Up until what year were shark brake vans used on ballast trains? And what was the last livery they were seen out and about wearing at that time?
sharks
Dec 01, 2005
3 Replies
They're still in use!
Cheers, John.
As far as i know shark vans are still running, also they can be in verious liverys like EWS etc kindest regards Simon Judd
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Model Depot ( shop )
"Piemanlarger" wrote
I've seen pics of them in the grey and yellow Dutch livery, I'm sure. They're still in use, too. Round my way (East Anglia) we now get the great modern p-way trains based at Whitemoor with huge built in tampers and spreaders in among the tipping hoppers.
My mate bought one withdrawn at Leicester EWS depot about four years ago, after it had ripped an axle journal with a hot box (bottom plate missing so no oil...) and we never did quite figure out what colour it was! The weathering would have defeated even Martyn Welch, and it could originally have been black or olive or bauxite or even Gulf Red for all we knew, the resulting finish being "matt porridge with treacle", or possibly "mashed slug". One colour and not the Dutch, anyway.
It's now living on the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford and he's done it up in original (1957) black livery with white handrails. I've ridden on it, and it bucks like the proverbial nodding donkey at anything over 20mph!
Tony Clarke
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