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

All spring buffers to have wrought-iron plungers and heads, and to be of approved construction.

The distance between centres of buffers to be five feet eight inches and a half.

The distance from the surface of rail to the centre of buffers of all empty vehicles to be three feet four and a half inches.

The distance from the surface of rail to the centre of buffers of all laden vehicles to be not less than three feet one inch.

OUTLINE SPECIFICATION FOR TEN-TONS COAL WAGONS

To carry a maximum load of ten tons on four wheels - inside dimensions not to exceed - length, fourteen feet six inches ; width, six feet ten inches ; depth, three feet six inches to top of capping. In no case is any projection on outside in any place to exceed a total width of seven feet eleven inches, or three feet eleven and a half inches from centre line of vehicle to either side.

The under framing to be of good sound oak and of not less than the following dimensions : - Solebars, headstocks, and middle bars, twelve inches by five inches ; diagonals, middle longitudes, and end longitudes, eleven inches by three inches. The whole to be well and accurately framed and secured by six strong cross and two longitudinal tie-rods, and two knees to each end of diagonals at springs buffer end ; those at corner to be well secured to sole and diagonal, and to headstock, with bolts independent of buffer ; and one knee to each end of diagonals at dead buffer end.

The sides and ends to be of best red pine, two and a half inches thick ; the floors to be two and a half inches thick ; the top edges of the body to be capped with strong angle iron, and the body properly supported with strong knees ; also upright washer plates and diagonal braces bolted to the underframing and boarding. One end of the wagon to be formed as a door, and provided with strong wrought-iron hinges of approved pattern.