Private Owner Kits

A detailed model kit of a 6 plank open mineral wagon with side and end doors built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company wagon to the RCH 1887 design.
The 6 plank wagon was designed to carry 10 tons and was built until the 1907 RCH specification was introduced when a 7 plank 12 ton design became standard. The top plank(s) of the 6 and 7 plank wagons were usually continuous, providing added strength to the body, though sometimes a top flap door was fitted. Wagons with end doors were favoured by collieries, coal factors (wholesalers), exporters and large consumers (eg. heavy industry and gas companies) as the end door allowed rapid discharge by tipping. Side and bottom doors were also fitted so the wagons could easily be used for manual or hopper unloading.

Supplied with metal wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers

A detailed model kit of a 6 plank open mineral wagon with side doors built by the Gloucester Railway Carriage and Wagon Company wagon to the RCH 1887 design with pre-printed sides lettered for Gloucester coal merchant (Edward) Burtt, who described his trade as 'Beehive Manufacturer', his original product line. This kit would be appropriate for Burtts' wagons numbers 5 (1893) and 4 (1900) which were Gloucester RC&W 1887 type 6 plank wagons with yellow lettering.
Supplied with metal wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers

A detailed model kit building a RCH 1907 standard design open wagon with 7 plank height sides and fixed ends. This kit replicates the details of a wagon built by the Charles Roberts company.

This 7 plank design was introduced in 1907 during a period when the grand 'billboard' lettering of private owner wagons was popular and this design continued to be built into mid 1920s when wagons to the new 1923 specifications became the builders standard products.
The top plank(s) of the 6 and 7 plank wagons were usually continuous, providing added strength to the body, though sometimes a top flap door was fitted. Small coal merchants normally ordered wagons with side doors only, but collieries, coal factors (dealers), exporters and large coal consumers (eg. heavy industry and gas companies) usually ordered wagons with end doors to allow for rapid discharge by tipping.

Supplied with metal wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers

Slaters Plastikard 7041 O Gauge Charles Roberts RCH 1907 specification 7 plank open wagon with end door. Unpainted kit

A detailed model kit building a RCH 1907 standard design open wagon with 7 plank height sides, side and end doors. This kit replicates the details of a wagon built by the Charles Roberts company.

This 7 plank design was introduced in 1907 during a period when the grand 'billboard' lettering of private owner wagons was popular and this design continued to be built into mid 1920s when wagons to the new 1923 specifications became the builders standard products.

The top plank(s) of the 6 and 7 plank wagons were usually continuous, providing added strength to the body, though sometimes a top flap door was fitted. Wagons equipped with an end door were favoured by collieries, coal factors (dealers), exporters and large coal consumers (eg. heavy industry and gas companies) as these wagons could be emptied quickly by tipping the coal through the end. Side and bottom doors were also normally fitted so the wagons could easily be used for manual or hopper unloading.

Supplied with metal wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers

A detailed model kit building a RCH 1923 standard design open wagon with 8 plank height sides, side and end doors. The 1923 specification standardised many more sizes and components, as a result  the differences between builders were greatly reduced and this kit can be finished as a wagon built by many of the wagon builders. The 1923 specification also introduced the use of oil lubricated axleboxes as standard, so many of these wagons were reconditioned after WW2 and continued in British Railways service through the 1950s.
8 plank wagons were favoured by many collieries producing lower density coal as the extra height allowed a full 12 ton load to be carried. Most of these wagons therefore had end doors to permit tipping of the load directly into bunkers of ships holds.

Supplied complete with wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers. Slaters RCH 1923 wagon kits are supplied with etched brass W irons and compensating units.

A detailed model kit building a RCH 1923 standard design open wagon with 8 plank height sides, side and end doors. The 1923 specification standardised many more sizes and components, as a result  the differences between builders were greatly reduced and this kit can be finished as a wagon built by many of the wagon builders. The 1923 specification also introduced the use of oil lubricated axleboxes as standard, so many of these wagons were reconditioned after WW2 and continued in British Railways service through the 1950s.
8 plank wagons were able to carry 12 tons of even lower density coals. While collieries normally ordered wagons with end doors private coal merchants usually ordered wagons with fixed ends and side doors only.

Supplied complete with wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers. Slaters RCH 1923 wagon kits are supplied with etched brass W irons and compensating units.

By the time a new Railways Clearing House specification for wagon builders was issued in 1923 the 7 plank wagon had become the standard size wagon for coal traffic. The 1923 specifications standardised many more sizes and components, as a result  the differences between builders were greatly reduced and this kit can be finished as a wagon built by many of the wagon builders. The new specification also introduced the use of oil lubricated axleboxes as standard, so many of these wagons were reconditioned after WW2 and continued in British Railways service through the 1950s.

End door wagons were used by colliery companies, coal factors (wholesalers), large consumers (eg gas companies) and shipping lines, the wagons being emptied by tipping directly into bunkers or ships holds. Local coal merchants normally bought wagons with fixed ends as unloading was done by manual shovelling the coal through the side doors.

Supplied with metal wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers. Slaters RCH 1923 wagon kits are supplied with etched brass W irons and compensating units.

Slaters Plastikard 7048 O Gauge RCH 1923 specification 7 plank open wagon with fixed ends and side doors. Unpainted kit

By the time a new Railways Clearing House specification for wagon builders was issued in 1923 the 7 plank wagon had become the standard size wagon for coal traffic. The 1923 specifications standardised many more sizes and components, as a result  the differences between builders were greatly reduced and this kit can be finished as a wagon built by many of the wagon builders. The new specification also introduced the use of oil lubricated axleboxes as standard, so many of these wagons were reconditioned after WW2 and continued in British Railways service through the 1950s.

End door wagons were used by colliery companies, coal factors (wholesalers), large consumers (eg gas companies) and shipping lines, the wagons being emptied by tipping directly into bunkers or ships holds. Local coal merchants normally bought wagons with fixed ends as unloading was done by manual shovelling the coal through the side doors.

Supplied complete with wheels, 3 link couplings and sprung buffers. Slaters RCH 1923 wagon kits are supplied with etched brass W irons and compensating units.