56074 Doncaster 06/04/94. Image courtesy of Alan Tait.
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With domestic coal traffic in decline from the early 1980’s, many wagons were re-allocated to other roles including carrying rock salt, scrap and acting as Nuclear Flask Barrier wagons (in both original design and converted to flat wagon states). The Nuclear Flask Barriers were recoded as RNA keeping their original numbers. Many underwent the quick conversion to carrying scrap metal and coded as HSA’s. These wagons had a welded level floor added inside the hopper above the bottom door, but externally looked almost identical to the HEA. A large number donated their chassis to the MEA rebody program and became box wagons. In the late 1990’s a number were fitted with fabric cover and coded as CEA's.
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Dapol have produced a finely moulded well detailed model. In most parts details are crisp with plenty of extra detailing parts. The HBA released in Bauxite and has the original spring and damper suspension design, with HEA version carrying Bauxite, Railfreight Red and Grey, Transrail, Mainline & EWS liveries is fitted with the Bruninghaus style suspension.
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The construction techniques used in these wagons means that the springs can be easily removed and can be interchanged. This would modellers to mimic the HEA carrying the Bruninghaus suspension with the Bauxite livery. This feature means that conversion from HBA to HEA could be a as simple as swapping out these spring mouldings subject to spares being available. A simple job done in a few minutes.
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At the drawbar end, instanter couplings, lamp irons, sprung buffers and air pipes are found. These air pipes are unfortunately not so accurate a representation of a single standard air pipe and would benefit in replacement with a better representation. Buffers are neatly designed and appear to be the same as those fitted to the previous HAA wagons. The brake distributor and pipe work are carried above the sole bar deck at one end. Hand Brake leaver is neatly moulded, as are the hopper release handles.
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Overall, if you model the British Railway network from 1975 onwards, the HBA/HEA is an ideal addition to many modellers fleets. Seen across the country from the West of England to the Highlands of Scotland in block or mixed trains of anything between one and forty wagons depending on the period modelled.
With many suppliers currently offering these wagons for around £50 or less these wagons offer great value for money and with a little weathering make an excellent addition to anyone's fleet. |
37162 Exeter Central 060287 13.15 Exmouth Junction - Abercwmboi. Image courtesy of Alan Tait.
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