This is my second truck. Have you noticed how my trucks never seem to get finished! This is an 'improved' version of No 1. It has an equilizing beam (25mm x 25mm box section steel) to which the axleboxes are welded. This reduces the number of coach bolts required by half! The side frames and buffer beams are built up the same as for Truck No 1, and the wheels are cast iron 3" dia.. I will probably rebuild the body of this one to an open truck with removeable seat similar to the bogie truck.

O.K., well, I have made a start on the re-building of the riding truck. The sides and floor are of 12mm MDF, screwed together. The grooves on the sides and ends (to represent planks) were cut with a circular saw set at about 1/16th inch depth.

The corner plates are Aluminium angle and are in red primer ready for the black top coat. The hook coupling has now been replaced with a link-and-pin type coupling made of steel angle.

Things are progressing!

The chassis has now been painted black. The body has had two coats of brown paint, and the corner angles have been painted black and fitted. Small round head wood screws were used to fix the corner plates. Just need to paint the inside, and it will be finished.

I have made a removeable seat that rests on the sides, so it can still be used as a driving truck.