GW Gauge 1 Siphon Car #1450

Sam,
Are you sure it has sound?
Is there a speaker?
I would suggest that maybe it was just a battery car to go behind an electric loco.
Cheers,
David Leech, Canada

Thanks David—yeah—didn’t see one but here’s what I found online:

“A gauge 1 model of a Great Western 'Siphon G' braced wagon No 1450, fitted with battery power, sound and removable roof, finished in brown and black livery. Built by Gordon Nightscale.”

Sam

I was hoping someone out there might own a working example to clear up the way this was intended to operate. It certainly won’t go behind any electric engine however…🫣

Probably a long shot to find an owner…but maybe someone out there can put the pieces together.

Sam

boilingwater said:

There appears to be two fused relays with bayonet plug ends inside the coach. Operationally, there is a volume adjustment(?) on the outside end of the car.

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I see no relays, just terminal strips where the various wires connect, and a socket on top of the panel. The socket is almost certainly the charger interface for the batteries. We use them all the time - often 5.5x2.1mm (standard LED strip plug.)
I think we need a wiring diagram and a photo of what is under the center panel to figure it out. (Unless someone comes up with a working example!)
The switch and volume knob are also expected, though volume controls aren't usually outside. Do the yellow/green wires shown in the interior pic go to the volume? They seem to go under the panel, so the sound board might be there?
Those spade connectors are typical of the old-style lead-acid sealed batteries used these days in alarm systems.

Thanks Pete…this stuff i know very little about. I do remember the lead acid batteries tho. I used to use them but 2? I’ll take apart the center section where, if there is a sound board, I should see it…Again, no idea why there would be one in here..

Sam

No wiring diagram, no idea of the battery requirements or what Mr Nightscale intended the function of this car to be…no milk churns to be found! Perhaps as David suggests, it’s largely a battery car for a locomotive…sound board optional…

Sam

If you need more help, remove the 2 screws to reveal what is underneath that center panel, clearly it had 2 batteries which would have been overkill for a sound system alone, but that knob in the end of the car and additional switch suggest a sound system...

Pete Thornton said:

David gets the prize!

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I will wait with baited breath for it to arrive!!!
Is it the knob in the corridor connector that is a potentiometer with a switch to manually control the speed and direction of the attached loco?
Cheers,
David Leech, Canada

David,

That makes sense but I’ll be stuffing churns in there not batteries..

Do you have a pic of what they look like in the interior?

Sam

David Leech said:

Is it the knob in the corridor connector

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Nope. That could be a sound volume. There's a real clue in the pic.

David Leech said:

I will wait with baited breath for it to arrive!!!

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Don't hold your breath. We're on the Internet so this is a virtual prize.

boilingwater said:

Do you have a pic of what they look like in the interior?

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Sam,
I have a book on GW siphons, pictures of empty interiors, but no milk churns in sight.
They had fold down shelves along the sides.
There's one of a conversion for wartime wounded!
Cheers,
David Leech, Canada