Accurascale have today announced that they are to produce the SR built banana vans to diagrams 1478 and 1479.
The banana traffic through Southampton docks in the early 1930s had grown rapidly and whilst the SR had the 99 LSWR built banana vans these were not enough and resulted in the SR hiring suitable vans from the North Eastern Railway that also included some ex Great Central and Great Eastern Vehicles (see my post about the GER versions here).
Between August 1935 and February 1936 the therefore SR introduced 200 banana vans to Diagram 1478, numbered 50575-774. These were similar to the previous insulated vans (Diagram 1477), with the Southern ‘Power Brake’ arrangement with eight brake blocks, but had horizontal planking and fitted with steam heating to aid the ripening of the bananas.
In December 1937, after the LNER had requested the return of all its vans that were on hire, a further 125 banana vans were ordered, To enable them to enter service quicker ordinary covered vans in construction were instead built as banana vans to Diagram 1479, numbered 50775-899. These had the same bodyside strapping and roof profile as the ordinary vans to give them a different visual look than the earlier D1478 vans.
The original SR livery of these vans was like the insulated vans of SR Stone body colour with red lettering
A slight difference in that the D1478 vehicles carried large SR lettering until 1936, before the SR switched to small lettered branding, which is how the D1479 vehicles entered traffic.
During the war some gained a red oxide livery, and in BR days were bauxite with a yellow spot indicating the van had additional insulation fitted. Most vans were taken out of traffic by 1958, those vans that remained in service found use in BR Departmental service, mainly being used as Fitted Heads and classified as Tadpole. Additional plating was also added to the top of the ends in later life.
Accurascale have announced that their D1478 and D1479 models will feature details variations for both early and later (additional end plating etc.) versions of each van , a die cast chassis, brass bearings, three types of wheel (split spoke solid spoke and 3 hole disc), separate hand rails, grab handles, door handles, lamp brackets, vacuum and steam pipes, through pipes steam heating cock and full SR ‘Power brake’ gear along with turned metal sprung buffers.
These wagons will come in triple packs in a variety of liveries across their careers in banana traffic and are priced at £84.95 each, These wagons will also be available across Accurascale’s network of local stockists such as Kernow Model Rail Centre.
ACC2045 D1478 Original SR Livery Pre-1936 triple pack-1
ACC2046 D1478 Original SR Livery Pre-1936 triple pack-2
ACC2047 D1478 SR Livery 1936 to March 1941 triple-pack
ACC2048 D1478 British Railways 1948-1961 triple-pack
ACC2049 D1478 British Railways 1961 onwards triple-pack
ACC2050 D1479 SR Livery 1936 to March 1941 triple-pack-1
ACC2051 D1479 SR Livery 1936 to March 1941 triple-pack-2
ACC2052 Mixed D1478/D1479 Transitional British Railways 1948-1950 triple pack
ACC2053 D1479 British Railways 1948-1961triple-pack
ACC2054 D1479British Railways 1961 onwards triple-pack
ACC2055 Tadpole mixed ex D1478-D1479 British Railways departmental triple-pack
ACC2056 Tadpole ex D1479 British Railways departmental triple-pack
Delivery is slated for Q4 2023, with decorated samples due in Spring of 2023.
These are often asked for prototypes, a good choice by Accurascale especially as they often ran in multiples at the head of Southampton goods trains, and will certainly be welcome on any SR/BRs South Western based model railway.
Some along with my older kit built versions will definitely be making an appearance on Canute Road Quay.
Nice looking vans Graham but I’m confused by what’s meant by the SR livery 1936-41 ,I might be thinking I could use them in the far west in’47.
Many were painted red oxide from 1941 but you will be ok for some to have remained in SR stone post war
Which of the two diagrams is the most suitable then. I actually prefer the D1479 but these were the less numerous of the two versions.
Either Diagrams are just as suitable.
Exciting news even if my wallet is left screaming (again)!
Thank you for the informative ‘heads up’ on these models!
Look good. Will provide some welcome variety in my SR goods trains. Not sure I need 3 though😉
Hi Graham, thanks for the heads-up. Looks like it could be a useful addition to my 1938 stable.
One question: I’m assuming that the livery change over in 1936 was not instantaneous, so would it be prototypically correct to have a small rake of pre-’36 vans with post-’36, just to mix it up a little?
Yes indeed pre-1936 livery wagons across the board lasted into nationalisation so a mix is most relevant for your 1938 time.
Hi Graham,
Like Robin, I’m a modeller of the far west in ‘47 and am interested in getting some of these vans. I just wanted to ask if you are aware of any photos of these vans postwar but pre-nationalisation that you might be able to point me to?
Many thanks in advance for any pointers you might be able to provide.
All the best,
Ben
Hi Ben,
I don’t have any taken in that period I am afraid.
Thanks very much for letting me know Graham.
I came across a 1946 photo of Avonmouth Docks this evening, and there are lots of banana vans shown, mostly LMS, but there’s one LNER and one that might be SR. It’s in GWR Journal 94. I can send you a pic if you’d be interested in having a look to see what you make of it.
Thanks again,
Ben
Hi Graham,
Like Robin, I’m a modeller of the far west in ‘47 and am interested in getting some of these vans. I just wanted to ask if you are aware of any photos of these vans postwar but pre-nationalisation and where they can be found?
I’m convinced by your point that at least some of these vans would have gone through the war in stone livery, and presumably not all would have been converted for meat traffic and were therefore available for banana traffic once the import resumed post-war. Having said that, I’d also be interested to see what these vans looked like when converted to meat traffic – presumably some might have remained in stone and just had their ‘Banana’ branding replaced with ‘Meat’?
It’s always nice to have a photo or two to work from if there are any out there.
Many thanks in advance for any pointers you might be able to provide.
All the best,
Ben