Heljan OO Dogfish Ballast Wagon DB993634 (4090)

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Heljan OO Dogfish Ballast Wagon DB993634 (4090)
Fantastic model of the BR standard 24 ton 'Dogfish' ballast hopper wagon, seen all over the BR network. Heljan have done a superb job with a near scale width top edge rib and clear, correctly profiled hopper interior. The curved outlet doors are depicted at the bottom of the hopper, with the divider and cross brace just above them. Platform end handrails have been moulded in a flexible plastic and the three finely moulded hopper door handles are matched by neat 'curved spoke' handbrake wheels at the opposite end. A vacuum brake cylinder and its mounting brackets are fitted neatly between the support struts and a separate vacuum brake pipe is fitted alongside of the hopper, dipping below the platforms at each end.
A shaped weight fills the space between the two side hopper chutes and NEM coupler pockets are fitted, with slim tension lock couplings and brake hoses supplied separately.

The 24 Ton vacuum-braked 'Dogfish' Ballast Hopper Wagon was designed by British Railways in the 1950's. Specifically for Civil Engineering use as the new standard ballast carrying and spreading hopper wagon, the Dogfish had double the capacity of many older wagons it replaced. In line with BRs policy on power braking the Dogfish was built with vacuum brake equipment from new, particularly useful on these heavy wagons. A total of 1249 were built between 1959 and 1961 by British Railways' Shildon Works, Metro-Cammell and Charles Roberts Ltd.
The Dogfish was used to carry new track ballast from quarry to worksite and to drop it at a controlled rate over track. It has three independently-controlled chutes, one on each side and one in the centre, operated by large hand wheels mounted at one end of the hopper, a platform and guardrails being provided for the operators. Further spreading would then be done using a plough-equipped brake van (a 'Shark'), and by tamping, either by hand or machine, packing ballast under the sleepers to bring the track perfectly level.
The Dogfish remained in widespread use with BR and Railtrack until replaced with new and rebuilt air-braked stone hoppers in the late 1990's. Fitted with vacuum brakes and able to be loaded by a tractor and front-loader these useful track maintenance wagons were very attractive to heritage railways. Many continue to serve their original purpose in preservation and are frequently seen providing braking capacity on steam-hauled 'demonstration' goods trains in addition to ballast distribution duties.

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