I am looking for some advice with view to producing an N Gauge Kit of a breakdown crane support / tool / mess van.

I have found the Nine Elms 22ft Breakdown Van picture and drawing in LSWR Carriages Vol4 by G R Weddell, was this one a common design or a 1 off?

Or could their be a better option?

Its afaik unique and unusual.

Thanks Alan does any one else have another option?

For what region or period ?

I assume from your mention of  9 Elms  that Southern orone of its pregrouping constituents (LSWR?) is your interest, keep a look out for Service Stock of the Southern Railway by R W Kidner. This has much detail a fair number of photos and a comprehensive list. As well as vans and coaches it also includes wagons, cranes, goods brakes, tenders, tankers (for weed killing trains)  and gas containers for replenishing gas lit vehicles or later for catering vehicles with gas cooking.

The following is taken from a typical extract.
VANS

He states tunder ex LSWR "quite a number of the 22' guards & Parcel vans (side ands end ducket types) appeaered in service use up until 1946, however more numerous  were the 24'  4W high roofed milk vans with slatted sides and ends some of which continued into BR service. Some 6W milk, guards and parcels vans, only one 18' luggage van entered service use (SR 1251> 919S in 1935.

No 44' bogie brakes but from 1940 some of the 56' gangwayed (rebuilt 1921 from ex WD ambulance use) originally #LSWR corridir 3rd brakes, 2 ex LSWR PO vans 1 1886 6w SR4904>566S & 1878 bogie  van SR4911>1448S.

Ex SR mostly Maunsell 1928 32'4.5" Utility vans  & 1934 32' Luggage vans a 7 of a similar 1937 36' guards van  were converted to service use from 1949, of the 1930 51'3" bogie luggage vans  2297>300S in 1946 and a further dozen in BR days.

Coaches

ex LSWR  LSWR directors inspection saloon of 1885 downgraded to general inspection in SR days as 1S last noted as DS1 in 1959.
some bogie coaches built just before grouping, mostly brakes.

ex SR about 50 Ironclads ro service in late '50s early 60s, other Maunsell stock in the early to mid 60s

Thank you Mike I'll look for the book. I am after deatails of the vehicles that ran with any cranes, the GWR and NER built / converted several of a type so have been quite easy. I really want a tool van and mess van that were the same for a couple of uses / cranes.

Quote from: EtchedPixels on May 26, 2014, 01:18:06 PM
For what region or period ?

Southern Railway through BR SR and ideally preservation to get pics of.

A quick Google for "LSWR breakdown" came up with some interesting links, including this one:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/25830408@N08/9384877035/

Anything with an LSWR or early SR origin will be perfect for the layout I'm working on, so I'm all ears.