N32 Coal Wagon Decorated Samples

Minerva Model Railways have received the decorated samples of their N32 Felix Pole Coal wagons, for the initial four liveries being released this year

To recap, in 1923, the Great Western Railway started a concerted effort to introduce larger capacity coal/mineral wagons, to save shunting and enable shorter train lengths. They were colloquially known as Felix Pole wagons, after the GW’s energetic General Manager, who worked hard to promote their use. These 20ton wagons were built to a variety of diagrams, and in 1933, 5000 were constructed to Dia.N32 at a cost of £1 million, and rented to collieries.

They appeared in several private owner liveries, and Minerva will offer some of these additionally to the normal GW and BR colours. The four liveries are for the 16” GW livery, Amalgamated Anthracite, Blaenavon and British Railways.

Photos of the 4 models are below

Price of each model is now expected to be £62.50, with postage £5.50 per order. Order forms are available from Minerva’s website, https://www.minervamodelrailways.co.uk/how-to-order/