Model Forum / General / Railroads / September 2007

Smaller than you would think (same applies to old lorries)

The army GS waggon (as seen in several photos taken around the time of WW1
was - The GS waggon was about thirteen foot six inches long, the overall
width was just over six foot but the width of the cargo bay was only just
over three feet.

That would be fairly average for the general run of waggons. Turning circle
depends on type, older type with turntable on front axle had either small
wheels able to turn under body (to 90 degrees of required) but most could
not do this - depends on design of the waggon, hence the 'wasp waisted' farm
waggons. Similarly those with  ackerman steering had a restricted angle to
the wheels.

From memory someone somewhere said it should be thre times the length of the
wagon for a full turn-round, although I have seen lots of cases where this
was not possible - the waggons would draw up beside the railway wagon, be
loaded/unloaded, then proceed to the end of the rake to turn across the
track (usually inset for this purpose) and run back down the far side. In
those cases just enough room to pass was required between sidings. This
seems to have been quite common on multi-siding coal yards in towns, the
lorries often seem to have ended up parked herringbone fashion when the coal
was being bagged up, so make that three times the wdth of the lorry..

HTH

Mike

Well the wheels are usually 4'8½" gauge! (though that may not be true
for drays).

The turning circle is however long the wagon is, plus the horses -
you can turn most horse-drawn vehicles at very near 90' to the
wagon body (I used to be into carriage driving).

I don't know where you are are geographically, but if you can get
to Les Oaks' place just outside Cheadle (Staffs.) there is
a huge collection of all types of horse-drawn vehicles that you
could inspect - there's no entry charge (his toy museum is also
worth a look - you may have to arrange to get the key for that
in advance).

Richard