Modelling a traditional parcels train

[Nearholmer]

Soooo ……. How come so many passenger carriages were painted with white upper panels by the L&NWR?

[montyburns56]

Milford Junction 1995 by Jason Rodhouse

 

 

[montyburns56]

Hitchin

 

 

[Flood]

As just posted in the Thompson BZ 6 wheel brake van thread. A lovely kit from MacGeordie bought four years ago that I decided to have a go at this July during 2 weeks holiday. Just some light weathering needed to complete.

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Flood

[Rugd1022]

A couple of lovely shots from photographer Dave Leitch taken on the Cornish mainline in the '70s...

 

 

 

 

[Rugd1022]

Photo by 'Mr.Rushman' : a rarely photographed sight - a large logo liveried 50 (033 in this case) with a Siphon G in tow, seen here on the up main at Reading on 24th August 1982, the two GUVs behind it being branded Newspaper vans means it's probably the afternoon Plymouth to Old Oak empties but I thought it worth posting here anyway...

 

 

Edited August 22, 2023 by Rugd1022

[Rugd1022]

Photos from John Turner's excellent flickr archive, the last two of which appeared in a 'Model Rail' article several years ago...

 

Unidentified Warship on up vans at Bristol TM, c.1970 / 71...

 

 

Another Warship on up vans including Enparts vehicles, near Wooton Bassett c.1971...

 

 

An unidentified Western on up vans at Bath Spa, c.1971...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Will Crompton]

The NKV looks like it's has recently received attention at a C and W depot (Calligraphy and Writing).

 

From the KDH archive on Flickr. The caption says it believes the picture was taken by Brian Beer in the early 80s.

[Southernman46]

Spot the icicles ................ 😵

[Will Crompton]

52 minutes ago, Southernman46 said:

Spot the icicles ................ 😵

Proper rail blue icicles.

[Jamiel]

Here are three parcels train photos from the Facebook group ‘Rail Thing - REAL Trainspotting (1945-1968)’

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rtRealTrainspotting

 

The first has such a wonderful mix of rolling stock, a Class 28 in Furness in 1968, with a slightly wonky front right buffer (hard to not straighten that when modelling).
 

There was much discussion of the wagons and coaches behind.

Lots of LMS design vans (maybe a Stove R near the back?), and a GW Fruit D van between the Mk1 GUV and the Mk1 BG (in blue and grey).

Last two are Thompson BZ, with what looks like a SR PMV ahead of the GUV

Photo by taken and shared by Ian Thompson

 

 

Leeds City Station, West Yorkshire, 19th July 1963.
Dave Chatterton spotted a Holbeck Black Five 44828 shunting parcel vans.
Shared by Edward Bear

 

Hall 7900 on an up parcels at Twyford. I don’t have any further information about this photo, but it has a lovely mix of rolling stock in the train.

 

I am not sure where I got this last image from, I did search this thread as it would seem a likely source, but nothing came up. Apologies if this is repost, or is indeed your photo

York 1981, a Class 40 on the Redbank parcels, all MK1 brakes and GUVs I think, but such a lovely photo.

 

Edited September 1, 2023 by Jamiel

[montyburns56]

I hope that the parcels on the train being pulled by the Class 28 were non-urgent!

[Flood]

23 hours ago, Jamiel said:

Here are three parcels train photos from the Facebook group ‘Rail Thing - REAL Trainspotting (1945-1968)’

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rtRealTrainspotting

 

The first has such a wonderful mix of rolling stock, a Class 28 in Furness in 1968, with a slightly wonky front right buffer (hard to not straighten that when modelling).
 

There was much discussion of the wagons and coaches behind.

Lots of LMS design vans (maybe a Stove R near the back?), and a GW Fruit D van between the Mk1 GUV and the Mk1 BG (in blue and grey).

Last two are Thompson BZ, with what looks like a SR PMV ahead of the GUV

Photo by taken and shared by Ian Thompson

 

I think the SR van ahead of the GUV is a BY (Van C). It has three rain strips on the roof. I agree with the probable Stove R and the Thompson BZs.

[Clive Mortimore]

On 31/08/2023 at 23:50, Jamiel said:

Here are three parcels train photos from the Facebook group ‘Rail Thing - REAL Trainspotting (1945-1968)’

https://www.facebook.com/groups/rtRealTrainspotting

Hall 7900 on an up parcels at Twyford. I don’t have any further information about this photo, but it has a lovely mix of rolling stock in the train.

 

Hi Jamie

 

That is a lovely set of photos. In the photo of the GwR loco the first two LMS 50ft vans are both period 1 designs. The first one is a much repanelled wooden body D1778 BG, the curved rain strip on the roof is the main identifying feature remaining. The second one is a D1715 all steel BG, again the three rain strips on the roof differentiate it from a later period 3 BG, along with their being no angled truss beams. It looks like 6th coach is also a all steel period 1 BG and 9th one a period 3 version. 

[Dunsignalling]

3 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Hi Jamie

 

That is a lovely set of photos. In the photo of the GwR loco the first two LMS 50ft vans are both period 1 designs. The first one is a much repanelled wooden body D1778 BG, the curved rain strip on the roof is the main identifying feature remaining. The second one is a D1715 all steel BG, again the three rain strips on the roof differentiate it from a later period 3 BG, along with their being no angled truss beams. It looks like 6th coach is also a all steel period 1 BG and 9th one a period 3 version. 

Late 1950's, I'd say; the third vehicle is a SR bogie luggage van 'GLV', (as modelled rather splendidly by Hornby in recent times), rather than the more numerous 'Van B', and they were getting on for extinct by 1960. 

 

The rather immaculate example of crimson/cream livery on vehicle five suggests a date nearer to 1956. 7900 looks fairly freshly out of shops so its overhaul records should narrow it down a bit.

 

Super photo, and surprising what information can be gleaned even without a caption!

 

John

Edited September 2, 2023 by Dunsignalling

[Rugd1022]

Photographer unknown : 37 189 on the up main at Reading with a short parcels train on 19th July 1983, I have a feeling it might be the Didcot - Padd working which we used to secondman light engine from Padd to Old Oak where the Didcot driver had his PNB, it was often worked by a 37 at the time...

 

 

 

 

 

[Steven B]

Red Bank, 1970

(John Turner on Flickr)

 

It's interesting to see the mix of maroon, blue and blue/grey alongside the green class 40.

 

Does anyone recognise the blue van on the end of the train in the centre of the picture? It looks like a former LNER extra long CCT. Next vehicle looks like a Mk1 CCT.

 

 

Steven B

[coronach]

6 minutes ago, Steven B said:

Red Bank, 1970

(John Turner on Flickr)

 

It's interesting to see the mix of maroon, blue and blue/grey alongside the green class 40.

 

Does anyone recognise the blue van on the end of the train in the centre of the picture? It looks like a former LNER extra long CCT. Next vehicle looks like a Mk1 CCT.

 

 

Steven B

Yes it is an LNER extra long CCT, that has been repainted and therefore must have been overhauled late in its life. These remained in service until about 1978

[hmrspaul]

1 hour ago, coronach said:

Yes it is an LNER extra long CCT, that has been repainted and therefore must have been overhauled late in its life. These remained in service until about 1978

Several in blue in the 1978s, at the end of their lives in https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/lnercctc The blue livery appears to have moved the data panel to the right hand door, instead of being hidden by the door when it was open - as in the maroon livery. Also 1326 appears to have been rebuilt ? in ply wood. 

 

Paul

[woodenhead]

2 hours ago, Steven B said:

Red Bank, 1970

(John Turner on Flickr)

 

It's interesting to see the mix of maroon, blue and blue/grey alongside the green class 40.

 

Does anyone recognise the blue van on the end of the train in the centre of the picture? It looks like a former LNER extra long CCT. Next vehicle looks like a Mk1 CCT.

 

 

Steven B

Interesting time progress from 1970

 

1978 - half the building on the left has gone, replaced with scrap Mk1s and the siding where the 40 was stabled is out of use

 

Then 1984, the building completely gone and some track lifted

 

 

But it seems the van body that looks pre-grouping had survived.

 

Also by 1984 all the NPCSS stock is either a Mk1 BG or a GUV, all the older stuff and anything 4 wheeled has gone.

[hmrspaul]

I was chatting with a model railway friend in the pub last night (The Fox, Holgate, recommended) and he mentioned watching the shunting of the return Red Bank Parcels at York station during the 1960s. Very long and difficult to manage at the station. Largely for Newspaper traffic from Manchester 

Is that three newly maintained Blue and white BGs in that central consist? Much lighter roof than I would ever put on a model.

 

Paul

[Dunsignalling]

4 minutes ago, hmrspaul said:

I was chatting with a model railway friend in the pub last night (The Fox, Holgate, recommended) and he mentioned watching the shunting of the return Red Bank Parcels at York station during the 1960s. Very long and difficult to manage at the station. Largely for Newspaper traffic from Manchester 

Is that three newly maintained Blue and white BGs in that central consist? Much lighter roof than I would ever put on a model.

 

Paul

Zinc-based anti-corrosion finish?

 

John

[coronach]

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

Interesting time progress from 1970

 

1978 - half the building on the left has gone, replaced with scrap Mk1s and the siding where the 40 was stabled is out of use

 

Then 1984, the building completely gone and some track lifted

 

 

But it seems the van body that looks pre-grouping had survived.

 

Also by 1984 all the NPCSS stock is either a Mk1 BG or a GUV, all the older stuff and anything 4 wheeled has gone.

The BR collection and delivery parcels business was closed down in 1980, which reduced the demand for vans. Those which remained were needed for GPO, newspaper and Red Star traffic. The first to go would be the non- standard vehicles

[coronach]

54 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said:

Zinc-based anti-corrosion finish?

 

John

Ah!  I’ve often wondered why some Mk1 stock appeared to have a lighter coloured roof in the 1970s. 

[Northmoor]

1 hour ago, woodenhead said:

Interesting time progress from 1970

 

1978 - half the building on the left has gone, replaced with scrap Mk1s and the siding where the 40 was stabled is out of use

 

Then 1984, the building completely gone and some track lifted

 

 

But it seems the van body that looks pre-grouping had survived.

 

Also by 1984 all the NPCSS stock is either a Mk1 BG or a GUV, all the older stuff and anything 4 wheeled has gone.

A fascinating set of comparison images.

 

Also, an excellent reminder to so many modellers who insist their banks of sidings must all be dead straight.