21 ton steel mineral MDO/MDV Profile and Models

MDV B312349 at Duddeston in May 1985. ©Steve Jones

Introduced in 1950, a large number of these mineral wagons were built for BR. Two basic designs were used, both having twin side doors and one end door in their 21ft 6in long bodies, mounted on 12ft wheelbase under-frames. The 21ton wagons (MDO and MDV) were closer to their 16 ton predecessors in height, and lasted longest both in production and in service. The South Wales coalfields were the types main area of operation and the last were withdrawn in about 1992. These wagons ran in block rakes, and mixed with 16t Minerals (MCO) 21t Hoppers (HTO) and 24.5t Hoppers (HUO).

(Information provided via Accurascale)

Type of Vehicle	Mineral Wagon
Builder	British Railways
Build Dates	1950s
Total Built	MDO: 1,500 MDV: 4,950
Wheel Configuration	4-Wheel
Operated By	British Rail
Main Duties	Transport of Minerals
In Service Until	1993
Surviving Examples	Some in preservation