Not Quite Mink Wagon Ferrocrete No.252

Not Quite Mink Wagon Ferrocrete No.252

Model

1:76 Scale model produced by Rapido Trains. This model is ready-to-run and will make a great addition to any model railway collection.

Model Features

• 1:76 Scale Model
• Not-quite-mink
• Ferrocrete Yellow
• No. 252
• Oil axleboxes
• Short end vents
• Double-sided brakes, 4 brake shoes
• Mink doors
• Spoked wheels running in metal bearings
• This model is best suited to 438mm radius curves
• This model is if fitted with NEM style couplings

Details

Shortages of timber forced the GWR to investigate building vans from metal, but it wasn’t until 1888 that what could be called the ‘standard Iron Mink’ appeared. This boasted a 16ft 6in underframe and a capacity of 8 tons. They became Diagram V6 and over 4,000 were built up to 1901 when the GWR reverted to building vans from wood.

The Iron Minks were long-lived, with examples surviving through until British Railways' days in revenue and Departmental service. They could be found all over the UK railway network, and some were recorded as far north as Inverness.

The Iron Minks' metal construction made it an ideal gunpowder van, and it served as such during both world wars. In fact, such was the versatility of the design that it was copied by other railways and other wagon builders. Other railways and builders would use what was essentially the Iron Mink body, but use underframes and fittings to their own design.

The GWR also utilised the same underframe for their Four-Plank Open wagons, the GWR Dia. O21.