Now that there is a decent selection of assorted wagons and coaches that are suitable for running as parcels trains, I was wondering what a prototypical rake of wagons or bogies might look like. I model mainly BR Blue (early 70s) and now have a pretty good selection, including the following:

Light blue Express Parcels Blue Spot Fish Wagons - Peco
BR Blue GUVs - Farish
Blue Grey BGs - Farish
BR Blue 6 wheel Stove R - N Gauge Society
BR Blue SPV Blue Spot Fish Wagons - Dapol
BR Blue CCT vans - Dapol
BR Blue Siphon G - Lima

Any suggestions?

Many thanks

Mike

I think pretty much anything goes as long as there is at least one coach in the formation with guard accommodation and handbrake.  The BG has this and I'm pretty sure the Stove R does too.  You might even see the odd passenger coach, usually a Mk1 brake. 

To add to the list, the NGS does a Gresley full brake and has announced a Collett full brake, both of which lasted well into the blue era.  When there were no parcels vans available, any XP-rated goods van might find itself in a parcels train. 

From my memories on the western I have seen  Mk1 BG's , Siphon G's mixed with GUV's and even a Fruit D.

I think as they say the "worlds your lobster"!

The great thing about parcels train was (past tense, I'm afraid, they're rare nowadays) you never knew what would turn up in a consist. The same train one day might load to ten vans, on another just one.

Nothing in your list would look out of place, but also don't be surprised to see the odd passenger carriage included, particularly if it had a brake van, such as a BSK.

Parcels vans were also the last to get washed or repainted, so filthy maroon vans lasted well in to the blue era.

Until the 80s quite a few late evening or overnight trains that were included in the public timetable were actually parcels trains with a passenger coach or two. 

I remember on the Brighton line around Christmas time, late 70/early 80's - VEPs being pressed into service for the evening parcels trains to the Post Office main depot at Redhill.  No passengers, just the same coaches full of bags of mail and parcels...

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Sounds like anything goes, as long as thee is a brake for the guard somewhere. It also sounds like I need to heavily weather everything - well that will have to wait for when I get time!

One remaining question - would you see both bogie wagons (GUVs, BGs, BSKs, Siphon Gs etc) with vans on the same train?

Cheers

Mike

Quote from: Chetcombe on March 25, 2013, 12:22:05 AM
One remaining question - would you see both bogie wagons (GUVs, BGs, BSKs, Siphon Gs etc) with vans on the same train?

Some of the time providing there was no passenger service to the train. I seem to remember the newspaper trains and some others being bogie stock only perhaps for speed reasons.

Four and six wheelers were banned from passenger trains before the 70s.

I have just searched GOOGLE images for Swindon parcels train. I used to work there in the 70's when W H Smith had a major book distrubution centre that sent trainloads of parcels.

The 6th picture shows a clas 25-159 on a parcels train (naturally not related to Swindon) there is a 4 Wheel Modern CCT, a Hawksworth(?) BG , GUV, a Southern 4 wheel"Utility" CCT, then a MK1 BG.

The original site is www.derbysulzers.com

Jerry

 I believe all short wheelbase 4 wheel vans had a speed limit of 35 mph imposed on them in the late 60's/early 70's. This was due to the number of plainline derailments when this type of vehicle operated at higher speeds. This effectively banned them from parcels trains.

Dodger