Dapol BR Box Vans

The BR ventilated meat vans were readily identifiable by the column of four ventilator bonnets down the central panel of the pressed steel ends and louvre vent panels either side of the doors. These vans were originally passenger-rated, British Railways offering rapid delivery by passenger train for premium and perishable products, thus received the crimson livery applied to passenger and parcels vans. Most were later used principally in goods service and were repainted in goods van bauxite or brown, though a dirty bauxite/brown wagon and a dirty crimson one came out to about the same colour!

Model of the standard British Railways plywood sided ventilated box van to diagram 1/213 finished as wagon B764483 in bauxite livery.

Model of the standard British Railways plank sided ventilated box van to diagram 1/208 finished as wagon B769392 in bauxite livery.

Model of the Insulated version of the standard British Railways covered box van design with unventilated ends and internal insulation for the carriage of frozen meat, using solid CO2 as a refrigerant. These wagons were painted in a distinctive livery to ensure easy identification, wagon B872095 is modelled in the white livery.

Model of the second type of British Railways insulated banana van featuring the LMS style body with plug type doors mounted on a standard British Railways 10ft wheelbase chassis. Initially steam heated the yellow spots were applied when additional insulation was fitted, it being found that the extra insulation was capable of maintaining a steady internal temperature throughout the journey.

Model of the second type of British Railways insulated banana van featuring the LMS style body with plug type doors mounted on a standard British Railways 10ft wheelbase chassis. Initially steam heated the yellow spots were applied when additional insulation was fitted, it being found that the extra insulation was capable of maintaining a steady internal temperature throughout the journey.

Model of the second type of British Railways insulated banana van featuring the LMS style body with plug type doors mounted on a standard British Railways 10ft wheelbase chassis. Initially steam heated the yellow spots were applied when additional insulation was fitted, it being found that the extra insulation was capable of maintaining a steady internal temperature throughout the journey.

Model of the second type of British Railways insulated banana van featuring the LMS style body with plug type doors mounted on a standard British Railways 10ft wheelbase chassis. Initially steam heated the yellow spots were applied when additional insulation was fitted, it being found that the extra insulation was capable of maintaining a steady internal temperature throughout the journey.

 The BR ventilated meat vans were readily identifiable by the column of four ventilator bonnets down the central panel of the pressed steel ends and louvre vent panels either side of the doors. These vans were originally painted in the passenger crimson livery, but as the premium rate perishables business declined most were repainted into the standard fitted goods bauxite livery and used as general purpose ventilated box vans.

British Railways standard design of box van could be built in several forms including with additional sheathing to provide an insulated van suitable for conveying refrigerated or frozen meat. Externally these vans were visually identical to the standard ventilated van, except that the ends lacked the ventilator bonnet. To ease prompt identification by staff insulated vans these were usually painted in blue or white livery.

Dapol O Gauge 7F-049-001 BR Diagram 1/217 VanWide Wide Door Pallet Van 230012 Freight Brown Livery.
PRICE TO BE ADVISED

After the first PalVan design with its' offset side doors proved to be highly unstable in service due to uneven loading in 1962 British Railways produced a completely new design of box van with double sliding doors, giving an opening of 9 feet. Unlike the cupboard style doors of ealier vans the sliding doors could be opened and closed while the van was spotted alongside a loading dock or building door and gave access to the central portion of the van. Loads loads were now placed safely between the vans' axles, giving better weight distribution and resolving the uneven loading difficulties.

These 'VanWide' vans proved very successful, with around 2000 being built and from 1978 over 500 were refitted with updated suspension and air brakes suitable for 75mph running in Railfreight Speedlink services. It appears the last vacuum braked examples were withdrawn in the mid-1980s, many being transferred to military depots as internal user wagons, while the air braked VanWides served until 1994
The last example of the traditional era box van on the 10-foot wheelbase 17ft6in length underframe neatly links the changing railway freight scene of the green and blue diesel eras, clearly pointing the way to the large doors of the next generation of goods wagons.

A diecast chassis has been produced, providing plenty of weight and are fitted with spring buffers and coupling hook with 3-link couplings.

Dapol O Gauge 7F-049-002 BR Diagram 1/217 VanWide Wide Door Pallet Van 230030 Freight Brown Livery.
PRICE TO BE ADVISED

After the first PalVan design with its' offset side doors proved to be highly unstable in service due to uneven loading in 1962 British Railways produced a completely new design of box van with double sliding doors, giving an opening of 9 feet. Unlike the cupboard style doors of ealier vans the sliding doors could be opened and closed while the van was spotted alongside a loading dock or building door and gave access to the central portion of the van. Loads loads were now placed safely between the vans' axles, giving better weight distribution and resolving the uneven loading difficulties.

These 'VanWide' vans proved very successful, with around 2000 being built and from 1978 over 500 were refitted with updated suspension and air brakes suitable for 75mph running in Railfreight Speedlink services. It appears the last vacuum braked examples were withdrawn in the mid-1980s, many being transferred to military depots as internal user wagons, while the air braked VanWides served until 1994
The last example of the traditional era box van on the 10-foot wheelbase 17ft6in length underframe neatly links the changing railway freight scene of the green and blue diesel eras, clearly pointing the way to the large doors of the next generation of goods wagons.

A diecast chassis has been produced, providing plenty of weight and are fitted with spring buffers and coupling hook with 3-link couplings.

Dapol O Gauge 7F-049-003 BR VEA VanWide Wide Door Pallet Van 230074 Railfreight Grey with Flame Red Stripe.
PRICE TO BE ADVISED

After the first PalVan design with its' offset side doors proved to be highly unstable in service due to uneven loading in 1962 British Railways produced a completely new design of box van with double sliding doors, giving an opening of 9 feet. Unlike the cupboard style doors of ealier vans the sliding doors could be opened and closed while the van was spotted alongside a loading dock or building door and gave access to the central portion of the van. Loads loads were now placed safely between the vans' axles, giving better weight distribution and resolving the uneven loading difficulties.

These 'VanWide' vans proved very successful, with around 2000 being built and from 1978 over 500 were refitted with updated suspension and air brakes suitable for 75mph running in Railfreight Speedlink services. It appears the last vacuum braked examples were withdrawn in the mid-1980s, many being transferred to military depots as internal user wagons, while the air braked VanWides served until 1994
The last example of the traditional era box van on the 10-foot wheelbase 17ft6in length underframe neatly links the changing railway freight scene of the green and blue diesel eras, clearly pointing the way to the large doors of the next generation of goods wagons.

A diecast chassis has been produced, providing plenty of weight and are fitted with spring buffers and coupling hook with 3-link couplings.

Dapol O Gauge 7F-049-004 VEA VanWide Wide Door Pallet Van 230142 Army Green with Yellow Ends.
This livery was applied to vans sold to the British Army and used for stores traffic between military depots. Yellow ends were applied to enhance visibility at depots where the vans would frequently be propelled into storage sheds and bunkers.
PRICE TO BE ADVISED

After the first PalVan design with its' offset side doors proved to be highly unstable in service due to uneven loading in 1962 British Railways produced a completely new design of box van with double sliding doors, giving an opening of 9 feet. Unlike the cupboard style doors of ealier vans the sliding doors could be opened and closed while the van was spotted alongside a loading dock or building door and gave access to the central portion of the van. Loads loads were now placed safely between the vans' axles, giving better weight distribution and resolving the uneven loading difficulties.

These 'VanWide' vans proved very successful, with around 2000 being built and from 1978 over 500 were refitted with updated suspension and air brakes suitable for 75mph running in Railfreight Speedlink services. It appears the last vacuum braked examples were withdrawn in the mid-1980s, many being transferred to military depots as internal user wagons, while the air braked VanWides served until 1994
The last example of the traditional era box van on the 10-foot wheelbase 17ft6in length underframe neatly links the changing railway freight scene of the green and blue diesel eras, clearly pointing the way to the large doors of the next generation of goods wagons.

A diecast chassis has been produced, providing plenty of weight and are fitted with spring buffers and coupling hook with 3-link couplings.