Fred Watkins – 7 plank N Gauge

Special edition 7 plank wagon commissioned by Cheltenham Model Centre and made by Peco in 2017. (NR-P926) Fred Watkins took ownership of the New Dun Pit Iron Mine near Sling in Gloucestershire circa 1921 from a presumed relative Richard Watkins. Richard had originally leased the mine from Henry Crawshay around 1877. The pit had use of a siding which was served by a tramway with links to the Severn & Wye branchline from Milkwall Station. Fred Watkins added to the business in the form of an engineering works which reconditioned second hand machinery. (These works are still in operation today). No records are known of Richard Watkins wagon livery but a photograph exists of a number of Fred Watkins wagons on the siding of the Sling branchline. Several 4 planks and the 7 plank modelled here can be seen. ERA’s: 2 and 3. Wagon is in superb, like mew condition with all buffers and couplings intact. Original box in good condition.

Historical information from Private Owner Wagons of The Forest of Dean by Ian Pope (Lightmoor Press)