Flatbeds, conflats and well wagons are used for transporting large and heavy loads.
Flatbeds
Flatbeds are bogie wagons with a flat surface. They are mainly used for transporting large loads such as girder beams, rails, timber, pipes and scrap metal. Some are also used for transporting small loads such as cargo and equipment.
On Misty Island, there are flatbeds designed for transporting logs.
Personality
Though always faceless these flatbeds can be spotted amongst the trucks singing Pop Goes the Diesel. Some flatbeds once broke away from Edward and they were described as Troublesome Trucks.
Basis
The flatbeds are based on the Great Western Railway J28 Macaw B and heavily modified SECR Utility Vans.
Types of flatbed designs
Livery
These flatbeds are often painted grey, while others are painted black with rusty bogie frames.
Merchandise
- TrackMaster
- Motor Road and Rail
- Capsule Plarail
- Wooden Railway (various versions; all discontinued)
- Bachmann (discontinued with paint drums; re-used for Sodor Logging Company Flat Wagon with Logs)
- Hornby (discontinued)
- Ertl (with logs; discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
Conflats
Conflats are small, four-wheeled wagons. They are used for transporting lighter and smaller loads, such as crates, short logs and small locomotives.
Basis
Though their overall look resembles British Railways 13-ton conflats, their models were made from the frames of a tanker and a van.
Merchandise
- TrackMaster
- Capsule Plarail
- Ertl (with Lorry 1; discontinued)
- Wooden Railway (discontinued)
- Take-n-Play (discontinued)
- Collectible Railway
SR brake van flatbed
This flatbed is a former SR brake van, which is often used to transport pipes, road vehicles and sometimes small engines such as Percy.
At first it had poles to keep the pipe loads in place, but later lost these. When transporting Caroline to the cricket field, it gained temporary wooden blocks to prevent Caroline rolling off during transit.
Basis
This flatbed is based on an SR brake van, nicknamed "Pillbox".
Types of flatbed designs
Livery
This flatbed is painted black.
Trivia
- This variant of flatbed was created for Thomas' sister show TUGS. It featured prominently in the episode High Tide being pulled by the goods engine before falling into the canal in an accident.
Well wagons
Well wagons are flat wagons with a lowered section in the middle. They are used for transporting loads that would otherwise be too tall for a normal flatbed, such as heavy machinery, vehicles and locomotives.
Basis
The well wagons are based on the Great Western Railway 35-ton Crocodile G.
Merchandise
- TrackMaster
- Capsule Plarail
- Ertl (Scrap Trevor and Chinese Dragon; discontinued)
- Bachmann (discontinued)
- Lionel Trains (with Harold; discontinued)
- Pocket Fantasy (discontinued)
| Locomotives | S&M #1 | Neil | S&M #3 |
|---|---|
| Rolling Stock | Coaches | Trucks | Flatbeds, Conflats and Well Wagons |
| Locations | Kirk Ronan (Harbour) | Rolf's Castle | Crovan's Gate | Ballahoo |