The tooling has been designed to allow the model to be produced with side doors and fixed ends, as commonly ordered by local coal merchants, or with side doors and one end door for end tipping as favoured by collieries and large consumers.
The Railways Clearing House (RCH) issued specifications for railway wagons agreed with the major wagon builders and railway companies to provide commonality of parts and agreed acceptance for interchange. Wagons built to the basic RCH 1887 specification wagons are noticeably shorter than later 1923 RCH produced by Dapol. These wagons were built through the period of colourfully private owner liveries and could still be found in service in the late 1930s.
The model features the usual 9 foot wheelbase and grease lubricated axleboxes. The Gloucester company incorporated the Gloucester name into the axlebox cover and brake block castings, features which will be reproduced on the model.
7 Plank Coal Wagon Specifications
- Diecast Chassis
- Compensation beam for smooth running
- Injection moulded body and detail parts
- Sprung metal buffers
- Sprung couplings
- Externally braced
- Diecast open spoke wheels with blackened steel tyres.
- Wheels suitable for fine standard track
- Expertly applied livery
- RCH 1887 Specification
- 7 plank body—side door only and side and end door versions
- 7 plank body with end door has separately applied operating bar
- Axle boxes and brake shoes embossed with the word “Gloucester”
- Brake gear on one side