Departmental ‘Salmon’ Bogie Rail Wagon – YFB Variant

This version of the ‘Salmon’ bogie rail wagon, designated ‘YFB’, is painted in departmental yellow and equipped with hand-operated cranes. These cranes were used to lift and load heavy lengths of rail, particularly during track relaying operations.

Based on an LMS design, the ‘Salmon’ bogie wagon measured 62 feet in length and featured five bolsters for supporting long rail sections. A total of 849 wagons were built for British Railways between 1949 and 1961. Designed for transporting lengths of rail, a single wagon could carry several 60-foot rails, while multiple wagons in a rake could accommodate up to 600-foot lengths of welded rail.

Originally finished in black, many of these wagons were later repainted in yellow for departmental use. By 2008, nearly 400 remained in service, having been modernised with air brakes and updated bogies. The wagons were extensively employed by civil engineering and permanent way departments across the railway network.