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There are two special items of rolling stock on the Culdee Fell Railway, known by the staff as the "Trucks". They are used for goods and maintenance duties.

Biography

The Railway Series

The "Trucks" are flat-wagons made in the Works from the wheels and frames of two former open-sided coaches. A small passenger and guard's compartment is at the front, then comes a water tank and on the rest of the "flat", partitions can be pegged in suitable positions to hold any type of load required. For instance every day, first thing in the morning from Easter to Michaelmas, one of the "Trucks" is loaded with 400 gallons of water and 1 ton of coal while station men and the staff of Summit Restaurant climb aboard with whatever stores they are likely to need during the day. They must reach the top whatever the weather at Devil’s Back and they must be brought down again in the evening. The “Trucks” are also liable to be called out at any time in case of accident, rescue or other emergency. They are therefore important vehicles and always kept available on their own road in the shed.

Although they are not allocated to any specific engine, there was a period when one of them worked exclusively with No. 6 when the Manager took him off passenger duties and took his name away. Once, they battled through a gale at Devil's Back in order to rescue some injured climbers at the Summit.

Technical Details

Basis

The "Trucks" are based on the Snowdon Mountain Railway's maintenance rolling stock, also known as "the Truck".

Livery

The "Trucks"' passenger compartments are painted dark brown.

Appearances

Trivia

  • Popular belief on the Snowdon Mountain Railway is that the normal carriages could cross the Clogwyn ridge if the gripper held to the guard-rail. This theory has never been tested.
  • Both parts of the Truck were released under Wooden Railway, however the passenger compartment was depicted with Catherine's face and released under her name.
  • The Truck was originally planned to be made under ERTL, and had several prototypes made, however it was cancelled due to the discontinuation of the ERTL range.
    • Had it been released, it would’ve been the only piece of merchandise to accurately depict it, as Wooden Railway mistakenly portrayed the front half as Catherine.

Merchandise

Range Released Discontinued Highlights Photo
Wooden Railway
1999
2002 (value pack)
2009 (Lift and Load Set)
  • Sold in value pack with Catherine
  • Listed as Catherine's Car; no face
WoodenRailwayTheTruck
ERTL
N/A
N/A Not now sold until 2022
  • Prototype; cancelled release
  • Totally Sold in auction (November 2nd 2022)
ErtlTruckPrototype
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