I was fortunate to be able to rescue a mineral wagon recently. It was evidently used in the South Gloucestershire area but whether it was for coal, limestone or celestine I do not know.
It was found in a barn near to a surface tramway which ran from a limestone quarry to the limekilns on a farm surrounded by celestine extraction on the very edge of the coalfield. The nearest Colliery (less than half mile away) also had a tramway linking it to the mainline.
It is two boards high and reinforced with iron bars. It sits on a wooden base although the wheels have sadly been removed. I have seen photographs of very similar ones in use underground at Froglane colliery in Coalpit Heath (photos in BRO). The flanged wheels on those are about 9in dia with curved spokes and ran on bridge rail. Those trucks are about the same height but split into three board rather than two and the metal bracing is different, but the similarity in shape and design is undeniable.
Does anyone on the list have any details or references of the nature and design of trucks used either below ground or on surface tramways which could be used for comparison?
Does anyone on the list know where there might be a pair of suitable wheels so that this one could be restored?
Regards
David
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