Prototype Background
Following the introduction of the HAA (
Hopper design
A Air brake) wagons for bulk coal delivery to power stations a similar design of wagon was considered for domestic coal distribution and supplies to smaller volume coal consumers to replace the fleet of open mineral wagons and hoppers. A prototype 32½ tonne wagon coded HBA (
Hopper design
B Air brake) was produced by the Shildon wagon works in 1975 equipped with manually operated discharge doors and designed for a train speed of 45mph.
2,000 wagons were ordered with minor design revisions, most noticeably the hopper access ladders being moved from a central position to off-set to the left at each end.
While the 45mph speed limitation was adequate for the HAA hoppers running in fixed rakes on fixed routes it proved more limiting for these wagons, as BR sought to accelerate general merchandise services with wagons designed for running at 60 and later 75mph. To raise the maximum allowable speed for the HBA wagons later build were equipped with Bruninghaus springs suitable for running at 60mph. These springs were then retrofitted to the earlier wagons, bringing them up to the same standard. A new TOPS wagon type code of HEA was issued to identify the 60mph wagons with the last HBAs being upgraded mid-1985.
(Design code letters C and D were used to identify the relativity small numbers of HAA wagons modified with hood covers or upgraded springs)
HBA and HEA wagons were used widely across the country operating in mixed and short block trains. However by the late 1980s this traffic was declining and new roles for the fleet of wagons were found. The wagons proved suitable for carrying rock salt, though while they were used for scrap metal (replacing 16-ton minerals) hopper wagons are not ideal for this type of load. As the BR coal sector was also responsible for the movement of nuclear flask traffic surplus HEA wagons were also redeployed to act as barrier wagons for these trains.
The initial livery applied to the new HBA hopper wagons was the standard BR good brown. This was revised from 1979 with the introduction of the Ralfreight brand, the top half of the hopper was finished in flame red and the lower half in grey. This re-livery programme was never completed and a brown painted wagons could still be seen in the early 2000s. Following privatisation new liveries appeared on the HEA fleet including Transrail grey, Mainline blue and later EWS maroon.
Specification
- Die-cast compensated chassis
- Finely profiled wheels and axles with brass bearing pockets
- Highly detailed injection moulded hopper body
- Many separately added fine details
- Sprung metal buffers
- Sprung metal coupling hook and Instanter coupling
- Expertly applied liveries