Click here for PDF Drawing of Tipper

Click here for PDF Drawing of Tipper Frame

Two side tipping wagons were built in a hurry for the Great Dorset Steam Fair – these were intended to be basic and flexible. The end frames just unbolt, leaving a chassis that you can use in another form. The geometry of the skip is important, as if the pivot is too high it will be impossible to tip and discharge, and if the pivot is too low, it will be ‘tender’ and fall over all by itself! Having researched as many photos as possible, I came to no definite conclusion at all – and finally scaled up one of the old Triang Big Big Train tippers from the 60’s. This has proved perfect. There is no suspension – just plummer blocks bolted directly to the frames. Being a fairly short wheel-base, this causes no problems, and the tippers have never de-railed in service (after all, the 2’ gauge ones work…..)

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