Iron Minks GWR & More!

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR goods grey livery with the pre-1904 lettering style.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR goods grey livery with 25in height lettering, as applied 1904-1920.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR goods grey livery with 25in height lettering, as applied 1904-1920.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR goods grey livery with post-1937 5in height lettering.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished British Railways goods grey livery. 1948 onwards.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR WW2 bright blue Salvage Save for Victory livery. C1940-1944.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished as a GWR Improvised Gunpowder Van in black livery with red GPV lettering and warning cross. WW1 & WW2-withdraw

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished as an Improvised Gunpowder Van conversion on loan to the Southern Railway in black livery with red GPV lettering and warning cross. WW2.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished BPCM British Portland Cement Manufacturers van number 262 in yellow & blue livery with Ferrocrete lettering. 1910s-1960s

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished BPCM British Portland Cement Manufacturers van number 168 in grey livery. 1910s-1960s

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished GWR goods grey livery with 16in height lettering, as applied 1920-1936.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished British Railways departmental grey livery. 1948 onwards.

The 'Iron Mink' is one of the most recognisable GWR wagon types from the end of the 19th century, with over 4,700 examples constructed between 1886 and 1901. Both underframe and body were built from iron and steel, creating a robust and long-lived wagon, with examples surviving into the 1960s. The metal construction made the design ideal for use as Gunpowder vans, wagons to the same style being used by other railway companies and private owners.
This model is finished as a Gunpowder van owned by the Cambrian Railways painted in red livery. 1900s-1922.

The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished in the bright red gunpowder van livery of the Caledonian Railway, wagon number 34.

The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished in the white gunpowder van livery of the Great Northern Railway, wagon number 13207.

The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished in the grey livery of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway, wagon number 30897.

Several of the South Wales railway companies followed the GWR in adopting the Iron Mink for their own fleet of ventilated box vans. There were usually detail differences between the GWR wagons and those of the other operators, allowing the origins of these vans to be deduced even after the South Wales fleets were integrated with the GWRs own Iron Minks at the grouping.
This model is finished in the brown livery of the Taff Vale Railway, wagon number 5352.

Several of the South Wales railway companies followed the GWR in adopting the Iron Mink for their own fleet of ventilated box vans. There were usually detail differences between the GWR wagons and those of the other operators, allowing the origins of these vans to be deduced even after the South Wales fleets were integrated with the GWRs own Iron Minks at the grouping.
This model is finished in the red lead livery of the Barry Railway, wagon number 1343.

The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished in the bright red gunpowder van livery of the North British Railway, wagon number 65410.

The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished in the bright red gunpowder van livery of the North Eastern Railway, wagon number 7559.

Wagons constructed to the the iron mink design were offered by several private wagon builders, with wagons being constructed for railway companies and private operators. Cement companies purchased a significant number of these wagons, the iron bodies offering a very good level of weather protection, essential for a load which needed to arrive perfectly dry.
Model finished as Greaves of Harbury blue lias portland lime cement van number 242, with lettering suggesting it may be on hire from the GWR.

Wagons constructed to the the iron mink design were offered by several private wagon builders, with wagons being constructed for railway companies and private operators. Cement companies purchased a significant number of these wagons, the iron bodies offering a very good level of weather protection, essential for a load which needed to arrive perfectly dry. Many of these vans found their way into fleet of the British Portland Cement Manufacturers (BPCM) conglomerate, best known by it's Blue Circle Cement marketing logo. BPCM's bright yellow 'Blue Circle' iron minks had long lives, being a common sight in the early British Railway period before being replaced with more modern wagons in the 1960s.

Wagons constructed to the the iron mink design were offered by several private wagon builders, with wagons being constructed for railway companies and private operators. Cement companies purchased a significant number of these wagons, the iron bodies offering a very good level of weather protection, essential for a load which needed to arrive perfectly dry.
Model finished as Dunlop wagon number 6 in plain black livery.

.The GWR iron bodied 'Iron Mink' vans made an excellent base for duties where a strong and secure wagon was required. Many vans of similar design were built by other railways and for private owners by railway wagon works. Regular uses were for flour and cement, which needed to be kept dry during transport and for the secure conveyance of explosives, classified as Gunpowder Vans. Gunpowder vans in particular were frequently given a distinct livery to alert railway staff to the hazardous cargo.
This Rapido Trains Iron Mink model is finished as G Fawkes gunpowder van numbered 1605.
An interesting livery, though we believe Mr Fawkes gunpowder lacked the bang of some competitors products....