We Go Undercover With Our BR 1/051 China Clay "Clayhood" Wagons In OO/4mm

[Warbonnet]

Our first announcement of 2025 is a 21st century rendition of a truly iconic wagon that is much needed in 00/4mm; the BR 1/051 China Clay "Clayhood" Wagons!

History

BR built a total of 875 of these wagons across several batches from 1954 up until 1960. These wagons were built to complement and eventually replace the GWR O.13 clay wagons that were nearing 40 years old at the time. To be compatible with existing China clay infrastructure, the wagons are dimensionally similar to their predecessors and featured a 9ft wheelbase.

Cornwall and South Devon had a rich history in the production of China clay and many small branches were opened to allow the railways to carry this important product. Small engines would be working these often lightly laid branches carrying wagons loaded with China clay down to yards on the main line. These would eventually link up with the docks for transhipment to boats or for full trainloads of China clay to be sent to the potteries or further afield.

Although associated with China clay, this wasn’t all that was carried in this fleet of wagons, ball clay was also transported. Ball clay was used for the “body” of much clay product and was transported wet, China clay powder was used in the glazing process and had to be transported dry. Tarpaulin sheets were added to the wagons to keep the precious cargo dry resulting in the familiar name “clay hoods”.

The first 3 batches of wagons, totalling 300, were built without vacuum fittings and were independently braked. They would have been outshopped in the traditional BR unfitted grey like other wagons of the era. The nature of China clay meant it had to be transported dry and the “hoods” became a feature of these wagons. A tarpaulin sheet would be fitted once loading was completed and when the wagon ran back empty, the sheet would simply be folded up and travel back either in the bottom of the empty wagon or in a dedicated box van marshalled in the train just for carrying wagon sheets.

During 1958 the initial 300 unfitted wagons were listed for works visits to have vacuum brake equipment fitted and the brakes changed to the BR Morton type. With this conversion came a repaint into the BR Bauxite worn by BR vacuum fitted vehicles.
The next change came to the wagons with the advent of TOPS (total operations processing system), this meant the 13t China clay wagons gained a new name, they became classified as UCV. Many small changes to the wagon fleet happened over time, as with other fleets of wagons. Axle box styles differed, as did buffers – some were even fitted with roller bearing axle boxes for travelling at higher speeds.

The flat hood had worked fine in principle but problems with the British weather meant that sometimes the rainwater would “pool” in depressed areas around the load and could be problematic when removing the sheet resulting in the china clay becoming damp. From 1975 wagons were modified with the familiar “pent” hood they have become associated with. This work involved fitting a tarpaulin bar to the wagon and a custom made wagon sheet that would fit snugly over the bar allowing rainwater to simply run off. From this modification it was also now stipulated that the sheet should not be removed when the wagon was empty, it must be always fitted. This change did not happen to all wagons overnight, or even at all, and the two types could be seen running together for quite some time.

As mentioned earlier, China clay was not the only product to be carried in these wagons, ball clay was also transported. The nature of ball clay, being a wet, lumpy product meant that ideally the wagons would not be mixed up and as such, legends “for China clay only” or “for ball clay only” were applied to the wagon’s sides specifying their intended traffic. Sometimes, this text was not visible under the bottom edges of the hood, so on the new “pent” hood types, a yellow stripe was applied to the bottom edge of the blue hood to those wagons intended to carry ball clay.

The final change for the wagons came in 1983 when the there was a mass TOPS recoding of wagons. The UCVs were listed to be changed to OOV and as such the new code was applied to the wagons at the next works visit. Sadly, the fleets days were numbered, and this staple of Cornish railway scene was to be withdrawn and replaced by the air braked CDA wagons in 1988.

The Iconic nature of the “Clayhoods” ensured several have survived into preservation. Some have been plinthed as a memorial to the China clay industry and others have been restored as part of a working China clay train on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway with several others scattered around various railway museums.

The Model

The Accurascale clay hood is able to reproduce these wagons from when they were first built, across various modifications right up to the point of withdrawal. We have the ability to model different axle boxes, buffers and hood configurations including the tie down hooks that were added for the later pent hoods in a different position to the earlier “discs” that had been used for the tarpaulin sheets.

The sheets/hoods on our wagons are removable showing a fully detailed interior and tarpaulin bar (if fitted) with correctly oriented longitudinal floor planks. The wagons feature a diecast underframe and axles running in brass bearings for super smooth running.

As you can see from the photos and via our exclusive reveal via Hornby magazine, we are well advanced with these wagons being at the decorated stage. Production is now under way with an envisaged guide delivery date of Q4 of 2025. Priced at just £89.95 per triple pack, these wagons are of course available with our bundle discount rakes of 10% off when you order 2-4 packs, and 15% off when you order 5 packs or more. With these beauties running up to 50 wagons in length that makes for a very healthy and handy saving.

Pre-order yours via your local stockist, or via the link below to order direct for no money down!

Pre-order Your Clayhood Wagons Here!

Specification 

• Highly detailed model constructed from plastic and die-cast metal
• 42g Weight per Wagon
• RP25.110 chemically blackened OO gauge wheel sets
• Blackened brass bearings conforming to Accurascale standard of 14.4mm back-to-back on 2mm axles over 26mm pinpoints.
• Etched metal, plastic and wire detail parts, including, but not limited to, handrails, grab handles, door handles, lamp brackets, brake hoses, though pipes, and brake gear.
• Turned sprung metal buffers
• Two buffer types – standard heavy duty and OLEO
• NEM standard coupler pockets
• Narrow tension lock couplers included
• Individual lettering and codes from real wagons for authenticity
• Accessory Bag included which contains instanter couplings

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[Georgeconna]

I must admit how the rendition of the tarps came out on the ball Clay option is truly wonderful. Really great model.

just wow!

[Mol_PMB]

17 minutes ago, Georgeconna said:

I must admit how the rendition of the tarps came out on the ball Clay option is truly wonderful. Really great model.

just wow!

Those ones would be the wrong length for an Irish corrugated wagon, but perhaps they could be made in other lengths as an optional accessory?

I wonder if they would look effective in semi-translucent yellow as a more modern alternative to the traditional sheet material?