S is for sleepers?

As usual with my latest run of modelling there were a couple of lazy S trucks in the box of

"I don't model that era but I got it cheap!"

So when I came across some pictures of S trucks used in sleeper traffic I remembered my hidden treasures and found good use for them which brings them into my era. Better still they are way and works, which interests me due to individuality.

I cut a piece of balsa wood to shape of the the inside of the wagon. I scribed the sleeper width and put in notches to make it look as though the sleepers had not been cut to square.

I painted it brown and dry brushed it with a deep orange colour to give the impression of the clean grain from cutting and that they had weathered a lot from the time they were sawn to the day of pick up.

Individual sleepers were then cut from scale lumber. They will be applied to the top of the balsa pile. Again painted in the same manner as the balsa.

The Balsa load installed in the wagon. It isn't glued in so it can be removed if needed.

Top view.

SW 13288 with the individual sleepers glued in with white glue. After gluing them in I gave them a little extra streaking for appearance.

WS 1440 with it's sleepers fully loaded. So which is correct WS or SW?

Perhaps the decal applier was dyslexic? Oh yes almost forgot, I did paint the wagon and had the decals made by a mate form the pictures found.

The two wagons "hooked up". I tried to make the top row of sleepers look as though they had dislodged or moved during transport. Then again it might have been 350pm on Friday afternoon.

The top end view.

Opposite end view.