Accurascale OO ACC2055 BR Tadpole Wagons ex-SR D1479 Banana Vans 1960s Triple Pack BR Bauxite
Pack of three Southern Railway diagram D1479 insulated banana vans as running in the 1960s as vacuum train brake 'fitted head' wagons, coded TADPOLE. Wagon numbers TDS50812, TDS50885 & TDS50846.
Detailed models of the second design of insulated banana vans built by the Southern Railway for banana traffic from Southampton docks. This design was based on the Southerns' standard box van with the distinctive Lynes triple-arc roof.
Following the introduction of diesel locomotives it was found that the new diesels lacked the brake force capabilities of steam goods engines when handling trains not equipped with vacuum train brakes, such as coal trains formed of 'unfitted' 16-ton mineral wagons. A significant number of redundant vacuum braked wagons were allocated for use as a 'fitted head', extra wagons with vacuum train brakes which could augment the locomotives' braking capability.