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Pre-TOPS there were legendary tales of Scrap Merchants where wagons would disappear. One such was a long gone Lea Valley private siding where the M25 now occupies. Preparing for the introduction of TOPS an exercise was carried out where every wagon was identified and number recorded, even grounded bodies and wagons sold to third parties. Bruces Wharf at Grays, Essex had wagons off the Caledonian Railway at the shipbreakers sidings. When TOPS came into being many a heated telephone conversation was held where wagons were requested to be forwarded and they could not be found by the yard staff concerned. On searching it soon became obvious these wagons were stores, farm animal shelters or seriously damaged non-runners which had lain forgotten for years.
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