BR (Western Region) Brake Vans

[Newportnobby]

The 25 are part of the 340 wagons I have

Phew. I thought for a minute you had more than me

Not possible  

[Steven B]

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'd be more surprised if the LMS design of van didn't appear in the south west - you'll find a photo of one at Plymouth Friary in 1981 on Paul Bartlett's site for example. The chances of them not getting there in the 1960s must be zero (don't forget Bristol was served by the LMS). Post nationalisation there'd be little incentive to swap brake vans on through freight at the regional boundaries.

As with the GWR Toad, the LMS vans were also popular for use as staff riding vans - often with the end verandahs filled in.

Note that very few brake vans had automatic train brakes fitted. Most were either unbraked (grey) or were through piped (bauxite). Air-piped ones often had yellow panels on the sides and ends.

Their role was to keep the loose three link couplings tight - something that the guard had to work as as the train travelled up and down hill. Wagons fitted with automatic train brakes (air or vacuum) would also have instanter or screw link couplings - meaning less snatch as the loco took up the weight of the train.


@port perran get yourself a nice mix of BR standard, LMS, LNER, SR and GWR vans. You can always claim a standard van has suffered from a hot axle box and needed replacing with a GWR toad!