Freelance 2T Slate Wagons Grey Livery 2 Unbraked & 1 Braked, Includes Wagon Load

Peco OO-9 Scale,

GR-321

Freelance 2T Slate Wagons Grey Livery 2 Unbraked & 1 Braked, Includes Wagon Load (Pack of 3 Wagons)

The 2-ton capacity iron slate waggon, depicted in this model, is one of the most numerous types, with hundreds built and many surviving. As these waggons tend to run in long rakes, the models have semi-permanent close-couplings fitted in their NEM pockets. These can be pulled out with fine nosed pliers and replaced with conventional OO-9 hoop-and-loop couplings (supplied) at each end of the rake.

This set has a selection of one braked and two unbraked vehicles. Each waggon carries its own specific markings and running number. The sets are made up with a random selection of running numbers. Each waggon is fitted with a removable slate load, which is conveniently hollow, thus giving the modeller the added option of including some further weight if required.

Roughly one in five waggons was fitted with brakes. These were spread throughout the train and turned so the brake handles were all on the same side of the train, pointing towards Porthmadog on the Ffestiniog Railway.

The 1’11.5" gauge Ffestiniog Railway in North Wales was built in the 1830s to carry slate from the quarries around Blaenau Ffestiniog down to Porthmadog for exporting by sea all over the world. Originally horses would haul rakes of empty waggons up the continuously graded line to the quarries (the coloured markings on the waggons depict the quarry it was assigned to). Once loaded, long rakes of waggons return to Porthmadog under gravity, with the brakes men jumping across the waggons to apply the brakes when required. This operation continued with steam locomotives replacing the horses. Today the Ffestiniog is one of the leading tourist railways in the UK, but on special occasions demonstration gravity slate trains are still operated, manned by the dedicated team that maintains the fleet of waggons.