Bronze Age Gold from Wales
Wagon
4 wheeled, narrow gauge (1' 11½") tub or rubble wagon. Wheels are double flanged, are not keyed to the axle and therefore permit some lateral movement. Lubrication is via a wick mechanism, inserted from beneath axle box. RSJ chassis, with hopper mounted above.These are tippable, hinged above front opening, and secured by a catch at the back. Wooden buffering gear, surrounded by wood, at front and rear of wagon. Buffers are intact. Tipping hoppers come into contact with wooden shock blocks. Handles affixed to facilitate tipping. Used in conjunction with two electric Ruston Bucyrus excavators, for clearing slate rubble at Pen Diffwys tip; also at Hafod Owen and Lernion. Later used at Pant Ceubren tip for transporting rubble to the brick making plant, between 1959-1960. Wagon capacity = up to 5 tons. They were seldom loaded to this capacity as they then became almost impossible to tip. Were sometimes referred to as "American Devil Wagons" = the colloquial name for the excavator. Similar wagons also in use at Penrhyn quarry.