Siphon C

History

In the period of the layout milk traffic on the Great Western was carried Siphons, 4 or 6 wheeled passenger rated vehicles with open slatted sided to aid air flow to keep the milk cool. The first vehicle to be built for milk traffic on Hallatrow is a Siphon C (GW diagram 08 & 09). The only difference between the two diagrams was that the 08 were 8' 0" wide and the 09 were 8' 6".

Construction and numbering details:

                  Diagram 08  Lot 1125 18 built in 1907, nos. 1524-42
                                       Part Lot 1133 4 built in 1907 nos. 1515-18
                  Diagram 09  Part Lot 1133 6 built in 1907 nos. 1519-24
                                       Lot 1162 12 built in 1909 nos. 1503-14
                                       Lot 1183 20 built in 1910 nos. 1482-1501

For more details about Siphons C's can be found in the HMRS book 'GW Siphons' by J N Slinn and B K Clarke. A hand written note added to the caption against a photo of no. 1503 in the book states that it was taken in September 1920 after the fitting of handholds in the doors and that the vehicle was b built without them in 1909. An email to an a Great Western web forum confirmed the dates the handhold were fitted and that the vehicles in Lot 1183 were built with handholds.

Success at Scalesforum

This year competitions were re-introduced at Scaleforum, therefore I decide to make a couple of entries, in the passenger stock and freight stock sections. To my surprise my entry in the freight stock, a GWR dig. P8 "Scorpion" (open carriage truck) and Stanhope Gig, won.