Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs
Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
In the nineteenth century, milk was supplied to urban areas mainly by cows kept in urban herds even in the largest metropolitan areas such as London. These cows were kept in cramped, unsanitary conditions and in 1865 a cow plague swept London resulting in the extermination of all urban herds. Express Dairies grew from this moment on and was instrumental in bringing in milk from the country into the towns and cities.
The founder and chairman of Express Dairies, George Barham invented the milk churn which was the principal way of transporting milk until the 1930s at which time the growing demand and the advancement of sheet metal rolling techniques lead to the development of cylindrical bulk handling milk tanks. The first milk tanks had four wheels, but were found to be unstable at speed. However, a six wheel derivative was found to be very suitable and most of the earlier milk tankers were eventually converted.
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Dapol
4F-031-006
6 Wheel Milk Tank MWB Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-010
6 Wheel Milk Tank Express Dairy Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-016
6 Wheel Milk Tanker IMS 36 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-038
6 Wheel Milk Tanker Co-op Milk Red Weathered
Dapol
A021
Milk Tank Unpainted
Dapol
4F-031-042
6 Wheel Milk Tank Unigate Creameries 70349 - Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-037
6 Wheel Milk Tanker Co-op Milk Red
Dapol
4F-031-034
6 Wheel Milk Tank IMS 39 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-030
6 Wheel Milk Tank Co-op 165 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-029
6 Wheel Milk Tank Co-op 165
Dapol
4F-031-028
6 Wheel Milk Tank SR United Dairies Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-026
6 Wheel Milk Tank CWS Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-025
6 Wheel Milk Tank CWS
Dapol
4F-031-022
6 Wheel Milk Tanker Co-Op 169 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-020
6 Wheel Milk Tanker United Dairies Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-019
6 Wheel Milk Tanker United Dairies
Dapol
4F-031-018
6 Wheel Milk Tank Express Dairy 'E' - Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-017
6 Wheel Milk Tank Express Dairy 'E'
Dapol
4F-031-015
6 Wheel Milk Tanker IMS 36
Dapol
4F-031-011
6 Wheel Milk Tank Independent Milk Supplies
Dapol
4F-031-012
6 Wheel Milk Tank Independent Milk Supplies Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-009
6 Wheel Milk Tank Express Dairy
Dapol
4F-031-008
6 Wheel Milk Tanker IMS Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-007
6 Wheel Milk Tanker IMS
Dapol
4F-031-005
6 Wheel Milk Tank MMB
Dapol
4F-031-002
6 Wheel Milk Tank SR United Dairy Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-001
6 Wheel Milk Tank SR United Dairy
Dapol
4F-031-043
6 Wheel Milk Tank Co-op 162
Dapol
4F-031-044
6 Wheel Milk Tank Co-op 162 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-045
6 Wheel Milk Tank Unigate Creameries 70342
Dapol
4F-031-046
6 Wheel Milk Tank Unigate Creameries 70342 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-047
6 Wheel Milk Tank West Park Dairy 7
Dapol
4F-031-048
6 Wheel Milk Tank West Park Dairy 7 Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-136
6 Wheel Milk Tank Dark Star Brewing Co 30 - Weathered
Dapol
4F-031-135
6 Wheel Milk Tank Dark Star Brewing Co 30
Dapol
4F-031-129
6 Wheel Milk Tank Co-Op 167
The Dapol model of a six wheel milk tanker in United Dairies livery is a representation of a vehicle that was used for transporting milk during the Big Four period. The model is built to OO gauge and features a six wheel wheel arrangement, with a minimum curve radius of 1.
This type of milk tanker was a development of earlier four wheel designs, which were found to be unstable at speed. The six wheel design proved to be more suitable and many of the earlier milk tankers were converted to this format.
The model is designed to replicate the look and feel of the real thing, with features such as profiled wheels and accurately applied livery. The body of the model is highly detailed, with separately added ladders and rails. The model is also fitted with NEM pockets and self-centring couplings.
The measurements of the model are as follows: length over buffer is 94mm, width is 33mm, and height is 48mm. The model is a representation of a vehicle that was built between 1932 and 1948, during the period of the Big Four railway companies.