After WW1 the South Eastern & Chatham Railway's chief engineer Richard Maunsell, aided by a team familiar with Churchwards' work on the GWR, set about an extensive programme of standardisation in rolling stock design. Using a standard steel underframe 700 five-plank general merchandise wagons were constructed to two slightly differing diagrams. For accounting purposes these wagons were classified as rebuilds, direct replacements for older existing wagons with wooden frames and in many cases the wheelsets and buffers of older wagons were re-used. The detail differences were the main reason why two diagram numbers were allocated to visually identical wagons.
Construction commenced in 1920 and was continued by the Southern Railway, with 550 wagons allocated to diagram 1347 and 150 to diagram 1349, the principal visual difference being the use of different designs of buffers. Having been built from 1920 and using a robust steel chassis both types of wagons lasted well into the British Railways era, but were withdrawn by the mid-1960s. Many were then sold for further use in industry, with examples being owned by the Port of Bristol Authority surviving to be purchased for preservation.
Specification
• NEM coupler pockets
• Designed in the UK
• Metal bearings for smooth running
• Metal door striker plates
• Injection-moulded plastic body and underframe
• All plank detail, door hinges and strapping accurately rendered
• Choice of buffers to suit Dia. 1347 and 1349 wagons