Private Owner Vans & Tank Wagons

Chemicals giant Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) was formed by the merger of several chemical industry companies producing a wide variety of products, may of which were used in the production of further chemical products by other parts of the groups.
In addition to it's familiar use in domestic cooking Salt (Sodium Chloride) is used as a feedstock for a number of chemical production processes, but being soluble in water needs to be well protected from the weather while being transported. These covered salt vans were based on the standard coal wagon designs with a simple ridge roof added, providing much better rain protection than a simple tarpaulin sheet and due to their specialist use many remained in service until replaced wagons to modern design in the 1960s.

These tank wagons were used to collect coal tar, a by-product of coal gas production, for refining to extract more useful petro-chemical products. Butlers' operated works in the cities of Bristol and Gloucester and these tar wagons would have travelled widely across the west of England, West Midlands and Welsh borders to collect raw materials from town gas companies to supply the refining plants.
The Butler company originated in the GWR broad gauge era, Mr Butler being appointed by Mr Brunel to run the GWRs' timber treatment plant in Bristol. Later Mr Butler formed his own company, taking over the Bristol works and the company is still operating today as suppliers of industrial oil products like heating oil.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Britain’s railways have long been used to transport oil and petroleum products and the 45 Ton Tank Wagons, later given the TOPS code TTA, were introduced by British Rail to replace an ageing fleet of private owner tank wagons of various design. Used extensively throughout Britain for many decades, the final examples have recently been withdrawn from traffic.

This Bachmann Branchline model features finely moulded catwalks, end ladders and footsteps and separately fitted brake gear, linkage and hand brake levers.

Wm. Butlers' tar tanker is a well-known wagon, its' photograph is frequently used to illustrate the rectangular tank wagon design.
These tank wagons were used to collect coal tar, a by-product of coal gas production, for refining to extract more useful petro-chemicals. Butlers' tar wagons would have travelled widely to collect raw materials from gas companies, particularly around the south-west and west midlands, supplying the companys' plants at Bristol and Gloucester.

The company originates in the GWR broad gauge era, Mr Butler being appointed by Mr Brunel to run the timber treatment plant in Bristol. Later forming his own company Butlers are still operating today as suppliers of industrial oil products like heating oil.