Coal is King – and that is certainly true for any steam locomotive. Anyway, without copious amounts of ‘black gold’ the railways in the heyday of
steam would grind to a halt. The GWR had their own Loco Coal wagons to manage this constant flow of
fuel. Some would be found running in special trains, whilst many sent to local
sheds would be attached to ordinary freight trains. This meant that Loco Coal
wagons could be seen all across the GWR network on their way to all the
Company’s sheds. Originally, wooden-bodied wagons were used. However,
the first official diagram – the N6 in 1889 – had an iron body, a practice the
GWR would continue. GWR would continue.
The last 120 N19 wagons built in 1913 featured rolled corners (like that seen
on the ‘Iron Mink’) with distinctive triangular-shaped capping, DCIII brake gear
and self-contained buffers. A central 5ft 4in drop door was on each side –
increased from 5ft on previous wagon diagrams, which allowed for easier
unloading into tubs on coaling towers or onto small coal stages at remote
engine sheds. These wagons survived in good numbers well into British Railways, having
carried several different liveries and lettering styles throughout their lifetime. 10
different versions are available for pre-order now.
The GWR was no exception and even had a Central Coal Office in Pontypool
Road that coordinated the supply of coal from the private South Wales
collieries (where much of the GWR’s coal came from) to large locomotive
depots and small engine sheds alike. Large motive power depots could receive
up to 3,000 tons per week, whilst small branchline sheds might only receive 20
tons.