Cylindrical Tank Wagon Glynneath Gunpowder No.172

Cylindrical Tank Wagon Glynneath Gunpowder No.172

Details:

The Rapido 009 Glynneath Gunpowder No. 172 Gunpowder Van is a highly distinctive piece of industrial narrow gauge rolling stock, bringing an unusual and historically fascinating prototype to the 009 model railway. Finished as Glynneath Gunpowder No. 172, the model represents a specialist van used in connection with the transportation and handling of explosives. Its enclosed design and distinctive prototype make it an excellent addition to a Welsh industrial, quarry or gunpowder works layout.

Features:

• 009 Gauge, 1:76 scale gunpowder van
• Glynneath Gunpowder No. 172 livery and numbering
• Detailed model of a specialist explosives-carrying vehicle
• Ideal for Welsh industrial and narrow gauge layouts

Historical Background

The Glynneath Gunpowder Works, located near Pontneddfechan in the upper Neath Valley, was established in 1857 by the Vale of Neath Powder Company. The works produced black powder primarily for the South Wales coal-mining and quarrying industries. Its remote location was deliberately chosen because gunpowder manufacture was an extremely hazardous process, while the extensive site allowed individual buildings to be separated to reduce the consequences of accidental explosions.

An extensive internal narrow gauge tramway connected the various buildings and working areas across the site. This railway system was an essential part of the works, allowing materials and finished products to be moved safely around the widely dispersed factory. Specialist wagons and vans were particularly important because explosives could not simply be handled like ordinary goods. Purpose-built gunpowder vans were generally enclosed and constructed with safety in mind, rather than using open wagons for explosive traffic.

The Glynneath works subsequently passed through several ownerships, including Curtis's and Harvey and Nobel's Explosives, before becoming part of Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) in 1926. Production of black powder ended on 31 December 1931, following its removal from the Home Office's permitted list of explosives, although the site continued to be used for the storage of explosives until its final closure in 1940.

The Glynneath Gunpowder No. 172 therefore represents an especially unusual aspect of Britain's industrial railway heritage. Its connection with one of Wales's earliest explosives factories makes it an ideal choice for recreating a South Wales industrial narrow gauge railway, particularly alongside quarry and mineral wagons typical of the region.