The transport of minerals by rail, particularly coal, dates back to the 17th Century and precipitated the building of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825. Providing the mine owners of County Durham with access to the River Tees for the shipment of coal to London – and thereby breaking the monopoly of Tyneside and Wearside operations – the S&DR also paved the way for the railway mania that followed.
Coal traffic has, until very recently, remained a vital commodity for Britain’s railways. Therefore, it’s an intrinsic element of many model railways, regardless of era and location.