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 19th 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
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-031-027
6 Wheel Milk Tank SR United Dairies
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
Dapol Milk Tank Unpainted is a OO‑scale model representing a six‑wheel milk tanker used between 1932 and 1948. The model is supplied in an unpainted livery with a pristine finish and measures 94 mm in length, 33 mm in width and 48 mm in height. It can negotiate a minimum radius of curve 1 and is fitted with NEM / tension‑lock couplings. The model carries the manufacturer part number A021 and depicts a vehicle from the period of the Big Four railway companies (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR).
The historical background of the type relates to the development of bulk milk transport in the United Kingdom. After an 1865 cow plague eradicated urban herds, Express Dairies began importing milk from rural farms. Founder George Barham’s invention of the milk churn was the principal method of transport until the early 1930s, when advances in sheet‑metal rolling led to cylindrical bulk milk tanks. Early four‑wheel tanks proved unstable at speed, prompting the adoption of a more stable six‑wheel configuration, which became the standard for most milk tankers of the era.