Would this ferry van have ever appeared in the UK?

[SouthernBlue80s]

I am trying to recreate a class 47/33 Dover hauled freight trains of the 1980s.

 

Would any of these ever have appeared?

 

http://www.ehattons.com/57655/Golden_Valley_Hobbies_GV6003_Ferry_Wagon_with_Railway_Transportation_corps_WD_markings_HO_Scale_/StockDetail.aspx

 

 

 

So far I have one of these as a start point

 

http://assets.catawiki.nl/assets/2015/1/9/8/b/5/8b56e47e-9819-11e4-9969-6f4ccf84eb2f.jpg

 

If you have any links to where I can purchase suitable vans that would be appreciated, as they are not exactly easy to find.  would like to find a couple of these

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/uploads/gallery/album_1799/gallery_6971_1799_23694.jpg

 

Thanks

Steve

[woodenhead]

I recall vans very similar to that passing along the Fallowfield loop in the 70's and Lima did some in N and HO gauge.

[eastwestdivide]

The ehattons one is too early for the 1980s.

The interfrigo is "close enough", although the ones with smoother sides were far more common - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/32525-van-neg-m7-0013-interfrigo-83-fs-808-9-551-8/

There's a whole thread on the Transfesa blues at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/45271-transfesa-blue-fruit-vans-195x-to-the-90ies/ .

Nice photo by the way(!)  http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/gallery/image/32536-van-neg-n34-0014-transfesa-71-renfe-028-5-035-8/

If you need a higher resolution for modelling purposes, let me know.

Edited January 8, 2016 by eastwestdivide

[jonhall]

The eHattons one isn't a ferry van at all, its a continental larger loading gauge wagon witch helps fill the volume lost by being HO not OO, the interfrigo is the same story but to my eyes not as bad a compromise, and the transfesa ferry van is available from Lilliput, but in HO so will look small compared to British stock.

 

jon

[Satan's Goldfish]

There's some very useful info in this thread on this subject:

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83691-ho-substitutes-for-modern-oo-ferrytunnel-wagons/

 

As for the Transfesa van, Hornby did a version of their ferry wagon in transfesa blue, it's not accurate but probably in the same league as using HO models to represent OO ferry wagons.

[PhilJ W]

Its not a ferry van as it does not have the anchor symbol and should not be described as such. The term 'Ferry van' by implication suggests that it would travel on UK rails at some time as AFAIK the only rail ferry services were between the UK and the rest of Europe and as specially designed rolling stock was required to fit the British loading gauge it would be logical to make the best use of such stock.

[Satan's Goldfish]

Or, find as close as possible HO UIC gauge representations and add transfers and fixing to make them 'ferry' that way they look to scale alongside OO wagons rather than too small. All depends to what level of realistic scale modelling you're aiming, one of the best modellers I know works to the phrase 'if it looks right, then it's fine' and some of the stuff we were building was completely fictitious but no-one noticed.

[Simon Lee]

There were also the Danish, Italian and Turkish Bosphorus train ferries, as well as those linking the UK to Europe.

 

For anyone with an interest in the subject "Train Ferries of Western Europe" by Ransome - Wallis  is well worth a read.

[SouthernBlue80s]

I very much appreciate the input all. Thanks

And Eastwestdivide ...lovely photo

(Thanks for the offer. I might get one of the Hornby ones and see if I can improve it in some way, if I do I will let you know)

[Passed Driver]

Hi Steve. Over the last 50 years, I have seen these stabbed in the yard of the fruit packers near Paddock Wood station.

All the best. Kevin

[Fat Controller]

Hi Steve. Over the last 50 years, I have seen these stabbed in the yard of the fruit packers near Paddock Wood station.

All the best. Kevin

Transfesa had a big warehouse at Paddock Wood, served by sidings off the Maidstone line. In latter years, it was operated by Whirlpool, to store 'white goods' built in Italy. The buildings burnt down in a rather spectacular fire on our wedding anniversary (4 July 2005)- my wife was very late home, as the Charing Cross- Ashford line was blocked.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Not your timescale but the Airfix Kit type of van did reach the Midlands and Northwest in the 1960s

 

I remember discussing it here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/80129-walton-on-the-hill-27e-liverpool-em-gauge/page-11&do=findComment&comment=2065232

[jonhall]

Not your timescale but the Airfix Kit type of van did reach the Midlands and Northwest in the 1960s

 

I remember discussing it here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/80129-walton-on-the-hill-27e-liverpool-em-gauge/page-11&do=findComment&comment=2065232

 

Except the airfix kit was of an HO van, and a LOT shorter!

 

Jon

[Southernman46]

Its not a ferry van as it does not have the anchor symbol and should not be described as such. The term 'Ferry van' by implication suggests that it would travel on UK rails at some time as AFAIK the only rail ferry services were between the UK and the rest of Europe and as specially designed rolling stock was required to fit the British loading gauge it would be logical to make the best use of such stock.

 

ISTR if the wagon code i.e. "Habfis" etc contains an "f" or it might be an "s" - then the wagon is suitable to travel to and operate within the UK

[Jim Martin]

ISTR if the wagon code i.e. "Habfis" etc contains an "f" or it might be an "s" - then the wagon is suitable to travel to and operate within the UK

It's an "f". Additionally, "ff" meant that a wagon was passed for UK operation via the Tunnel only, and "fff" meant that it was passed for UK operation via train ferry only (I don't recall ever seeing either of these in practice). This is all set out in UIC booklet 438-2. I assume that this is online, because I have a copy of it.

 

The first (upper case) letter denotes the general type of wagon, then the string of lower-case letters (which are just listed in alphabetical order) relate to various operational factors. These can vary in meaning, depending on the main category, but the "f" is always about use in the UK.

 

Jim

[hmrspaul]

Its not a ferry van as it does not have the anchor symbol and should not be described as such. The term 'Ferry van' by implication suggests that it would travel on UK rails at some time as AFAIK the only rail ferry services were between the UK and the rest of Europe and as specially designed rolling stock was required to fit the British loading gauge it would be logical to make the best use of such stock.

 

Although the use of f ff and fff are all for transfer to Britain it is not true tto say only Britain had train ferries. There are plenty in Europe, some quite recent introductions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_ferry

 

The current UIC codes, number explanations etc are easily found on Wikipedia and via Google.

 

It is noticeable that despite this complex coding to describe a wagon and how it could be used, that symbols remain. As mentioned there is an anchor symbol for suitable for transfer on British destined ferries which has been replaced by a Channel Tunnel symbol. http://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/paulbartlettsrailwaywagonphotographs/e1aa91caa

 

Paul