The Kernow Model Rail Centre have received the first Engineering Prototype (EP) from the tooling for the much-anticipated ex LSWR / SR Diagram 1541 10T Road Van. First introduced by the London & South Western Railway (LSWR) in 1884 they were later classed as Southern Railway Diagram 1541. Almost 500 of these were built between then and 1905 making them the most numerous LSWR Goods Brake Van. Brake Vans with side doors through which parcels or other goods could be loaded were known as road vans.
KMRC advised: “The first Engineering Prototype samples have been carefully evaluated and we are very pleased with how the EP has turned out. We are currently discussing directly with the factory a very small number of slight modifications before the next stage of livery samples can be produced. The production of the livery artwork is in progress.”
The pictures show the high level of detail and multitude of separately fitted parts including: flush glazing, hand rails, brake gear with pull rodding, step boards and lamp irons to accurately portray a number of different versions of the prototype.
These options include alternative buffer shanks with a ribbed option as fitted to preserved No. 56046 on the Isle of Wight steam railway and either straight or cranked step board supports, the latter as fitted to the majority of those transferred in 1925 to the Isle of Wight.
In light of further research, a small number of the available versions have been changed with corrected running numbers and liveries as BR Bauxite would not be appropriate for the available options of this road van.
Details of the ten versions can be found on the Kernow Model Rail Centre website here
Anyone wishing to amend their pre-order due to these changes can contact the Kernow Model Rail Centre either through the website or via telephone.
Note: the images show a version with a mix of the potential options and does not necessarily show an actual available version.
I hope that you will agree it is looking great.
Hello Graham
Welcome news that these are are now coming to fruition – I shall have to review my pre-order for two in the late of the changes (and my changing requirements since they were announced!).
One thing needs amendment – SB003G in (SR) brown is given as S55466 but this was not a diagram 1541 number nor, indeed, of any L&SWR brake van. Was it meant to be S54466?
Congrats and best wishes re your career change 🙂
Chris Knowles-Thomas
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Hi Chris
Many thanks, and well done spotting the typo on the website I will ask for it to be corrected.
I’d given up thinking that these would see the light of day. So it’s nice to see that good progress has been made.
Hopefully progress will continue at pace now 😉
Yes, they look to be very nice. Congratulations on seeing this through, thank you.
I believe 1 or 2 of these were in MSWJ livery, or at least branding. Can you confirm this at all? Many thanks.
12 very similar vans were built by contractors for the MSWJ so possibly the LSWR provided their drawings.
Look great. It has been a long wait but looks as if it will be worth it. I will order an LSWR and possibly SR Mainland model but am having trouble logging into my Kernow account this evening. I will telephone them tomorrow.