4 wheel Chaldron open wagon Profile and Models

Two Chaldron wagons at Beamish Living Museum, near Durham in August 2016. ©Mike Peel

The recognisable chaldron design appeared around 1820, but that itself was the continuation of an outline that dated from the mid-17th century onwards. These two axle wood framed ‘black waggons’ were built to slightly varying degrees of design, but a common outline, for the transportation of coal, brick, timber, stone and ‘muck’ across the North East of England. The name 'Chaldron' was commonly used to reference coal wagons in the North-East and originated from the unit of measurement equating to 53cwt.

(Information provided via Accurascale)

Type of Vehicle	4-wheel open wagon
Builder	Various different companies
Build Dates	Around 1820 (Continuation of a design from the mid-17th century)
Total Built	Tens of thousands
Wheel Configuration	4-wheel
Operated By	Various railways and industrial sites
Main Duties	Transport of coal, brick, timber, stone and spoil
In Service Until	1970s
Surviving Examples	Some in preservation