rogerzilla Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 As a former Sainsbury's worker, I can tell you the three produce items that are never refrigerated: Bananas Potatoes Monkey nuts (!) Heating or insulation is as much about stopping the bananas going black or rotting, as it is about ripeniing them. 2 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted February 13, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2020 1 hour ago, markw said: But wagon turntables were common within docks, where bananas were transfered from ships to the wagons. Especially ex-LNWR docks. It's noteworthy that the first LNWR banana vans - D86 of 1904 - were 9'0" wheelbase, though the D95 vans built the following year for Elders & Fyffes traffic were 9'9" wheelbase. These had overall dimensions in common with the standard D88 covered goods wagons built from 1908; these were certainly compatible with LNWR wagon turntables. Midland banana vans were all 10'0" wheelbase - but the Midland was not a big user of wagon turntables. Refs. C. Northedge (ed), LNWR Wagons Vol. 2 (Wild Swan, 2011) R.J. Essery, Midland Wagons Vol. 1 (OPC, 1980) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesndbs Posted February 13, 2020 Author Share Posted February 13, 2020 wow this post has grown massively and interestingly. Going back to the question about the USA tanks, those converted for the docks did indeed have steam heat and even in 60s three were retained in order to heat banana vans in the winter months. Suggesting the older vans may have been kept for this specific time of year. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 13, 2020 Share Posted February 13, 2020 3 hours ago, markw said: But wagon turntables were common within docks, where bananas were transfered from ships to the wagons. Not so much in the more modern facilities. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted February 15, 2020 Share Posted February 15, 2020 On 13/02/2020 at 21:42, Compound2632 said: Especially ex-LNWR docks. It's noteworthy that the first LNWR banana vans - D86 of 1904 - were 9'0" wheelbase, though the D95 vans built the following year for Elders & Fyffes traffic were 9'9" wheelbase. These had overall dimensions in common with the standard D88 covered goods wagons built from 1908; these were certainly compatible with LNWR wagon turntables. Midland banana vans were all 10'0" wheelbase - but the Midland was not a big user of wagon turntables. Refs. C. Northedge (ed), LNWR Wagons Vol. 2 (Wild Swan, 2011) R.J. Essery, Midland Wagons Vol. 1 (OPC, 1980) That's interesting... There's a not-very-sharp photo that I've seen somewhere of banana vans at Preston docks, which might(?) be BR 9-foot wheelbase versions. Bill 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesndbs Posted February 15, 2020 Author Share Posted February 15, 2020 Guys, VIDEO GOLD check this out Who knew they started with a rail journey 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikesndbs Posted February 15, 2020 Author Share Posted February 15, 2020 Yet more 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 More interesting information and photos re banana imports to Preston docks here: Thanks, Bill 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) Fantastic... In Mike's first link above, the second banana van behind the USA tank at about 3 min 40 sec looks like a 9-foot wheelbase BR van (B 880331?). And I haven't seen the wave your hand up-and-down signal to indicate that a vehicle is stopping for a long time... Bill Edited February 16, 2020 by AberdeenBill clarified which previous post it is referring to 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
br2975 Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 On 12/02/2020 at 10:07, Wickham Green said: They were principally used around Southampton Docks - so steam heat may have been of use for Ocean Liner Expresses too ! The last pair of USA tanks left Southampton Docks shed on Saturday 8th July, 1967 (the penultimate day of SR steam), running light engine to Salisbury via Eastleigh. . Two USA tanks were kept at Southampton Docks so late to cope with Elders Fyffes banana traffic, with that company's vessels arriving generally, on a Sunday, from when four locos were required to shunt the Empress Dock loading shed and adjacent sidings continuously until at least the Tuesday. . The tanks moved the rafts of vans through, one at a time ! . Once the banana traffic had been cleared, the USA tanks stood dead in Southampton Docks shed, until the next banana boat came alongside. All other rail traffic being handled by the Ruston shunters (Cl.07). . Brian R 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenBill Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 8 hours ago, br2975 said: The last pair of USA tanks left Southampton Docks shed on Saturday 8th July, 1967 (the penultimate day of SR steam), running light engine to Salisbury via Eastleigh. . Two USA tanks were kept at Southampton Docks so late to cope with Elders Fyffes banana traffic, with that company's vessels arriving generally, on a Sunday, from when four locos were required to shunt the Empress Dock loading shed and adjacent sidings continuously until at least the Tuesday. . The tanks moved the rafts of vans through, one at a time ! . Once the banana traffic had been cleared, the USA tanks stood dead in Southampton Docks shed, until the next banana boat came alongside. All other rail traffic being handled by the Ruston shunters (Cl.07). . Brian R We went on a school trip to Southampton docks ca. 1971 and there seemed to be class 07s and banana vans absolutely everywhere, but most of my classmates and teachers were more keen on seeing the QE2 departing for New York complete with tickertape and sirens blaring... Bill 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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