East Downshire Steamship Co.
10 Ton Open Coal Wagon - No.2
Photograph courtesy of Dapol Ltd
This company was based at Dundrum in Co. Down and served by the Belfast & Co. Down Railway (B&CDR). The company had about twenty wagons to distribute coal to their depots at Ballynahinch, Downpatrick, Newcastle and Castlewellan.
When the B&CDR mainline was closed by the Ulster Transport Authority in 1950, they were left on the wharf at Dundrum until they were sold to another coal merchant, Lockingtons of Dundalk, for use on the quayside there. They were rescued from Dundrum on 3 September 1952 by a GNR(I) 4-4-0 No. 25, which extracted them via Newcastle and thence by the GNR line across the border.
Most of the company’s wagons were three plank and a number survived until at least 1963 when several, including No.14 (a sole surviving four plank), were found in Lockington’s sidings at Dundalk. Apparently, the RPSI considered preserving one of the wagons, but it proved impossible to extricate it!
Our model of No.14 proved popular, so a second run, with a different number has now been produced. No record has come to light of what kind of wagon No.2 was. We have reproduced her as a four plank wagon, with the ironwork picked out in black, as she may have been when brand new, a century ago!
Limited Edition of 143 wagons
STOCK: 35 left
RRP including postage £10.50 €12.00