📢 Please take a minute to read this personal message from the creator of RailwayModels.uk

Accurascale ACC1060

BR 16T Mineral - MCO - BR Freight Grey (with Data Panel) TOPS - Pack M

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 7 (1972 to 1982) British Rail Blue (TOPS)

Manufacturer description

Seen as very much the ‘missing link’ in the ‘Powering Britain’ range, the 16 ton mineral wagon is an essential addition to the Accurascale range to tell the story of coal traffic on the railways throughout the 20th century. The archetypal BR 16 ton all-steel non-hoppered mineral wagon proliferated across the United Kingdom’s railway network during the 1950s and 1960s and there was probably not a siding, freight yard or industrial railway system in the country that did not house at least an example or three of these vitally important, yet mundane railway vehicles.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Accurascale has released a new model of the British Railways 16T mineral wagon, featuring a freight grey livery with a data panel. This model is part of a TOPS triple pack, consisting of three wagons with numbers B215315, B164973, and B274598. The model is designed to represent the period of British Rail Blue, with a focus on coal traffic on the railways.

The model features a die-cast metal chassis and plastic body, with a weight of 37g excluding the coal load. It measures 78mm in length over buffers and 34.53mm in width, with a wheelbase of 36mm. The model is designed to operate on a minimum radius of 371mm, making it suitable for use on small-radius track.

The model includes separately fitted side doors, top doors, and end doors, as well as metal 3-hole wheels, chemically blackened to represent the RP25-110 standard. The bearings are made of blackened brass, and the axles are supported by metal buffers. The model also features eroded metal, plastic, and wire details, including handrails, grab handles, and brake gear.

The 16T mineral wagon was a crucial part of the UK's railway network, with over 250,000 wagons built between 1944 and 1955. The wagon was designed to replace the outdated private owner coal wagons, and was used extensively for coal traffic. The model is a welcome addition to the Accurascale range, providing a detailed and accurate representation of this iconic wagon.

The history of the 16T mineral wagon is complex, with various designs and modifications made over the years. The wagon was eventually phased out in the 1980s, as coal traffic declined and the method of transporting coal by rail evolved. Despite its eventual demise, the 16T wagon played a significant role in the history of the UK's railways, and its legacy lives on in the model railway world.