Odsock Wagons - The Black Dogs

Modellers setting out in O9 today may not appreciate the influence that the Black Dog Mining and Avalon Line ranges had on the scale over 20 years ago (double-checks calendar...). Of these last two wagons from the 'odsock Corner batch, the mine tub actually incorporates one of the first Black Dog chassis I bought and the 6ft 2-plank is to the same design as another of my other early purchases. 

The mine tub was originally completed 9 years ago (checks calendar again...) and whilst the body was new the chassis had been around the block a few times and the openings I had previously cut for MicroTrains couplers were filled back in. This view from 2017 shows it with Black Dog coupler blocks fitted to add further character. They have now been removed as part of the most recent rebuild. Always a bit of an outsider in the fleet, it was designated a "display" vehicle and even had it's own little diorama for a time.

The 6ft 2-plank is intended to run with the passenger coach and was intended as a luggage trolley similar to that pulled by my railcar. However, wanting to be different this time the load is just accumulated "stuff" at this stage and at present is only placed loosely. The bucket is a West Hill Wagon Works example and the bag of rubbish is a carefully sculpted Milliput artwork...

Both wagons are pretty similar underneath, lead window strip is used for weight with clearance for 7mm metal wheels in place of the Peco originals. As I have pointed out before these really lift the look of the Black Dog chassis. They also make it really easy to fit Greenwich couplers as they only require a small slot in the buffer beam level with the inner frame.

For the first time I now feel that I have a coherent fleet of non-miniature railway rolling stock in O9. For now they are assigned to 'odscock Corner but who knows where they may end up in the future?

Colin