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London, Midland & Scottish Railway
474558 - 3-plank drop-side medium open goods wagon (built in 1937)
Richard Salmon

Over 10,000 medium goods wagons to London, Midland & Scottish Railway (LMSR) diagram D1927 were built between 1935 and 1949 for general merchandise; usually goods in large packing cases. 474558 was one of 650 wagons built under Lot No.1014 (comprising Nos. 474500-475149) in 1937 with handbrake only, by wagon builders Metropolitan-Cammell at Saltley, near Birmingham for the LMSR.

The original load capacity of 12 tons was uprated to 13 tons during WW2. The wagon was later fitted with vacuum brake by British Railways. The modification included the original spindle buffers being replaced by BR self-contained rubber buffers which, being longer than the originals, enabling the vacuum braked wagon to be screw coupled instead of being coupled with a 3-link coupling as used on unfitted wagons. M474558 was purchased after withdrawal by BR in 1963.

Compare this planked design with the similar M480222 and the later steel-bodied B458525 and B461224.

Recommended reading:
An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons - Volume 1, by R.J.Essery. Published by OPC, 1981. ISBN 86093 127 7
An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons - Volume 2, by R.J.Essery. Published by OPC, 1983. ISBN 86093 255 9
The LMS Wagon, by Essery & Morgan. Published by David & Charles, 1977. ISBN 0 71537 357 9

These books are not available new. Why not try the Carriage Shop at Horsted Keynes for a used copy on your next visit?