The Kernow Model Rail Centre, and therefore by default myself, have advised that the much-anticipated ex LSWR / SR Diagram 1541 10T Road Van has been approved for production. This follows the careful review and approval of the Engineering Prototypes received last year and the decorated samples of all ten of the versions being produced that were received last week.
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.
The decorated livery samples can be seen above, (note that some of the samples were only the body assembly). Approval for production has been given subject to a couple of minor amendments to the printing on the solebar cast plate for two of the SR livery versions, the spacing (Kernow correcting the Kerning – a designers injoke) of the numbers on the LSWR SB003B version and the solebar and buffer colour on three of the BR grey versions.
SB003H LSWR Road Van number 54611 in pre-1936 large SR lettered livery is illustrated and shows the correct SR Goods Wagon brown, lettering style and the solebar cast plate that has wording “SR” “54611” an “Eastleigh Works” all perfectly legible.
KMRC anticipate production to commence at the end of March 2021 (following Chinese New Year) with shipment to the UK during May 2021 (subject to shipping availability) and hope to have them in stock for fulfilment of orders at the end May /early June 2021.
The humble brake van was an every part of the railway scene up until the advent of continuous brakes for most freight stock in the early 1970’s. They initially served two purposes: to provide additional braking for ‘unfitted’ goods trains and of course somewhere for the guard to travel; later vans were also ‘fitted’ for working on such vacuum brake fitted formations. They were a weighted wagon equipped with a hand internally operable brake acting on all wheels they ranged from the 4 or 6 wheel type to sometimes 8 wheels and also bogie types. The ‘fitter’ versions having vacuum cylinders and able to operate the brakes on the fitted stock that make up the train (some vans were simply through piped to allow continuity of the braking system without being able to actually operate it, in such such cases just the hand brake was available for use.
The guard’s accommodation often included one or two verandas, or closed ends with windows and many also incorporated side lookouts or duckets to allow a guard to look forwards along the side of the train.
The ex LSWR 10T road van mentioned above was known as a road van as in addition to the guard’s accommodation and single veranda it has side opening doors on each side and the van could also be used the carrying of goods. This van is currently available in resin kit form from The Smallbrook Studio. To the left can be be seen my model of the 20T Diagram 1545 Road Van also a resin kit form from The Smallbrook Studio. As well as being heavier that the Diagram 1541 road van they were also larger, had a veranda at both ends and side duckets.
Dia 1543 ex LSWR 20T Brake Van, still requires completion of transfers and matt varnish before being finished
Staying with the LSWR seen left is my model 20T brake van to diagram 1543. This is built from a Jedenco / Falcon Brass etched brass kit. 75 of this this type of van were built between 1915 and 1921. They were known to staff as ‘new vans’ a name which they kept well into the 1950’s!
Dia 1748 ex SECR Ballast Plough Brake Van
Moving further east, I have a couple of ex SECR brake vans firstly is one that is perfectly at home on the ex LSWR metals as it is ex SECR 20T Ballast Plough brake van, diagram 1748, in the civil engineers fleet. The first lone prototype was built in 1914 with 3 more being built by the SR in 1932, a further 8 with slight detail differences were built in 1949. In addition to the brakes it also had ploughs to rake freshly applied ballast from hoppers in the same train. These ploughs could be raised or lowered as required from inside the van. This particular model, also built from a Jedenco etched brass kit, has already featured on these pages here along with its companion rake of 40t Ballast hoppers.
Dia 1559 ex SECR ‘Dancehall’ Brake Van, yes must properly fix that handrail!
Finally for this post we see an ex SECR ‘Dancehall’ 25T brake van to Diagram 1559 First introduced in 1921., The SR built a further batch between 1923 and 1927 but these had deeper 15” instead of 12” channel underframes and were given the diagram number 1560. These vans gained the nickname ‘Dancehall’ due to the large amount of space inside them. They were long lived vans surviving, albeit modified, in departmental use right up until the 1970’s. This is built from a Cambrian Models plastic kit.
The Kernow Model Rail Centre have today announced that they have commissioned DJ Models to produce the LSWR 10T Diagram 1541 Road Van in OO Gauge as an exclusive model with the tooling owned by Kernow Model Rail Centre.
No. 56046 that was scanned on the Isle of Wight Railway
First introduced in 1886 they were later classed as SR 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.
The CAD for this model is virtually complete
The prototype was laser scanned at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway at the same time that they scanned the ex LWSR Adams O2 Class locomotive.
I have been working with Kernow Model Rail Centre for a while now on the research and development of this model.
The latest cads, seen left, are almost complete with just a few very minor tweaks required before tooling can commence.
A further CAD view
The model joins their growing portfolio of LSWR models and will be ideal for use with their ex LSWR Adams O2 Class locomotive as they will be producing mainland and Isle of Wight numbered vehicles.
The models will be £24.99 each and no deposits are required.
The initial variations are as follows:
SB003A Number 56046 in SR Brown livery with red ends. (Isle of Wight)
SB003B Number 12424 in LSWR Brown livery with red ends. (Mainland)
SB003C Number DS 54538 in BR Bauxite livery with “RETURN TO THREE BRIDGES” branding. (Mainland)
SB003D Number S56055 in BR Bauxite livery. (Isle of Wight)
SB003E Number S56050 in BR Grey livery. (Isle of Wight)
SB003F Number S54730 in BR Grey livery. (Mainland)
SB003G Number S54656 in BR Bauxite livery. (Mainland)
SB003H Number 54611 in SR pre-1936 Brown livery with red ends. (Mainland)
SB003J Number 54551 in SR post-1936 Brown livery. (Mainland)
SB003K Number 56045 in SR post-1936 Brown livery. (Isle of Wight)
