Didcot tool van

[Brighty1674]

Hi there.....I am at present having a go at converting the ratio 4 wheeler brake van to a didcot tool van.........in Mr Russell’s part 1 gwr coach book page 63 there is a picture of said van......the question I would like to know is is the van number 11 which can be made out between the G and the W or am I looking at some other adornment on the van.......it looks to me like a number 11 but I was just wondering if anyone else has a picture of this van or can confirm it had the number 11........here’s hoping !!!!.

Dave  Brighty.....

[Coach bogie]

I cannot find the picture you refer to. Russell’s part 1 gwr coach book page 63 is a clerestory coach in mine. The tool vans are in the brown vehicles appendix in the volumes I have. I photgraphed all the tool vans at Didcot. I sthis the one you are looking for?

 

 

The RM search engine shows this has been covered before in RM web and is well illustrated. Mike Wiltshire

 

[jcm@gwr]

I believe that there is also one on the Severn Valley

Edited June 23, 2019 by jcm@gwr
missing word!

[Brighty1674]

Hi.....I have attached a photo from Russell’s book perhaps it may help, I should have done it originally, forgot different prints of Russell’s book may give different pages.......I have looked but cannot any other pictures of this tool van.......Dave Brighty....

[Brighty1674]

Well I have looked high and low for any more pictures of this tool van but to date I have found none....so this is the first time I have decided to put a project on the web but I thought I would give it a go.......I had the sides, roof and ends of a ratio brake third already so the first job was to remove the guard ducket from the side and upon closer inspection of the picture it seems to me that other panels had been plated over with sheet metal, so they were added with nice thin plasticard and on the roof the the board describing the coach was made from scrap brass and glued on......new buffers courtesy of mjt were added and it now looks rather strange so I have added pictures and we will see how it goes.......as I have no pictures of the other side I am assuming it has been plated similar to the side showing......next job will be to prime with Halfords grey primer and fill any gaps...........Dave Brighty......

[Brighty1674]

Well, having sprayed Halfords primer on the coach it is surprising how many gaps and filling need to be done, checking my humbrol model filler it had expired so a trip to my local model shop (Frome models ) reveal they had no humbrol filler but the lad showed me the games workshop liquid green stuff, not being too happy with something different I went home and on using it I must say I most impressed, never seen it before but certainly I can recommend........anyway all primed now next job, top coat of paint and transfers......

[57xx]

Looking good Brighty. If you have any spare V hangers and DC brake handles, you can fit them in the gap between the stepboards (that's why the gap was put there). See http://penrhos.me.uk/Eng.shtml#80979 for examples.

[Brighty1674]

Hi there 57XX......many thanks for this info, I could not quite see what was there in the picture I found, the angle is not very good, I did think to myself  I wonder why those step boards have been cut there, so now I know, thank you.....Dave Brighty.....

[Garethp8873]

Severn Valley does indeed have several Tool Vans. Of these GWR 9, 89, 112, 141, and 162 are based around where GWR 4150 is in Bewdley Yard so they do not get moved about much. Hampton Loade has GWR 66 which is used for as the sales van for Barry Railway Carriage Trust and GWR 118 is currently parked at Bridgnorth. Last time I saw it, it was covered with a tarpaulin. Lastly we have GWR 55 which is the most used example and most photographed example I have. I have been able to photograph 112 at least once though back in 2017.

 

 

 

[Brighty1674]

Hi Gareth......thank you for the info......do you have any information of tool van what looks like number 11, the picture I have at the start of this article, seems a bit of a mystery to me, I cannot find any info at all........dave....

[Brighty1674]

Well that’s it.....I do not seem to have found any further information about this particular coach other than what is the 1 picture in Russell’s book......I have plodded on and it is now finished as will be seen by the attached pictures, three coats of diluted precision paints and suitable transfers applied and to be honest I am quite pleased with the result,  without any plans or further info I feel it is a fair representation of the said coach, especially as I had all the parts to complete it already in the spares box so if there are a few problems, which there probably are I feel it has not cost an arm and a leg......it can now join the two Haye Development breakdown coaches which are also the Didcot ones........