My layout covers the period, generally, from 1956 to 1966 and is based on the sea wall at Teignmouth.

My chosen period allows me to run typical freight trains, long and short,  of the period but I'm unsure of the correct brake vans to utilise.

I have a number of ex GW Toads which I can, I think, use for my chosen period and I also have several of the BR Standard, 20T I think they are, brake vans.

Were these latter types termed pillboxes?

So, in my chosen period were both types of van still in regular use or had the Toads started to be phased out?

I'd be grateful to hear people's thoughts.

Regards
Martin

Th classic GWR Toad were baned from long distance freight trains in 1957 as they didn't have the side bucket look-outs. They'd still be seen on local trains any were popular with engineers as they had a large cabin with one less draughty door than the BR standard van.

Pillbox was generally the name given to the SR brake van that wad similar in design to the LNER/BR standard.

Quote from: Steven B on Today at 07:00:39 PMTh classic GWR Toad were baned from long distance freight trains in 1957 as they didn't have the side bucket look-outs. They'd still be seen on local trains any were popular with engineers as they had a large cabin with one less draughty door than the BR standard van.

Pillbox was generally the name given to the SR brake van that wad similar in design to the LNER/BR standard.

Thank you Steven @Steven B .
So, if I understand correctly, I'm ok to run toads on local or trip freights or engineering trains but on long/longer distance workings I should be running the Standard BR design?

I need to up my compliment of the standard variety a little then 

As I model the same era and similar location this thread will be of interest to me as well so, thanks, Martin.
Seems the 'pillbox' van was built by the SR and weighed in at 25T as opposed to the BR 20T. This gave a slightly better ride. With shared routes and inter regional traffic there's no real reason why you couldn't have them on your layout

https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails/2651/graham_farish_n_sr_pill_box_brake_van

Me too, cheers, Martin. Liberal lashings of Rule 1 here, mind you!

I 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 also have a photo of the Pillbox type on a pick up goods on the Harwich branch, so they also strayed from home areas.

Martyn

The other thing to think about (regardless of region) is what brakes, your brake van has...

By your period, most faster-timed and long-distance freights would be vacuum-braked requiring a 'fitted' brake-van.

BR made it easy to tell which were fitted by adopting the LMS & LNER convention of painting them Bauxite with non-fitted (hand-brake only) vans being grey. - Even the Western (mostly) conformed on that one!

Some faster services like milk trains and for a while freightliner (after some dire initial experiments) also sometimes used bogie full brake or similar stock for the guards compartment.