Brake Vans on the Southern Region - 1957-1962

[Alex TM]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been looking through a few images of the railways of Kent and East Sussex during the period from the latter fifties through the early sixities; this is the period represented by most of my locos and stock.  There aren't that many images of freight services, and on the few that are shown what is not clear is the type of break van in use.  Hence the following question:

 

• what types of brake vans would have been common across the Southern Region around the period 1957-1962?

 

i assume that ex-SR 'pillbox' types would have been seen in revenue traffic, but what about pre-grouping local stock, imports from other regions, or even BR standards?

 

As ever, thanks in advance for any help.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

[Steamport Southport]

Most pre grouping brake vans would have been well gone or would be departmental stock by BR days. Maybe a few of the later types would survive such as the later SECR type.

 

https://www.cambrianmodelrail.co.uk/store/C78-SECR-Dancehall-Brake-Van-D1560-p94432836

 

I think some of the LSWR type that Hornby are doing may have survived as well.

 

https://www.Hornby.com/uk-en/shop/wagons-coaches/freight-wagons/warner-20t-24t-goods-brake-van.html

 

Pill Boxes of different sizes (15 and 25 tons - Cambrian do both) and Bogie "Queen Marys" would be most common. Bachmann RTR.

 

I think BR brake vans were rare on the Southern. They were restricted from certain places.

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/55057-br-standard-brake-vans-on-sr/

 

Have a look here.

 

http://www.semgonline.com/vandw/brakevans01.html

 

 

 

Jason

[Alex TM]

Hi Jason,

 

Thanks for the response.

 

I've had a look at the links, and they are quite interesting.  The "semgonline" one is one I didn't notice when I looked at their site; the photos are very helpful for details but, like a few other places I tried, are outwith my time period.  The Cambrian models link was most useful, as I hadn't noticed before that they do the lighter 15t van.

 

I eventually managed to find my book on the K&ESR, and the only identifiable BR period brakes were, with one exception, ex-SR 25t versions (even planked, unfitted, no sanding gear); the exception was an ex-LMS van.

 

Although the question was driven out of modelling interest, I am also curious to see if non-SR vans got around that region as much as ex-SR pillboxes seem to have got around the remainder of the country.

 

Again, thanks for the pointers.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

Edited September 27, 2019 by Alex TM
correction

[JohnR]

I dont know about Kent/Sussex, but from studying pictures of the Southern in Devon/Cornwall at the same period, Brake vans seem to be a real mixture. I've seen an ex LMS, an ex LNER van and a BR standard van, along with ex LSWR and ex-SR vans. It seems that brake vans got about a bit!