Dogfish ballast hopper Profile and Models

Dogfish ballast hopper

DB983144 at Duddeston in May 1985. ©Steve Jones

The Catfish and Dogfish wagons were BR’s standard small ballast hopper wagons, with almost 2000 built. Measuring in with a 14ft wheelbase, they were 22ft 6in over headstocks. The Dogfish was designed to carry 24 Tons of ballast. All were fitted with vacuum brakes from new, many lasted into the 1990s while a programme to fit air-brakes to surviving Dogfish wagons was started in 2000. Despite this, the last examples types were withdrawn in 2006. Many have survived into preservation.

Type of Vehicle

Hopper Wagon

Builder

Metro-Cammell

Build Date

1955 - 1961

Total Built

1,249

Wheel Configuration

4-wheel

Operated By

British Rail
LoadHaul
EWS

Main Duties

Ballast transport

In Service Until

2006

Surviving Examples

Some in preservation