Antics Special Edition ANT046 00 Gauge Gloucester 5 Plank Open Wagon Lettered J Dangerfield Gloucester
Gloucester coal merchant J Dangerfield ordered two 8-ton wagons from the Gloucester RCW company at the end of 1907. Two newly built wagons, numbered 1 and 3 were delivered in January 1908, with no.1 duly photographed by the wagon company photographer.
It is unclear if Mr Dangerfield already had a wagon numbered 2, decided to only use odd numbers, or simply wanted to appear to be operating a larger fleet.
James Dangerfield was the son of a Gloucester dock labourer and joined one of the railway companies as an engine cleaner. By 1901 he had established his own business as a coal merchant, with a depot at the Midland Wharf. The two new wagons in 1908 were registered with the Midland Railway, which would have provided Mr Dangerfield with direct routes between Gloucester and collieries in the North Somerset, Forest of Dean, Midlands and Nottinghamshire coal fields.
Wagon number 1 was sold to Toomer & Co of Reading in 1930, and John Dangerfield appears to have retired from business by this time.
Original photograph no3472 in the GRC&W photographic archives, volume reference D4791/16/41 kept at the Gloucestershire county archive.