Today (10.08.23) there were about 14 or 15 WIA Covered Car Wagons at Didcot. I do not beleive that they are ALL stored and it seems likely that some are changed over with the Morris Cowley-Southampton Docks workings occasionally. Today 007-5 was standing behind the station (green carded for repair) while others that could be identified from the car park and entrance footway were: 024-0, 022-4, 039-2, 056-2 and 053: Can anyone advise what the others there are ?
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WIA Wagons at Didcot
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Oxfordblues
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The WIAs were designed for Channel Tunnel automotive traffic, but were never used for that purpose, operators preferring open wagons. When the new flow of cars from and to Toton was developed the use of WIAs was discounted, partly because they potentially provide a very handy hiding-place for migrants.
They did find domestic work however from Castle Bromwich and Cowley to Purfleet and Southampton, but many became surplus and have been stored at Newport AD Jn, Hinksey Sidings and of course Didcot Yard. The three examples at Micheldever were recently dismantled on-site, but the problem at Didcot is that there is no road access for scrap-dealers.
After many years in open storage most of the stored WIAs are in a woebegone state and can't easily be made fit to move. So there they remain, unkempt, unsightly and a negative image for rail-freight.
They did find domestic work however from Castle Bromwich and Cowley to Purfleet and Southampton, but many became surplus and have been stored at Newport AD Jn, Hinksey Sidings and of course Didcot Yard. The three examples at Micheldever were recently dismantled on-site, but the problem at Didcot is that there is no road access for scrap-dealers.
After many years in open storage most of the stored WIAs are in a woebegone state and can't easily be made fit to move. So there they remain, unkempt, unsightly and a negative image for rail-freight.
It is true that some of those at Didcot are in a very woe-begone state but others seem to be quite well kept and it seem to me that sometimes there are more there than at other times and indeed some seem to be moved around - occasionally there will be one behind the station (as there was yesterday) but not always and often there will be other wagons mixed in with them. Does anyone know the numbers of those stored there ?
Oxfordblues
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News from Hinksey Sidings here in Oxford: the WIA that has been stranded there for many years has finally had a visit by engineers who appear to have made it fit to move. I imagine it'll be heading to DB's wagon facility at Stoke-on-Trent for remedial work, or possibly to a scrapyard for dismantling.
themiller
Established Member
Some years ago, I saw a rake of these wagons in a service in Switzerland. I was videoing at the time so it didn’t register until I viewed the footage later.
Adrian Barr
Member
WIAs currently stored at Didcot are 7049710018 / 0026 / 0034 / 0091 / 0133 / 0158 / 0224 / 0240 / 0299 / 0307 / 0323 / 0364 / 0372 / 0398 / 0539 / 0562.
Other WIAs may be seen occasionally at Didcot en-route from Cowley to Stoke for maintenance (via Bescot and Arpley), which was the case with the sighting of 007-5 in the original post. Tyre turning is sometimes done at Crewe Electric Depot. The end of the Cowley - Purfleet working no doubt reduced the numbers in traffic, and before that the end of WIA use from Castle Bromwich. For a while after the Purfleet train ended, there was an additional afternoon train from Cowley to Southampton using the Western Docks (with the regular morning train from Cowley using the Eastern Docks) but this second train hasn't run for a while now. The only service using WIAs at the moment is the regular 4O39 09:43 Cowley - Southampton Eastern Docks and 4V39 17:36 return, which runs with a maximum of 10 wagons (which given that each wagon is an articulated set of 5 units, is about 2 wagons short of being half a mile long!)
A surprising photo shows WIAs in the Western Docks in 1996, on a short term flow from Dagenham: https://www.flickr.com/photos/wilfmeld/49702413216/
The roofs are seen in the raised position. Occasionally the mechanism can get stuck, as mentioned in a comment on a more recent picture from the Western Docks: https://www.flickr.com/photos/131175774@N06/51303752257/
A couple of contemporary views from the usual terminal in the Eastern Docks:
The first gives a good overview of the QE2 terminal area where offloading takes place: https://www.flickr.com/photos/169014557@N08/48753632391/
And this one is closer to ground level in the same area: https://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisperkins/53029755486/
A view from inside the loading sidings at Cowley: https://www.flickr.com/photos/brianews/5856510104/in/photostream/
In the 2000s WIAs were used on two export flows. One was from South Marston, Swindon to Ghent, Belgium for Honda.
This train is seen departing its origin, I think it ran twice a week: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevekingd1015/3974143899/
The second train ran from Tyne Dock to Carimate, Italy for Nissan. I seem to remember the Tyne Dock train was weekly, seen here at Peterborough in 2000: https://www.flickr.com/photos/91977133@N04/16368343924
This would most likely have reached Italy via Switzerland, explaining the sighting of WIAs there.
I think there was also some sort of trial of WIAs in Europe after DB bought EWS - at least one of the wagons that was stored at Micheldever (until they were cut up) had been out of the country for a while before returning through the tunnel for storage.
For reference I'll link an older thread discussing these wagons - https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/stored-surplus-wia-wagons.220425/
Sun Chariot
Established Member
I hadn't realised how many years these wagons have been in operation.
Yes, the WIAs still regularly appear on the aforementioned Cowley to Southampton Eastern Docks turns. This thread - post 28 has photos I took in late-September. https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/loco-hauled-around-havant.250146/
Yes, the WIAs still regularly appear on the aforementioned Cowley to Southampton Eastern Docks turns. This thread - post 28 has photos I took in late-September. https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/loco-hauled-around-havant.250146/
Dunfanaghy Rd
Member
Some years ago a pool was hired to BMW, based at Regensburg.
I was told by a STVA guy that the hire costs of WIAs were steep - as he remarked that the taxpayer paid for them and were being stung twice!
Pat
I was told by a STVA guy that the hire costs of WIAs were steep - as he remarked that the taxpayer paid for them and were being stung twice!
Pat
Thread reopened for an update from @Dren Ahmeti
Dren Ahmeti
Member
First batch of WIA’s being scrapped OJO’d on 8D66 last night (08/01) from the loop and cripple roads at Cowley to Hinksey Yard.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Ended up being top and tailed (66174 + 66019), but in the end, they all had a decent bit of brake force!
6 x WIA:
7049710109
7049710125
7049710265
7049710315
7049710356
7049710448
Didcot move TBC, as they’re in much more of a debatable state…
Realtime Trains | 8D66 2204 Morris Cowley M.A.T. to Hinksey Sdgs | 08/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 8D66 2204 departure from Morris Cowley M.A.T. to Hinksey Sdgs on 08/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
www.realtimetrains.co.uk
Ended up being top and tailed (66174 + 66019), but in the end, they all had a decent bit of brake force!
6 x WIA:
7049710109
7049710125
7049710265
7049710315
7049710356
7049710448
Didcot move TBC, as they’re in much more of a debatable state…
As they are OJO, are they going to be broken up at Hinksey ?First batch of WIA’s being scrapped OJO’d on 8D66 last night (08/01) from the loop and cripple roads at Cowley to Hinksey Yard.
Realtime Trains | 8D66 2204 Morris Cowley M.A.T. to Hinksey Sdgs | 08/01/2026
Real-time train running information for 8D66 2204 departure from Morris Cowley M.A.T. to Hinksey Sdgs on 08/01/2026. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.
Ended up being top and tailed (66174 + 66019), but in the end, they all had a decent bit of brake force!
6 x WIA:
7049710109
7049710125
7049710265
7049710315
7049710356
7049710448
Didcot move TBC, as they’re in much more of a debatable state…
I guess there will be two or three moves with those from Didcot - assuming they can be made fit to move to Hinksey.
Dren Ahmeti
Member
Yep, robbed of spare parts to keep the other ones going, and then scrapped on site.
Will probably be a skate move for some of them at Didcot - they’re an awkward size being multi-element behemoths, so they’re over multiple lines at Hinksey… (can be seen from the bridge!)
One Journey Only.
Dren Ahmeti
Member
OJO = One Journey Only (apologies for not including it, on nights, bit delirious!)
Oxfordblues
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I wonder about the 3 WIAs at Newport AD Junc yard. The obvious destination was Unimentals at Newport Docks but they've gone bust.
Oxfordblues
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Next week's Didcot-Oxford blockade would seem an ideal opportunity to move the WIAs at Didcot to Hinksey Sidings if the speed is very low (10mph or 20mph). Does anybody know if anything has been arranged?
Dren Ahmeti
Member
Nothing planned - still being inspected, etc.
The ones at Didcot are not in good nick at all; missing axle box covers, exposed to the elements a lot more than at Cowley - would not surprise me if many of them have to be skated.
The Cowley ones were cleared for 40mph.
Oxfordblues
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Thanks Dren. It'll be difficult to find an hour-long path for wheelskating without a blockade.
Edit: two pairs of engineers were observed at Hinksey this afternoon recovering small components, possibly brake-pads.
Edit: two pairs of engineers were observed at Hinksey this afternoon recovering small components, possibly brake-pads.
Last edited:
Dren Ahmeti
Member
Easily done overnight as Appleford Jn - Kennington Jn is signalled reversibly, allowing for whatever traffic to run past.
Not surprised - the parts are very useful to keep the current set running!
Oxfordblues
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I note that there is a 22:25 8Z88 Hinksey Sidings to Westbury ex-cement works booked for tomorrow night: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R34280/2026-02-22/detailed
It's timed at 15mph so I assume it's to move the WIAs for scrapping at Westbury. Can anyone confirm this please?
It's timed at 15mph so I assume it's to move the WIAs for scrapping at Westbury. Can anyone confirm this please?
Does anyone know the numbers of the three WIAs at Newport AD yard please ?
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
It was last reported that the WIAs at Hinksey were in the process of being scrapped on site, so unless this has been suspended or was incorrect, I don't think this move is for WIAs. Anyway, Westbury Cement Works is a Freightliner location, so it is more likely to be something to do with Freightliner.
Could it be to move 66560 and/or 66587, both of which are at Hinksey Yard on transfer status?
43096
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I would suggest it is nothing to do with Freightliner, and more to do with Heavy Haul Rail.
DBS92042
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It then continues from Westbury as 8Z89 to Merehead Quarry, so its looking like a 66 is the more likely option over a WIA
Dren Ahmeti
Member
Broken down loco being skated iirc.
Nothing to do with the WIAs - scrapping starting soon on site at Hinksey as per plan.
Adrian Barr
Member
Numbers of the wagons plus a bit of history on their last movements:
7049710547 has been out of traffic since April 2009, last used on the Cowley to Purfleet service. It was then moved to Eastleigh depot for storage via the 6O26 Hinksey to Eastleigh infrastructure trip on 16/04/09.
7049710174 has been out of traffic since September 2013. It was last used on the Bromford Bridge - Southampton Eastern Docks Jaguar service. It reached Eastleigh from Didcot on the 6O15 wagonload service on 17/09/13.
7049710182 has been out of traffic since October 2008. It was last used on the Bromford Bridge - Southampton Eastern Docks Jaguar service. It ran empty from Washwood Heath to Southampton Docks in the 6O20 service on 23/10/08 (the same year Washwood Heath yard closed) before being tripped across to Eastleigh for storage.
Eastleigh depot was the maintenance location for the WIAs when they were moved there. The WIAs which are still in traffic are now maintained at Stoke and move there as required via Didcot / Warrington Arpley. Eastleigh depot (run by Arriva Traincare) still sees limited use by DB to fuel locos operating on Southampton services, but no longer does any wagon maintenance for DB, and the charter stock which was previously based there now operates out of Burton Nemesis Rail.
All three of these WIAs now at Newport were moved from Eastleigh Depot to Didcot yard on a 4Z05 service on 14th November 2019, which appears to have run to clear the depot of WIAs.
There's a photo of this 4Z05 movement here, leaving Eastleigh Depot behind 66133: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cna87/49064935553/ (Photo: CA850)
That 4Z05 movement clearly had more than 3 WIAs on it. I'm not sure when the 3 wagons moved onward from Didcot to Newport AD Junction, but presumably it was done to clear some space at Didcot.
The WIAs can be seen here at the start of this video:
SWR Class 455 Units For Scrap at Alexandra Dock Junction Newport & More - November 2025 | Channel: JonesTheSteam
The dead end "field sidings" at AD Junction (12 sidings in two fans of six) make the yard a lot bigger than it appears when viewed from the train, with regular traffic using the handful of double-ended sidings next to the main line. This is a good view of the Field Sidings from the east end, taken in 2022:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/70710639@N05/52276134193/ (Photo: Riolo100)
Passing Hinksey by train on Tuesday (03.03.26) I observed 3 x WIA in the headshunt towards Oxford station and another 4 or 5 standing in the dead end sidings, one of which was heavily graffittied. Can anyone say, are these the ones that were brought up from Cowley 08.01.26 ? If so they are still intact. I guess the three on the headshunt, which appeared in resonable condition are still traffic vehicles.
Adrian Barr
Member
There are currently 7 WIAs shown on TOPS at Hinksey.
7049710489 has been out of traffic since ~2012 and was stored at Eastleigh for some time before moving to Hinksey (not sure when).
The other six are 7049710109 / 125 / 265 / 315 / 356 / 448 which indeed arrived on 8th Jan as 8D66 from Cowley. These have been out of traffic since 2022 or 2023, not as long as many of the WIAs stored at Didcot, but even so they appear to be earmarked for disposal as per post #27.
This photo from January 30th shows 3 of the wagons in one siding and a graffitied wagon by itself in another:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/isispics/55079945844/ (Photo: Alan Bark)
The wagon with the graffiti must be 7049710489, seen in the same position in this 2025 shot:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/darrenjb/54439718304/ (Photo: Darren JB)
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