A question about Dapols 2F-047-011 CCT Van

[Paul D]

Hi all.

I'm modeling the Southern Railway in the mid to late 1930's, and I am thinking of buying Dapols 2F-047-011 Southern Railway CCT Van.
From the info I can gather online, SR called their vans GUV (General Utility Van) and these were renamed to CCT after nationalisation in 1948.
Does this mean this particular van is post The Big Four era?



Thanks
Paul D

[Bob G]

I don't have the definitive book on these, which is David Gould (1992) Southern Railway Passenger Vans, Oakwood Press Series X50 (ISBN 085361 4288).

This van is S2280S. The number style is typically BR southern region, post nationalisation, with the second S. Pre war Southern Railway probably would not have had the second S, and the number would have been higher on the body.

I have a feeling it may be a partly fictional livery. SR called these vans Utility vans. Vans with end doors like the Dapol version were called Van U on the southern. PLV, PMV or CCT names were only ever used on BR livery vans. I'm wondering if this was a copy of a preserved van, but usually the preservationists are better at getting such things right.

I might suggest removing the CCT and second S and living with it, as the Dapol version is somewhat cheaper than the Farish PMV which does not have end doors.
The Maunsell Van C that Dapol did was a much more accurate model overall. The Farish PMV is even better.

Bob

[Bealman]

I remember Triang marketed one in the sixties!

[Bob G]

I remember Triang marketed one in the sixties!

Hi George

It was actually Hornby Dublo that did the 4 wheel one. Triang did the bogie Utility Van.
One thing about these vans is they are so characteristic of the Southern.
The first ones that had this look were actually pre Big-4 SECR vehicles.

Bob

[Newportnobby]

The Maunsell Van C that Dapol did was a much more accurate model overall.

Bob

Agreed. I would go for their 2P-012-201

[Bealman]

Thanks for jogging me memory, Bob. You are quite correct with the models.