Rapido Trains OO 944026 BR DW103582 GWR Diagram V14 MINK A Vacuum Braked Ventilated Box Van BR Departmental Bauxite

In 1912 the GWR standardised the twin-bonnet pattern end for their ventilated box vans which continued until after nationalisation. The first vans with the revised end were given diagrams V14 for vans with vacuum train brakes for express goods trains and V16 for the unfitted version. 5,506 'fitted vans were built along with 2,759 unfitted before the underframe was changed to a 10-feet wheelbase in the mid-1920s. The majority of these vans remained in service at nationalisation, though their older 9-feet wheelbase chassis demoted them from express goods service.
This model replicates vacuum train brake fitted diagram V14 van DW103582 in British Railways departmental service as a locomotive department stores van lettered for working between motive power depots and Eastleigh works. BR bauxite livery.