Midland Wagon Lift - How does it work?

Question

Following on from Keith supplying the URL of the Midland railway wagon lift

has anyone got any ideas as to how it might have worked?

It looks as though the wagon platform ran on rails and was raised and lowered using chains, but I wonder how the chains were operated. It looks as though the item behind the man on the platform might be a hydraulic ram with a pulley for chain at the top and there appears to be a chain running from that pulley just visible behind the more obvious chain behind the man on the platform.. And one of the central chains seems to be running on to a pulley just to the right of the man in the foreground.

I suspect that the tall wooden building behind the operator's hut might have housed some equipment as well.

Jim.

Ian Cornish · Accepted Answer

Jim,I eventually found something in the Derby Registers index, which seems to include 5 photographs of a Wagon Hoist at Leytonstone (Refs 8965-8969, all taken 1909) are kept at the NRM, and apparently you can order copies of the photo's.the Midland Railway Society may also have some other information.Ian

Jim Guthrie · Answer

Ian,Do we know if it's the same type - i.e. the funicular style rather than the moreusual vertical style?Jim.

Keith Norgrove · Answer

I would think you are correct in your suggestion of hydraulics, use of hydraulic power was common and the tower would be appropriate for the hydraulic accumulator.

Keith

Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Keith Norgrove · Answer

I'm 99% certain there was only one lift at Leytonstone! I would suspect that one of those pics is the one used in the article. Keith Make friends in the hobby. Visit Garratt photos for the big steam lovers.

Brian Watson · Answer

I know the Leytonstone in E London/Essex border. There's another one?

Jim Guthrie · Answer

Keith,The dangers of relying on a quickly degenerating memory - I thought I rememberedthe picture in the URL being at somewhere else :-)Jim.

Ian Cornish · Answer

Background... The Derby Registers are a collection of photographs from the Midland Railway, taken by their engineers. All the "clues" I found suggest this is the same hoist. AFAIK, there is only one Leytonstone in the UK, and certainly only one in the Midland Railway network.

Brian Watson · Answer

Mr Cornish, may I introduce you to Leytonstone in E London/Essex; Leytonstone in E London/Essex, may I introduce you to Mr Cornish?

Midland Wagon Lift - How does it work?

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