Quote from: martyn on February 24, 2026, 08:25:33 PMI havent any relevent photos to say whether the ex LMS Stanier type brake vans as modelled by Farish worked on the WR or not, but they were seen on the ex GE section lines in the 60s.

I'd be more surprised if the LMS design of van didn't appear in the south west - you'll find a photo of one at Plymouth Friary in 1981 on Paul Bartlett's site for example. The chances of them not getting there in the 1960s must be zero (don't forget Bristol was served by the LMS). Post nationalisation there'd be little incentive to swap brake vans on through freight at the regional boundaries.

As with the GWR Toad, the LMS vans were also popular for use as staff riding vans - often with the end verandahs filled in.

Note that very few brake vans had automatic train brakes fitted. Most were either unbraked (grey) or were through piped (bauxite). Air-piped ones often had yellow panels on the sides and ends.

Their role was to keep the loose three link couplings tight - something that the guard had to work as as the train travelled up and down hill. Wagons fitted with automatic train brakes (air or vacuum) would also have instanter or screw link couplings - meaning less snatch as the loco took up the weight of the train.


@port perran get yourself a nice mix of BR standard, LMS, LNER, SR and GWR vans. You can always claim a standard van has suffered from a hot axle box and needed replacing with a GWR toad!

Quote from: Bob G on February 25, 2026, 01:28:07 PM

QuoteThe 25 are part of the 340 wagons I have

Phew. I thought for a minute you had more than me

Not possible  

QuoteThe 25 are part of the 340 wagons I have

Phew. I thought for a minute you had more than me

Quote from: chrism on February 25, 2026, 11:56:17 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 25, 2026, 11:50:22 AMJust checked and I have 25 brake vans including:-
7 x BR 20T standards
4 x Sharks
2 x Queen Marys
3 x SECR (1 of which is the Dance Hall version)
4 x Toads

Jeepers - do you have space for any non-brake freight stock, or do you just run brake van rides?

The 25 are part of the 340 wagons I have

Quote from: chrism on February 25, 2026, 11:56:17 AM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 25, 2026, 11:50:22 AMJust checked and I have 25 brake vans including:-
7 x BR 20T standards
4 x Sharks
2 x Queen Marys
3 x SECR (1 of which is the Dance Hall version)
4 x Toads

Jeepers - do you have space for any non-brake freight stock, or do you just run brake van rides?

I had forgotten that I have two EFE Sharks as well as all the others!

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 25, 2026, 11:50:22 AMJust checked and I have 25 brake vans including:-
7 x BR 20T standards
4 x Sharks
2 x Queen Marys
3 x SECR (1 of which is the Dance Hall version)
4 x Toads

Jeepers - do you have space for any non-brake freight stock, or do you just run brake van rides?

Just checked and I have 25 brake vans including:-

7 x BR 20T standards
4 x Sharks
2 x Queen Marys
3 x SECR (1 of which is the Dance Hall version)
4 x Toads

A right mixture of bauxite, grey and black

Hadn't heard that one. I'm familiar with this one, though.


https://youtu.be/xwtdhWltSIg

Another band not getting much of a mention - REM
(not to everyone's taste, I know)

Quote from: ntpntpntp on February 24, 2026, 10:38:17 PM

Quote from: Newportnobby on February 24, 2026, 10:13:54 PM

Quote from: ntpntpntp on February 24, 2026, 10:07:23 PMTo be honest, for cutting rail across board joints I would use a metal-tooth razor saw rather than a cutting disc in a mini-drill.  The saw is easier to get a vertical thin cut.

I would agree with Nick there, but only if the track crosses the baseboard join at a right angle.

The angle makes no difference at all with the razor saw.  Many of my joints are cut at angles across the join.

I know my limitations