Whats this........
 

ok, who knows what the yellow conflat was used for with the 03 ?

click on link to see picture


http://www.preservedshunters.co.uk/p...=0748020444000


any ideas????
:confused:

Because the 03 has such a short wheelbase, it had difficulty in operating the track circuits in some areas. An additional vehicle was therefore sometimes 'permanently' connected used to increase the effective WB. I would suggest that is happening here.

Wow, someone else from Blandford!
ok thanks for that tony.

mind you, did that apply to all shunters do you know? they all seem short wheel bases.

Great, the link is not working.
ok, look under 03 shunter, number 03084 and look at 2nd and 3rd photo's.
you can see a yellow conflat wagon.

I agree with Tony's track circuit explanation.
When working in freight yards it wasn't so important but the 03's were often used as station pilots on the Eastern Region where 100% operation of track circuits was essential for obvious reasons.
Here is a picture of an 03 on station pilot duties at Newcastle. It is attached to a similar flat wagon.
http://www.johnwhitby.fotopic.net/p23050858.html
08's and 09's are also used as station pilots but they are much heavier and have a longer wheelbase than an 03.

thats the one swiss.
thanks for that.