B Set

[DarthBadger]

GWR branch lines were frequently serviced by B Sets

Two Suburban Composite Brake carriages. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coaches_of_the_Great_Western_Railway)

I have a couple of questions:

• How would the carriages be arranged? - I assume with the "brake ends" outermost
• If a parcel van was added where would it be placed, behind the loco or at the rear of the set?

Below is how I assume a B Set + parcel would be configured (the parcel van is WIP) with the brake ends outermost and the van behind the loco...
[smg id=18264 width=400]

Any and all feedback gratefully accepted  (YES - I know I have my thumb in the photo!)

[Newportnobby]

Having seen many DVD's of GWR steam I believe you have the coaches correct.
The goods van would seem to be marshalled at either end from what I have seen, but maybe it could be down to the station configuration/platform lengths en route

[Jerry Howlett]

Agree with mick.  That is the formation that I have always seen on videos / pics.  The van / milk tank can be marshalled either at the end or next to the loco. However if marshalled next to the loco it would have to be similar to the Fruit D (as in picture) or a siphon as these had steam pipe connections to enable the carriages to have heating.  Now I have just had a quick scan on tinternet and confirmed that some 6 wheel milk tanks also had through pipes for steam heating.

Jerry

[Karhedron]

As others have said, brake-ends outermost and only fitted vehicles allowed between loco and coaches.

The GWR had rules regarding tail traffic if this was conventional vans. However lots of vehicles like Siphons, horse boxes and even milk tankers were treated as NPCCS (Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock) and could thus be marshaled as if they were coaches.

[DarthBadger]

As others have said, brake-ends outermost and only fitted vehicles allowed between loco and coaches.

The GWR had rules regarding tail traffic if this was conventional vans. However lots of vehicles like Siphons, horse boxes and even milk tankers were treated as NPCCS (Non Passenger Carrying Coaching Stock) and could thus be marshaled as if they were coaches.

Thanks to you all for the prompt responses.

I've been researching the brown vehicles, NPCCS, along with the rules and regulations.  I have a nice Siphon G (the corridor version) to add to my express eventually to add a little variety.

Presumably all NPCCS had vacuum brakes (or similar) and so did not need to be in front of a brake van, probably a Toad (on GWR) for freight or a passenger brake for non-freight or fast milk trains etc.

I've actually just confirmed this gotta love Google - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_van - which refers to continuous brakes or the lack thereof.

The gist being that you put brakes at the extreme ends of trains composed of stock without continuous brakes so that in the case of coupling failures both parts of the separated train can be stopped.  Without this in place there was a 25mph speed restriction.

Thanks again!

[Jerry Howlett]

So the Hatton's latest email for new arrivals shows the "B" set displays them coupled brake ends together. 

[port perran]

Don't forget that some of the B Sets would be used on branch lines with no ability to turn the carriages.
The loco would merely run round the set via a simple loop.