The 'Airfix' Meat van captured on film

[Rail-Online]

Hi,

 

Another corner of the neg image. The Airfix Meat Vans were taken out of specialised meat service and converted to general use. Here's one at Truro about 1956. The number appears to end with a 8 but the rest is far too dirty to read..........

 

Note that the louvres are not as prominent as the 4mm model but the 4 end vents remain

 

 

Tony

 

Edit 4 end vents not 3!

[Rail-Online]

And here's the kit sides

 

 

[PhilJ W]

I read somewhere that they were withdrawn from their designated service because of derailments. Hanging meat is a 'risky' load because  if it starts swinging from side to side the swing can build up to such an extent it can topple the vehicle.

[Fat Controller]

I read somewhere that they were withdrawn from their designated service because of derailments. Hanging meat is a 'risky' load because  if it starts swinging from side to side the swing can build up to such an extent it can topple the vehicle.

I've never heard that as a reason for their withdrawal before; more usually cited is the loss of the traffic to either FM containers or road, both of which would reduce the handling involved. Whilst many displaced 'Fresh Meat' vans retained a full complement of end and side vents, I have seen examples with side vents replaced by planking, or with all but the top vent removed, and the resultant apertures plated over.

[TheSignalEngineer]

Hi,

 

Another corner of the neg image. The Airfix Meat Vans were taken out of specialised meat service and converted to general use. Here's one at Truro about 1956. .................

I would think that a few may have migrated to the West Country as the full height end ventilation would probably make them good for fruit and veg traffic.

[Boris]

Hi,

 

Another corner of the neg image. The Airfix Meat Vans were taken out of specialised meat service and converted to general use. Here's one at Truro about 1956. The number appears to end with a 8 but the rest is far too dirty to read..........

 

Note that the louvres are not as prominent as the 4mm model but the 3 end vents remain

 

 

Tony

I'm confused as feck now, I'm sure there are 4 vents on there

[Andrew F]

That's what I was thinking.

[Mallard60022]

Bl##dy signal is a bit of a looker as well.

Phil

[Mallard60022]

Never built one of these even in Airfix days. Any good? I like the Cattle Wagon and B Van kits as they can be spruced up a treat.

Phil

[andyman7]

Never built one of these even in Airfix days. Any good? I like the Cattle Wagon and B Van kits as they can be spruced up a treat.

Phil

Like any of the Airfix wagons it builds up nicely and can be endlessly improved/adapted/fettled 

[hmrspaul]

T'is a pity that is not a colour photo so we could argue again about crimson or freight stock red!

Several meat photos here http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brmeatvan

 

The Airfix model still looks good at 55 years or so of age! [i'm amused when the ones in boxes are described as "original" as these kits were 2 shillings and packed in a plastic bag that could be hung up in Woolies].

 

Paul

[Grovenor]

They were 2 shillings in boxes. I remember two generations of boxes, the original small size then a larger one, the larger had some minor variations of artwork over the years and is the most commonly seen now. I did buy some from Woolies! i don't remember the wagons in bags but the scenic series and Scammel Scarab were certainly in bags and I bought a whole lot of Scarabs from a Woolies bargain bin. 6d each IIRC.

Some info here http://www.airfixrailways.co.uk/History.htm

Regards

[Swindon 123]

Good excuse to have the odd one in a siding. Norwich 1984.

KDB773390,  KDB870082 ZDV [CBR 2-115] by Paul James, on Flickr

 

Paul J.

[Michael Delamar]

Captured on the left in the British transport film "Lost stolen damaged" at Liverpool Huskisson goods depot in 1964.

[Guest 40-something]

I painted one up in maroon and weathered it down for parcels traffic

 

Cracking kits to build

 

EDIT:  Second thoughts, maybe it was crimson?  A good few years back so cant remember!!!

[ROSSPOP]

I still have mine and with extra work on a good chassis they compare very well...................

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

with Parkside

 

 

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Never built one of these even in Airfix days. Any good? I like the Cattle Wagon and B Van kits as they can be spruced up a treat.

Phil

 

I must have a look at my Airfix kit stockpile sometime - can't be too completely hidden as there are about 70 wagon kits in it (well what else do you do when you hear a company is going bankrupt?) and I think there are a couple of these among the mountain of mineral wagons.

[andyman7]

They were 2 shillings in boxes. I remember two generations of boxes, the original small size then a larger one, the larger had some minor variations of artwork over the years and is the most commonly seen now. I did buy some from Woolies! i don't remember the wagons in bags but the scenic series and Scammel Scarab were certainly in bags and I bought a whole lot of Scarabs from a Woolies bargain bin. 6d each IIRC.

Some info here http://www.airfixrailways.co.uk/History.htm

Regards

The Airfix wagons never came in bags, they were issued in dinky little boxes.

[Mad McCann]

 

Here's a crimson liveried model I built last year to EM

 

Dave.

[hmrspaul]

T'is a pity that is not a colour photo so we could argue again about crimson or freight stock red!

Several meat photos here http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brmeatvan

 

The Airfix model still looks good at 55 years or so of age! [i'm amused when the ones in boxes are described as "original" as these kits were 2 shillings and packed in a plastic bag that could be hung up in Woolies].

 

Paul

Yes I was mis remembering, they were in small boxes - I should know, there are several littering my basement room full of airfix wagon bits. It was the small airplane kits that began in plastic bags. http://www.vintage-airfix.com/airfix/series-172-scale/hawker-hurricane-iv-rp-p-40.html

 

Apologies

 

Paul