Dapol 4F-031-027

6 Wheel Milk Tank SR United Dairies

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)

Manufacturer description

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.

Catalogue listing

Brand
Dapol
Product Code
4F-031-027
GTIN
5016927021573
RRP
£17.87
Release date
August 2023

Model details

Height
48mm
Width
33mm
Livery
United Dairies
Minimum radius curve
Radius 1
Coupling
NEM / Tension lock
Gauge
OO
Coupling mount
NEM pockets
Coupling type
Tension lock
Chassis construction
Lightweight
Minimum radius
Radius 1
Scale
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
Tooling date
2005

Prototype information

Type of vehicle
Tank Wagon
Wheel configuration
6-wheel
Build dates
1932 to 1948
In service until
1960s/ 1970s
Main duties
Milk Transport
Operated by
Great Western Railway
London Midland & Scottish Railway
London & North Eastern Railway
Southern Railway
British Railways
Builder
Various
(Tanks owned by dairies & chassis by railway companies)
Wheel arrangement
6-wheel
Built
1932 to 1948
Built by
Various (Tanks owned by dairies & chassis by railway companies)

Supplier Links

Dapol website


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Related products

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.

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