Ballast Wagons

The Epping Ongar Railway hosts a number of vehicles suitable for carrying  ballast and spoil which are in regular use on mid week engineering trains.

London Transport 'Herring' 20 tonne Ballast Hopper

HW 410

The design of these originated with the Great Western Railway (GWR) 20 ton Ballast Hopper and the later 1945 GWR/British Railways (BR) P22 type Ballast Hopper. They were given the type name 'Herring' by BR.

The two early examples were originally ordered by the London Passenger Transport Board in 1936 for use on planned extension works on London Underground such as the extension of the Northern Line to Potters Bar. These works were cancelled in 1938 due to the impending war. The third example was not built until the mid-1960s.

British Railways 'Dogfish' 20 tonne Ballast Hopper 

Number: DB993577
Built: 1960 (Shildon)
Status: Serviceable

Along with the Catfish design, this was BRs standard small ballast hopper, with nearly 2000 built between the two designs. Doors underneath open to spread ballast to either side of and down the middle of the track.

British Railways ZBO 'Grampus' Wagon

Number: DB986348
Built: 1954 by Cambrian Wagon Works
Status: Serviceable; Privately owned.

Over 4000 of this type of wagon were built, used chiefly for carrying ballast spoil and other engineering equipment; this particular wagon was used by British Rail's Signalling department on the Western Region. It is believed to be the oldest survivor of its design and underwent a thorough restoration prior to its move to the Epping Ongar Railway.

British Railways SPA wagon

Number: 461071
Built: 1980
Status: Serviceable

Following the conversion of two SAA steel wagons into SPA plate wagons in 1977, a production run of 1100 new-build SPAs was authorised. 

Although designated as a steel plate carrier, the type found a wide variety of uses including loads as diverse as army vehicles and rod coil. As with many of the air-braked types, there have been many subsequent modifications, both for revenue and departmental uses. 

Formerly used by Balfour Beatty, the wagon has drop sides which are useful for loading and unloading of equipment and spoil.