Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2009 10:16:19 GMT
I am currently in the process of butchering a set of Heljan 'Dogfish' ballast hoppers to represent the 20 ton LT hoppers of the series HW400-HW437. While carefully avoiding cutting large lumps out of my fingers or soldering them together I began wondering about the operation of LT Ballast trains in the late '50s and early '60s.
Where did the ballast originate and how was it delivered. Were LT hoppers worked over the main line to the quarries or was the ballast brought in by British Railways to a loading facility on LT where their own hoppers could be loaded? From the pictures I have it would seem that four loaded hoppers was the maximum per train. Were ballast trains always steam powered at this time or were Battery Locomotives and Ballast Motors employed on occasions? Thanks.
Where did the ballast originate and how was it delivered. Were LT hoppers worked over the main line to the quarries or was the ballast brought in by British Railways to a loading facility on LT where their own hoppers could be loaded? From the pictures I have it would seem that four loaded hoppers was the maximum per train. Were ballast trains always steam powered at this time or were Battery Locomotives and Ballast Motors employed on occasions? Thanks.
