Shelton 10 ton Coke Hopper wagon, number 251

This wooden hopper wagon dates from the 1890s and is a former private owner vehicle registered by the LNWR as number 17420. It appears to have worked at Shelton its entire life, latterly transporting coke to the Works' blast furnaces as internal user number 251. It may originally have been used for transporting iron ore to the works, for discharge into bunkers through its four bottom doors. It's tare weight is 5 tons 2 cwt and it probably carried a 10 ton load. The fleet of these wagons at Shelton was gradually replaced by larger capacity steel hoppers bought secondhand from BR (such as 20 ton example number 969, also preserved at Foxfield). Number 251 was the last example at Shelton and owes its survival to the Wagon Shop Foreman Mr Bernard Hall, who tucked it away at the back of the wagon shop as he did not wish to see it broken up.

With its grease axleboxes and local historical connections this wagon was a very rare find when discovered by two Foxfield members. Negotiations with British Steel Corporation led to its generous donation to the Society, and Mr Hall ensured it received minor repairs and a full repaint before delivery! The wagon was delivered to Foxfield on 1 December 1973 and was used in many demonstration freight trains over the next ten years. Unfortunately outside storage began to take its toll, and the wagon is now in need of a complete rebuild. It is currently stored at Foxfield Wood sidings awaiting the time and resources to make this possible.