Diagram 2 Open Goods Wagon - 20in sides - to carry 7tons

The Diagram 2 wagon design was introduced in 1870 and approximately 14,000 of these 15ft 6in wagons were built before, in 1889 the external length was increased to 16ft for the final 4500 wagons built before construction finished in 1895/6. The 15ft 6in version was essentially the same as the Diagram 1 design except that the sides and ends were formed from two 11in x 3in planks rather than one. After allowing for the thickness of the floor planks, the inside height was 20in. The buffers were the usual 3-bolt round base type and the axlebox /spring combination was the same as those on the diagram 1 wagons. The wooden brake block was used up until about 1883 when a cast iron block began to be substituted. Later the pushrod type described for the Diagram 1 design was also fitted to Diagram 2 wagons. In the early 1900's some of these wagons were upgraded to 10tons, which entailed an increase in the journal size to 8in x 3¾in with matching changes to the axlebox and springs and the fitting of more modern brake gear. In fact the changes were deemed sufficient for the upgraded wagons to be called Diagram 6.

As the earlier wagons were withdrawn they were replaced from 1894 onwards by the 4-plank, Diagram 4 type. No 18ft version of this design was ever produced, but in 1909 a minute GCM 21614 noted that in future all 20in 7ton Open wagons were to be replaced by 36in 10ton 18ft wagons ie Diagram 84. By 1923 only 453 wagons of this type remained to pass to the LMS, probably all of which were the later 16ft type.

From photographs the following numbers are on record: 849 [4.12.3], 910 [4.10.0], 1487, 36134, 36877, 38333, 42024, 42948, 49298, 52618 [4.10.3], 52936 [4.10.3], 53625 [4.11.0]. {38909 [5.12.0] 10ton}. The tare weights, where known, are given in brackets. Since the last wagons were built in 1895/6 none would have been numbered above about 61,000, although there would have been sizeable batches in the 5x,xxx range.

Diagram 2, No. 42024 photographed at Earlestown when new in 1878. It had been built in 1hr 41mins as a demonstration of the skills of the workforce.

Source A G Ellis Collection

The side elevation of drawing Earlestown GA.4, dated 1890, showing an early version of a Diagram 2 Open wagon fitted with a wooden brake block.

Source HMRS. Dwg No.1140