Tanker Wagons

Build Date 1942-1965
Operators Various
Livery Various
Status: Various
Owned By
 NNR & M&GN Society

History

Railways were originally built primarily to carry freight traffic and tankers were essential in carrying any products that were in a liquid or gas state. They are less common in preservation than covered vans primarily because tankers seldom have a secondary use (such as for storage of parts). They are therefore primarily preserved as historical artefacts in their own right or as water carriers. The NNR has a small collection of tankers, covering the Second World War period onwards, and has examples of earlier un-braked examples along with a later air braked example to show visitors how freight wagons had developed by the very end of the steam era.

Preservation

During the 1940’s thousands of Fuel Oil tankers were built quickly to service the needs of the war effort and progress a country which was slowly moving from steam power over to internal combustion. Many of them, including both of our examples, were known as “private owner” vehicles as they were built for use by outside oil companies such as Esso and Shell. They were basic with spoked wheels and no brakes and would have run at a maximum of 25mph. 1982 & 5304 were both donated to the railway in the 1970’s after being replaced by newer (air braked) tankers and have been cosmetically restored several times.

Both tankers were originally used for petroleum and have not been used for liquid transit in preservation. Rather, they are preserved as artefacts only with 1982 on static display outside the museum at Holt and 5304 restored to run in the demonstration freight set.

The youngest wagon in our collection is 53083, a 1965 built fuel oil tanker which would have replaced older examples such as 1982 & 5304. This tanker is still on a rigid 4-wheel chassis but capacity was doubled and air braking was fitted representing superior and safer design. Maximum speed was raised to 60mph. The tanker was built for “Storage & Transport System Ltd” as part of a small order of seven wagons but the design ran to many hundreds.

It essentially had the same mundane life as the other tankers transporting oils around the county and its final duties were for Carless moving North Sea gas condensate to/from the terminal at North Walsham, Norfolk. It was this local connection that led to it being added to the NNR’s collection in circa 1990 when, on withdrawal from BR duties, was used in an emergency training exercise at North Walsham and tipped on its side! After being righted and surplus to requirements it was agreed for 53083 to make the short journey to the NNR and into preservation.

The vehicle was in good condition and didn’t require restoration, but the tank was purged and used as a water carrier/tank at Holt for some years. Following the construction of the water tower at Holt 53083 was no longer needed, so was cosmetically restored and now runs in the demonstration goods train. It is affectionately nicknamed the “Devil Tank” as its “modern” 1960’s appearance made it unpopular with more traditional members at the time of its acquisition and even today it is sometimes omitted from the demonstration goods set for the same reason.

Number Type Built Notes
1982 14T “Private Owner” Fuel Oil Tank 1942 Hurst Nelson Static Holt Museum
5304 14T “Private Owner” Fuel Oil Tank 1944 Hurst Nelson
53083 32T Fuel Oil Tank (GLW) 1965 Metro Cammell