The transport of coal, iron ore and limestone has always been the railways' largest freight traffic in Britain. Before the railways and collieries were nationalised, most mineral wagons were owned either by collieries or coal merchants, and were a constant source of friction with the railway companies, either on account of their age and condition, or because of delays in returning empty wagons to their home depot or colliery.
Dumb buffers were the source of many staff accidents and damaged loads and vehicles. The Board of Trade required all new construction in England and Wales from 1889 to have spring buffers, but in Scotland the railway companies continued to accept new wagons with dumb buffers until 1 October 1903. From 31 December 1913 all dumb buffered vehicles were banned from the main line, but the Scottish owners gained an extension to 1915. In fact, the disruption of the Great War meant that dumb buffers persisted in Scotland until at least 1920-21.
| Number | Description | Date Built |
| 286 | Mineral Wagon, Callendar Coal Company, dumb buffers | ? |
| 755 | Mineral Wagon, Carron Company, dumb buffers | c.1890 |
| 65013 | 8 ton Mineral Wagon NBR No.65013, door both ends | c.1890 |
| 189 | 12 ton RCH 7-plank Mineral Wagon (original number unknown) | c.1930 |
| B579284 | 16 ton Mineral Wagon, British Railways | 1957 |
| B555710 | 16 ton Mineral Wagon, British Railways | 1958 |
| B314632 | 21 ton Mineral Wagon, British Railways | 1962 |
| B314633 | 21 ton Mineral Wagon, British Railways | 1962 |
| B315636 | 21 ton Mineral Wagon, British Railways | 1962 |
| (B)350001 | 32.5 tonne Merry-Go-Round HCA Hopper Wagon, EWS | 1964 |
