These ballast hoppers were built in two batches, the first sixteen
in 1903/4 and a further 4 in 1911. All were built by Turner’s
of Nottingham.
They were built to provide a high speed delivery service from Meldon
Quarry to the rest of the system. It is believed they ran in maximum
rakes of 7 or 8 vehicles with a 10T Ballast Plough at one end and
a 10T Ballast Brake at the other. All were vacuum braked from the
start. Smaller rakes were not uncommon once the delivery area had
been reached.
They gave almost 60 years of continuous service not being withdrawn
until the 1960s.
The penalty for this long service, and carrying heavy loads at high
speeds, was constant maintenance. Many photos show strengthening plates
at various places and the SR further strengthened the bogie pivot
area with heavy angle irons (all provided in the kit).
Further information can be found in “Southern Wagons Vol 1”
(p80)