Modelling a traditional parcels train

[montyburns56]

Scenery Van Bathampton 1978

 

 

[woodenhead]

Bit history for the Scenery van, as I didn't know what one was and how the name matched it's purpose.

 

Except for the three Elephant vans - which were also named appropriately.

https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/sceneryvan.html

[The Johnster]

Taken looking towards Bath from the road bridge, the exit turnout from the up goods loop just poking itself into frame extreme right.  The junction is just on the other side of the bridge.  There was a rather nice old pub behind the photographer, can’t recall the name of it now just…

Trees suggest winter, and steam heating is on. This was becoming less usual by the late 70s.  Looks as if the train has slowed for the junction, presumably taking the Westbury route.  IIRC these vans originally had 3 sets of side doors

[Not Jeremy]

A really great view of one of my favourite train spotting locations, and an unusual van to see. Built as scenery vans, (originally 30 of them) they were later used for general parcels and according to Gould had all been withdrawn by 1980. They only ever had two doors, because the elephants came in two by two... The train would have been slowing for he junction, more recently they slow less as the junction was relaid with single leads in the 1980s.

[Enterprisingwestern]

I think I've got one of those to build in the roundtuit pile, PCL/PSL or some similar manufacturer, primarily a 7mm company.

A useful shot though whatever.

 

Mike.

[Michael Hodgson]

On 28/04/2024 at 16:57, montyburns56 said:

Scenery Van Bathampton 1978

 

 

Looks much the same as a GUV to me.

Is that steam escaping from the middle of the chassis?  Why would scenery need to be steam heated?

Perhaps it's for the comfort of the elephants.  They of course provide their own "scenery".

[Dunsignalling]

2 hours ago, Michael Hodgson said:

Looks much the same as a GUV to me.

Is that steam escaping from the middle of the chassis?  Why would scenery need to be steam heated?

Perhaps it's for the comfort of the elephants.  They of course provide their own "scenery".

It may well have been so branded by the BR blue era but, in SR design terms, the closest parallel is the GLV, but with a higher roofline, end doors in place of the gangways, and one fewer pair of side doors.

 

Nearest parallel from elsewhere might be the GWR Diagram O.12 Siphon H or the Monsters, all constructed with similar rooflines to accommodate the scenery of touring theatre companies when required, and general traffic when not.

 

The "GUV" designation became much more widely used in BR days, but normally indicated a vehicle of typical coach-height. The LMS referred to their 42' bogie vans (modelled by Lima) as CCTs with the high-roofed variant designated as an Aeroplane Van!

 

John

Edited April 30 by Dunsignalling

[Flood]

2 hours ago, Dunsignalling said:

The "GUV" designation became much more widely used in BR days, but normally indicated a vehicle of typical coach-height.

Agreed. By the time I have decided to model, 1976, the only parcels types found in the Paddington Workings booklet and Southern Region Station Summaries are BG, GUV and CCT. The Southern Region Carriage Working Notice Appendix did still differentiate between different types and the dedicated Newspaper Siphon Gs (steam or dual heated) were stated in the Paddington booklet.

 

This means that BGs which have had their gangways removed (B), and Southern Bogie Passenger Brakes, can be used as GUVs or also as a BG depending on whether through travel between vehicles is needed. Brute circuit traffic would need vehicles with hinged beams though. CCTs also cover PMVs (no end doors), 6 wheeled brakes (BZ), 4 wheeled brakes (BY) or even SPVs.