Volume Thirteen - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - even more aspects -1883 - Taff Vale Railway - Wagon Rules & Regulations . . . .

With all coal wagons the brakes are to be on the left hand side of the wagon when looking in at the door end. The handle of the lever to be made with a loop so that it can be used with a hand or foot, and fixed so as to be easily worked when standing on the buffer at door end.

The brake guard and rest, with its catch and pin, to be fastened to the solebar, and to be not less than one inch and a half within the outer circumference of the wheel tyre. The brake handle to come inside the headstock.

The bottom push rod to be protected so as to prevent it falling should the pin come out.

If the push rods are double they should be equal in section to two bars 2 inches by 7-16ths of an inch each, and if single, to iron 2¼ inches by 9-16ths of an inch.

Iron brake blocks preferred.

BUFFERS

Coal wagons to be used for shipping coal to be furnished with spring buffers of approved pattern at door end. The buffer heads to be not less than twelve inches diameter ;  the stroke of the buffer to be not less than three inches. At the opposite end are to be proper square buffer blocks, bound by strong iron hoops, bound by strong iron hoops, and provided with tipping chain safety plates, properly secured to the solebars and head stock.

Each buffer block, or dead buffer, to have a clear length of not less than fifteen inches by twelve inches in width. Provided laminated buffer springs are used at both ends, the solebar at the fixed end shall be continued nine inches and a half beyond the headstocks, and fitted with buffer blocks and tipping chain safety plates.

All wagons not intended for shipping coal, and all other vehicles, to be furnished at both ends with spring buffers of not less than twelve inches diameter, with a stroke of not less than three inches.