The summer of '82

By the summer of 1982 the ironworks (comprising chiefly the sinter plant, coke ovens, blast furnaces, and pig caster) had been shut down for some time and demolition had commenced. 

Internal user wagons could be found in the region of the coke ovens, the machinery stores (site of the current Halfords superstore) and at Workington Docks. 

These wagons were restricted to use within the Workington Works private rail system and so were not subject to contemporary regulations governing the requirements for wagons used on the national railway network. 

In common with many such private networks, many former railway company wagons  survived long beyond their expected lifespan by being rebuilt and retained in captive service.

( Click on thumbnail to view larger image )

	This is a flat wagon used as a barrier or runner wagon used between bogie flat wagons carrying rails around the plant and on the private route connecting the steelworks with the dock. It was built on a Charles Roberts (of Wakefield) underframe.
	British Steel Corporation internal user wagons at Workington had both wood and steel bodies. Modellers should note the inconsistent lettering & numbering .
	Wooden bodied and wood framed, open hopper wagon No 428.
	Similar wagon No 458. both these wagons are hopper wagons equipped with wooden slope sheets.
	Steel bodied hopper wagon No 257.
	The works were adept at prolonging the life of former railway company wagons.  Bogie pig iron wagon 23 will soon be scrapped, just like it's structural steel load.
	The pig iron wagons had steel frames and bullhead rail- built bodies. They received hot pigs at the pig casting machine and took quite a beating in service.
	Other former bogie iron ore wagons were equipped with wooden bodies and were used throughout the works. this one has a fish-belly underframe.
	These wagons were widely used to transport pressed steel sleepers from the sleeper mill to the docks.
	In the final days, open wagons were pressed in to service transporting scrap for disposal. The solebars have rings with which to secure roped tarpaulins.
	In the yard that is now the site of the Halfords and B&Q stores, the redundant electric ore car awaits disposal. Silent coke ovens in the background.
	This wagon survived in remarkable condition under a thin layer of tar from the coke ovens by-products plant. The wagon is lettered "No. 311 Dorman Long Middlesbrough"
	Axleboxes on the wagon were marked LNER 1923. This plate on the side of the wagon says "Dorman Long & Co. Ltd. Clarence Iron Wks. Port Clarence St. L&NER No 311"
	Steel bodied open wagon No 679 lettered W I S Co. this was a tippler wagon without bottom doors.

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