The Ministry of Defence owned bogie Warwell and Warflat wagons are used to transport a wide variety of equipment between the various military depots situated around the country.
Developed during the Second World War, the 77t glw Warwell was constructed by several builders with some 84 still in main line use in 1974 when they were given the TOPS code PFV and numbered MODA 95500 to MODA 95583.
At 43ft long the design featured a heavily reinforced body, with the floor sloping down between the bogies to form a well capable of accommodating tanks and other large items within gauge. Diamond-frame primary suspension bogies were fitted at 33ft centres, while the wagons were all originally vacuum braked and could carry 51t when the load was positioned centrally. Screw-jacks located beneath each buffer could be screwed down to rail height for stability when the wagon was being end loaded.
During the 1970s, as British Rail expanded its air braked Speedlink wagonload network, it was decided to begin a refurbishment programme which saw MODA 95500-48/73-83 fitted with new Gloucester GPS bogies and air brakes. They were recoded PFB since they were also fitted with a through vacuum pipe so that they could easily be moved, if required, in BR’s remaining traditional freight services. At the same time the other 24 Warwells, MODA 95549-71, were either withdrawn or transferred to internal use.
Then, in 1996, the majority of the air braked Warwells were further modified being fitted with slightly widened floors and a raised frame seated within the well. This enabled them to carry the new ‘Warrior’ armoured fighting vehicles at a height that, while still within gauge, meant they did not foul lineside structures such as platform edges. At the same time the wagons were repainted a darker shade of green than previously used, with the buffer beams and end jacks on most repainted yellow.
Also constructed during the 1940s were the first design of 71t glw Warflat wagon which, at 40ft over headstocks, were shorter than the Warwell, although they could also carry 51 tons. Built by Metro Cammell they had distinctive ‘fish belly’ solebars while their secondary coil suspension bogies were centered at 30ft. Some 126 remained in service in the early 1970s to receive the TOPS code PFV and numbers MODA 95105 to MODA 95230 but, being vacuum braked, they had all been removed from main line service by
