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Dapol 4F-032-007

Rectangular Tank Smith & Forrest

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

Prototype Eras
Era 2 (1875 to 1923) Pre-grouping
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

Rectangular tanks were a very common sight in the latter part of the 1800s and up to 1930, serving Britain’s booming chemical industry and in conveying tar by-products from the numerous municipal gas works found in every large town and city.

Their rectangular shape was dictated by the metal forming technology of the day, where only at sheets were available, which were simply riveted together. At the end of the 1920s the development of the ability to accurately roll plate, enabled safer cylindrical tanks to be manufactured and rectangular tanks became obsolete.

Catalogue listing

Model details

The Dapol Smith & Forrest Rectangular Tank Wagon is a model of a type of wagon that was commonly used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the UK. These wagons were used to transport chemicals and tar by-products from gas works in towns and cities.

The real-life rectangular tank wagons were a product of the limited metal forming technology of the time, which only allowed for the use of flat sheets that were riveted together. However, the development of the ability to roll plate in the 1920s led to the introduction of safer cylindrical tanks, making rectangular tanks obsolete.

Dapol's model of the Smith & Forrest Rectangular Tank Wagon is designed for OO gauge model railways. It features a highly detailed body moulding, accurately applied livery, and profiled wheels. The wagon also includes NEM pockets with self-centring couplings, allowing for easy connection to other models.

The model wagon measures 73mm in length, 33mm in width, and 31mm in height. It is suitable for use on curves with a minimum radius of 1 foot.