Passenger and Goods Stock
A wide selection of both passenger and goods wagons are present on site. They are all of an ex-military background and have been carefully restored by the Gunpowder Railway Team.
Passenger Rolling Stock
4w Semi-Open Passenger Carriage
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Unknown
Number: GR-T3 (TO 211)
Ex-RNAD Closed Naval Ordnance Transport Van.
Converted to passenger carriage in 2015.
4w Semi-Open Passenger Carriage
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Unknown
Number: GR-T4 (TO 214)
Ex-RNAD Closed Naval Ordnance Transport Van.
Converted to passenger carriage in 2016.
4w Bogie Naval Personnel Carrier / Brake van
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1982
Number: GR-T7 (TO 155)
Ex- RNAD Trecwn.
Arrived at the Gunpowder Railway in 2008.
4w Personnel Transport Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1941
Number: GR-B4 (TO 456)
Ex- ROF Bishopton
Arrived at the Gunpowder Railway in 2003 and restored in 2010.
Goods Stock – for Ordances
4w Closed Naval Ordnance Transport Van
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Cravens, Sheffield in 1940
Number: GR-T1 (TO 183)
EX-RNAD was built by Cravens, Sheffield.
Restored in 2011.
4w Closed Naval Ordnance Transport Van
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Charles Roberts & Co Ltd, Wakefield in 1950’s
Number: GR-T2 (TO 184)
Charles Roberts supplied multiple batches of 2ft 6in RNAD wagons during the post‑Korean War rearmament period, when the MoD expanded storage capacity.
Restored during 2022 – 2023.
4w Cordite Waste Burning Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds between 1938-1952
Number: GR-B2 (643)
Cordite disposal wagons were developed for Royal Ordnance Factories and RNAD sites during and after World War II, when cordite was widely used in ammunition.
Restored in 2025.
4w Cordite Canister Transport Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1938
Number: GR-B3 (435)
These wagons were used at Royal Ordnance Factories (ROFs), RNAD depots, and naval armament sites to transport sealed cordite canisters from magazines to filling stations or gun-loading areas.
Restored in 2017.
4w Cordite Sheet Drying Van
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1941
Number: GR-B6 (451)
The chassis is from ROF Bishopton however the body originates from the Royal Gunpowder Mills and is historically from the site. These vans were part of a larger convoy of wagons used in cordite production and moved cordite paste into drying rooms to evaporate acetone from cordite to allow it to be safely stored.
Restored in 2023.
4w Nitric Acid Tank Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1939
Number: GR-B9 (428)
Ex-ROF Bishopton. Built to transport bulk supplies of acid between storage tanks and the mixing houses as cordite production requires large quantities of both nitric and sulfuric acids.
Restored in 2024.
4w Cordite Dough/Paste Wagon
Status: RESTORATION IN PROGRESS
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1940
Number: GR-B1 (625)
Ex-ROF Bishopton. A specialized wagon to transport freshly mixed cordite paste (an explosive propellant) between processing stages within the factory. These wagons were designed for safety, containment, and ease of handling in highly controlled environments.
Currently under restoration.
Goods Stock – Other
4w Tool Van
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds in 1940
Number: GR-B5 (427)
A classic works van used to transport tools around the site and to different buildings as needed for repairs.
Restored in 2010.
4w Ballast Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R Hudson & Co, Leeds date unknown.
Number: GR-B8 (422)
A drop sides ballast transportation wagon used to move ballast around the railway. Still in use today – see our Diary.
Restored in 2023.
4w Low Bed Transporter Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: ROF Bishopton on-site works date unknown.
Number: GR-11 (28)
Was built within the works at ROF Bishopton, currently used to transport the locomotive Stuart J and is fitted with 18″ gauge track.
Restored in 2024.
4w Low Bed Transporter Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: ROF Bishopton on-site works date unknown.
Number: GR-B12 (26)
Was built within the works at ROF Bishopton, original purpose unknown currently used to transport a mini digger around the Gunpowder Railway.
Restored in 2023.
4w Naval Ordnance Stores Transport Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: R & Y Pickering Ltd, Wishaw date unknown.
Number: GR-T6 (292)
Original use unknown – a general flat-bed transport wagon.
Restored in 2022.
4w Naval Ordnance Stores Transport Wagon
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Manufacturer and date is unknown.
Number: GR-D1 (DH63-467)
Ex- RNAD Dean Hill and arrived at the Gunpowder Railway in 2022.
Restored in 2024.
4w Royal Gunpowder Mills Road/Rail Transporter
Status: OPERATIONAL
Built: Original manufacturer and date is unknown.
Number: RGM R-R321 and R-R306
A compact, four-wheeled industrial vehicle designed to operate both on narrow-gauge railway tracks and on paved or hard surfaces. These hybrid transporters were used at the Royal Gunpowder Mills at Waltham Abbey to move sensitive materials (explosives, chemicals, and tools) between production buildings, magazines, and testing ranges.
Restored in 2025.
Awaiting Restoration
There are many wagons waiting their turn in the restoration shop the majority are stored out of public view however these flat beds and tipper wagons can be spotted by the curious eye.
New volunteers always welcome to join us and help to restore these other wagons and bring them back to life.