TIPHOOK KPA BOGIE HOPPERS
Above : PIA 33 70 6905 008-1 Tiphook bogie hopper wagon in original white and blue livery seen here at Peak Forest during 1994. These wagons were first used in the area about 1990 after seeing use in the Mendips. At the time they were used to supplement the RMC fleet as seen here. When some of the wagons were refurbished in 1994 they recieved a new colour scheme as seen below and were recoded KPA. However a great deal of these wagons were stored at Carnforth for a few years following the slump in the construction industry. Some of these were refurbished but many were scrapped and the valuable bogies and frames used in the construction of new wagons. KPE700 or KPE702; Arbel-Fauvet, Douai, France 1988; Tare 22.5t or 22.9t; GLW 90t; Fabricated Y25 bogies; Numbers 33 70 6905 000 - 049 and 33 70 6905 100 - 199.
Above : One of the refurbished KPA hoppers seen here in the formation of a train bound for Ratcliffe Power Station. When Buxton Lime Industries took delivery of their new JGA wagons for the Tunstead - Hindlow in 1994 they also had 9 Tiphook wagons converted and refurbished. The rounded top ends of the wagons had to be cut down so that they would go under the new loading facilities at Tunstead. Livery is overall Tiphook Blue with white lettering. The converted wagons were 33 70 6905 000/001/003/018/026/030/033/035 & 044. When the joint venture between RMC and BLI was started in 1998 for the Manchester Airport Runway stone contract a new company, Buxton Rail was formed to jointly apply for funds and resources. Therefore another 22 wagons were converted to the same style as the original 9. These wagons were not only used on Aiport traffic but also RMC and BLI traffic where appropriate. The 22 wagons were 33 70 6905 101 - 103/105/106/108/109/111/112/114 - 118/129/130/133/156/160/168 & 179.
Above : Newly refurbished KPA wagons await their Monday morning departure at Peak Forest. Note the stairs and handrails which allow inspection of the interior and load the associated end steps all in white and the handbrake wheel all at the same end of the wagon. These wagons were hired as part of the Buxton Rail venture as described above.