Merry-go-round train

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A Merry-go-round train, often abbreviated to MGR, is a unit train of hopper wagons which both loads and unloads its cargo while moving. In the United Kingdom, they are most commonly coal trains delivering to power stations. These trains were introduced in the 1960s, and were one of the few innovations of the Beeching axe, along with investment from the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) and the N.C.B (National Coal Board)into new power stations and loading facalities. Power stations that were built to handle the new MGR traffic were Aberthaw, Drax, Didcot, Eggborough, Fiddlers Ferry and Ratcliffe, all of which are still open for traffic at the present time. Many of the older power stations were gradually converted to MGR operation.

1 Balloon loop
2 Darleks
3 Wagons
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Balloon loop

Associated with merry-go-round trains are the construction of Balloon loops at the origin and destination so that the train doesn't waste time shunting the engine from one end of the train to the other.

[edit] Darleks

This is the nickname given to the automatic door opening/closing equipment located on the approach to and from the bunker in the Power station.

[edit] Wagons

When MGR services were first introduced, British Rail designed an all new wagon with Air Brakes and a capacity for 33tonnes of pulverised coal. Before the introduction of TOPS these wagons were referred to by the Telegraphic code name "HOPAB33", this was an abbreviation of Hopper Air Brake 33 tonne. With the introduction of TOPS in 1973 the wagons were given the code "HAA", over the years with modifications to wagons other codes have been allocated including HDA and HMA. With the coming of Privitisation to Britains Railways, new wagon types have been introduced by EWS (HTA) and Freightliner Heavy Haul (HHA). These new wagons have air operated doors that do away with the need for "Darleks" at Power stations and increased tonnage.