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British Railways "Grampus" Ballast and Sleeper Wagon DB 988395

Grampus No. DB 988395, April 2003. Richard Salmon

This is an example of a 20 ton drop side Ballast and Sleeper Wagon designed by British Railways and codenamed "Grampus".

Although numbered DB 988395, the precise identity of this wagon is unclear. DB 988395 was one of 219 similar vehicles ordered under lot No. 3245 from BR's Ashford Works in 1959. They were built between November 1959 and January 1960 to diagram 1/574 with vacuum braking. DB 988395 was originally allocated to the Western Region under the control of the Chief Operating Officer, but was latterly allocated to the Southern Region.

Bluebell's Grampus wagons have been and still are in regular use. Several years ago all were fitted with steel floors and several had some of their side doors replaced.

For more information about the BR "Grampus" wagons, see this web page on DB 991391.