there before the line closed to passenger traffic in 1967. I often wonder whether it was removed before the line was lifted or whether it is still there to this day. Can any local members offer any information?

 

[Trainfan2019]

I'm fascinated about how and why carriages got abandoned on the uk rail network. It's not like they are small cheap disposable items either. I would love to know more about the background story as to why they just were left to rot away. I wonder what the most modern abandoned carriage is and where is it?

 

[meepmeep]

I see tank wagons mentioned upthread. I wonder if any still have contents, and what harm they could do if they leaked

 

[Merle Haggard]

I'm fascinated about how and why carriages got abandoned on the uk rail network. It's not like they are small cheap disposable items either. I would love to know more about the background story as to why they just were left to rot away. I wonder what the most modern abandoned carriage is and where is it?

One of the reasons was that, at privatisation, there was stock that did not clearly pass to a new owner. An example was S&T where the new owners seem only to be interested in the B.R. telephone network and had, it seemed to me, no interest in the 'SATLINK' network or its wagons. Many unwanted vehicles were difficult to move once the wagon load freight network had disappeared and lingered in limbo.

There was an enterprising supervisor who tidied up quite a few derelict coaches and wagons. You may be able to find further details on the web...

 

[randyrippley]

bit of a long shot..........back in the 1980s at Gillingham (Dorset) there was an abandoned SR (or possibly earlier) wooden bodied coach. Not sure but I think it had a clerestory roof
Painted olive green, which had mostly weathered to a dull dirty plum with peeling varnish.
It had disappeared by the 1990s. Anyone know what it was or what happened to it?

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

There's a long forgotten wagon beside the Kilmarnock to Troon line in Ayrshire. Now surrounded by trees!

Every time I go past the old sidings at Hillhouse Quarry I try and get a picture.
In summer you can barely see it.
It would need cutting up to scrap as there is no road access and the sidings aren't connected anymore.
There is also an old HAA hiding in the bushes in Falkland Yard.

 

[satisnek]

Near to Kidderminster, and looks like there are some pics available online which were taken nearly a decade ago, the wagons looked decidedly dilapidated even then!

See link following...

Hartlebury Train Carriages - Cinestill 800T and 50mm Summicron

These train carriages are parked up on a disused bit of railway line just inside the Hartlebury Trading estate - Cinestill 800T and 50mm Summicron

www.35mmc.com

Thanks for the link. So, looking at the full set of photos on Flickr, there are three vans and a wagon - I've only glimpsed them from passing trains and wasn't sure how many vehicles there were. It has been many decades since stock like this was used in active service and they clearly haven't been touched since, although it would seem that the vegetation gets hacked down every now and then.

 

[357]

There was an EWS MHA [?] dumped loaded with decades of vegetation growing out of it, outside Romford station. In recent years it migrated to the rear of the nearby Network Rail depot, still fully loaded.

It was detached from a train and left in there in around 2017 after it was dragged a significant distance with the brakes applied and the flats that resulted were in excess of anything permitted to run without skates - I believe it was eventually removed by road.

 

[Roast Veg]

There are - or were until recently - a couple of EWS-liveried TEA 100 tonne bogie oil tankers entwined amonst the silver birch trees in what's left of Healey Mills yard.

At least one is on its side, I'd be shocked if they weren't still there. Absolutely no reason to move them.

 

[D6130]

At least one is on its side, I'd be shocked if they weren't still there. Absolutely no reason to move them.

I passed what's left of Healey Mills yard this morning on 1A63, the 10 22 Bradford Interchange-Kings Cross Grand Central service....and the two tank wagons were still there - although they both appeared to be upright. A short distance away there were two burnt-out Mark 1 BGs....one of which was so badly burned that its frame had obviously melted and its bodywork was bent upwards at an angle of about 70 degrees.

 

[DBS92042]

I passed what's left of Healey Mills yard this morning on 1A63, the 10 22 Bradford Interchange-Kings Cross Grand Central service....and the two tank wagons were still there - although they both appeared to be upright. A short distance away there were two burnt-out Mark 1 BGs....one of which was so badly burned that its frame had obviously melted and its bodywork was bent upwards at an angle of about 70 degrees.

Found this on Flickr (not mine): https://www.flickr.com/photos/robmc...f9PrQF-2dU39B7-26uvyVz-dcPDJg-27P7bE2-26GijbW
The stock is/was used for emergency services training.

 

[D6130]

The stock is/was used for emergency services training.

That would explain it. Nice drone shot of the two Colas 56s passing on 6E32, the Preston Docks-Lindsey Refinery empty bitumen tanks.