Parcels Sector - RES / Red Star and Track 29

[18B]

Hi, 

 

after the rebranding of the Parcels sector to Rail express system, how did Red Star and Track 29 fit in with it? What exactly even was Track 29? and how were Red Star parcels actually carried? 

 

TIA 

[montyburns56]

I seem to remember that Track 29 was a special service where air freight containers were loaded onto converted MK1 BGs. Like a lot of the freight innovations that BR introduced in the 80s, I don't think it lasted a long time.

[Wickham Green too]

Red Star parcels were simply carried in the van space of service trains under the care of the guard ................ .............. in the days when trains had van space .................. and guards.

[montyburns56]

Actually having a done a bit of Googling it seems that Track 29 was actually a special BR Parcels division for overnight deliveries.

[GordonC]

6 minutes ago, montyburns56 said:

I seem to remember that Track 29 was a special service where air freight containers were loaded onto converted MK1 BGs. Like a lot of the freight innovations that BR introduced in the 80s, I don't think it lasted a long time.

 

There was a couple of conversions if I remember correctly where they had rollers embedded in the floor of the van to help move the air freight containers around. I think one of the vans had the rollers in the floor always 'up' while the other needed an air supply to raise them presumably for loading and unloading.

[Jeremy Cumberland]

5 minutes ago, Wickham Green too said:

Red Star parcels were simply carried in the van space of service trains under the care of the guard ................ .............. in the days when trains had van space .................. and guards.

...and stations had staff.