Oxford Rail OR76TOA004 BR ex-GWR 6 Wheel Toad Brake Van Plated Sides Wolverhampton No.56962 OO

£16.99
MRP £16.99

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(Product Ref 101186)
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These 6-wheeled goods train brake vans were built in the early 1900s in response to the need for greater braking force for the longer, heavier goods trains being hauled by the newest 2-6-0 and 2-8-0 goods engines. In addition to increasing weight from 16 to 24 tons a third axle was added to increase the brake force available. The new vans were initially allocated to the heaviest trains to help the the crew control the 80+ wagons a Churchward 28xx class engines (introduced from 1903) could haul.The railway companies later settled on 20 tons as the optimum weight for goods train brake vans and the GWR commenced their long line of very similar long-wheelbase 4-wheeled vans.

The 6 wheeled vans continued to serve, many being fitted with robust metal sheathing for the lower body sides and surviving into the British Railways era. Their allocation became more widespread, often being used to provide depots with an extra-heavy brake van for use when it was needed and some were allocated to country branch lines with steep gradients to help the guard control the train in event of a broken coupling.


Situated just north of Birmingham the city of Wolverhampton was the destination for many trains into the West Midlands, especially for traffic between the West Midlands and destinations to the north. Wolverhampton vans would have travelled great distances with trains being formed up to run direct to other cities served by the GWR.
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