Coal Wagons

[Rhobat Bryn]

I'm hoping there's someone out there who can help with this query. Railway companies had there own wagons as did collieries. Was there any rhyme or reason as to when one was used rather than another?

[Rhobat Bryn]

Many thanks for getting back to me, Noel.

My question is inspired by a photograph of Pontypridd Viaduct on the Barry Railway, which I obtained from the National Library, showing a rake of coal wagons all with the name of the colliery 'Maritime' emblazoned on their sides. This particular colliery was connected to the Taff Vale which got me wondering when would this colliery have used its own wagons and when would it have used Taff Vale wagons (if it all)?

[glynrhedynog]

A picture in the recently published "Gazetteer of the Coal Mines of South Wales and Monmouthshire" (R.A.Cooke) may provide a partial answer, at least as far as the Taff Vale is concerned. The illustration shows the sidings of Ferndale 2 and 4 collieries with a loaded Taff Vale wagon clearly marked Loco. I have also seen photographs of TVR wagons marked Loco at another colliery, the location of which escapes my memory for the moment.

[glynrhedynog]

A picture in the recently published "Gazetteer of the Coal Mines of South Wales and Monmouthshire" (R.A.Cooke) may provide a partial answer, at least as far as the Taff Vale is concerned. The illustration shows the sidings of Ferndale 2 and 4 collieries with a loaded Taff Vale wagon clearly marked Loco. I have also seen photographs of TVR wagons marked Loco at another colliery, the location of which escapes my memory for the moment.

[andrewnummelin]

As far as I understand, the norm would have been:
1. large scale deliveries (eg exports via the docks) - mainly colliery company wagons
2. “bulk” deliveries (eg inland) - coal factors or colliery wagons
3. smaller scale deliveries, wagons of customer or factor with colliery wagons being less likely (except anthracite?)
4. railway company wagons only used for their own consumption (loco coal)
And all, of course, liable to variations depending on the commercial considerations at the time.

The question got me thinking, I believe the southern companies bought loco coal from south Wales but I can’t remember seeing photos of their wagons carrying coal in our area. Have I missed something?

[Rhobat Bryn]

Thanks Andrew, that's very helpful.

[RichardHC]

This website gives a broad discussion about the use of PO wagons and why collieries might use their own rather than relying on ones provided by the railway companies.

http://www.igg.org.uk/rail/7-fops/poops1.htm

Richard

[Newport_rod]

The question got me thinking, I believe the southern companies bought loco coal from south Wales but I can’t remember seeing photos of their wagons carrying coal in our area. Have I missed something?

Could this be because Stephenson Clarke Ltd supplied the LBSCR and SECR, and later the SR, with loco coal? Do we see many of their wagons?