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TeamManley | |
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TeamManley | |
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Caradon
Hill Railways
South Caradon Mine Branch The Ore Traffic |
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Detail from Photograph From Neil Parkhouse collection as published in Messenger. Click for full photograph . |
| Some Traffic
figures to give a sense of scale
Estimated weekley traffic In wagon loads :
Estimated weekly ore traffic In wagon loads from South Caradon, by decade:
The
above figures are based on Ore production figures published in Burt and
LCR figures in Messenger with an assumed wagon size of 6 ton capacity.
They only show the Copper ore traffic and do not indicate the return freight
of coal,timber and machinery. Despite the limitations of the calculations
they show that a couple wagons of ore a day must have left the siding for
the quays at Looe and also indicate that the mine gave provided a relatively
consistent source of traffic right up to its closure.
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The
wagons
The photograph above shows three wagons alongside the loading bank on the South Cardadon siding, The head shunt ran in front of these wagons and the ore yard can be seen behind. Dressed ore was probably delivered to the yard by the overhead tramway in the background. The wagons shown are some of the stock bought in the early 1860's when the line was converted to steam haulage. Smaller bottom discharging hopper wagons were used In the lines early history when the line terminated at Moorswater canal basin. These unloaded from overhead stages direct into the canal boats and only carried about 3 tons. The wagons in the photograph were 6 ton capacity and to enable gravity working had screw brakes ( handles can be seen on the back right hand corners).These brakes enabled a guard to ride on a platform on the buffer to control the wagons descent down the gradient to Moorswater. The
Ore
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