21t Hopper Pilkington Weathered

21t Hopper Pilkington Weathered

LENGTH OVER BUFFER 82mm
WIDTH 33mm
HEIGHT 40mm

On nationalisation, the newly formed BR inherited a vast collection of rolling stock including wagons and hoppers designed to carry coal. As the national rebuild gained full force after the devastation of World War II, the demand for coal soared and BR decided to produce a standard coal hopper to help improve efficiency.

The variant finally chosen was based on a 1930s LNER design and was of an all steel construction. Over 23,000 of these were built between 1949 and 1958 and continued in service until the early 1980s. Due to the heavy wear and tear these hoppers endured, many were modified and rebuilt.