Popular Post rapidoandy Posted February 25, 2022 Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) It’s difficult to remember a time when cross-Channel rail traffic went by ferry rather than via the Channel Tunnel. Well, you can now recall the glory days of the train ferry with our new Diagram 1/227 ferry van. BR found itself at odds with European railways in the 1950s/1960s. Incoming goods was being carried in long wheelbase vans with large sliding doors and sliding side vents and air brakes whereas the typical BR van wagon had a 10ft wheelbase and a capacity of 12 tons. The answer was the Dia. 1/227 van. It was nearly 42ft long (over headstocks) and had a massive 26ft 3in wheelbase. The sliding door (one on each side) was 13ft long and it could carry 20 tons. It looked like the incoming vans from Europe, with four sliding vents on each side. More importantly, it had both air and vacuum brakes. Pressed Steel built two batches of Dia. 1/227s, totalling 400 vehicles. With very few airbraked wagons in its fleet, BR ran a train of 99 ferry vans as part of brake trials in 1968. The introduction of bogies vehicles for cross-Channel traffic in the 1970s meant that the ferry vans’, which had been coded VIX on BR’s TOPS computer system, days were numbered. However, they found further use complementing the new, long wheelbase vans (such as the VBAs and VDAs) on domestic goods traffic or, increasingly, as barrier vehicles or on Departmental duties. This led to these ferry vans being re-coded on TOPS. The final ferry vans were literally removed from the national network in 2018 when three ex-Fastline ferry vans had to be craned out of Peterborough yard to be taken away by road. Surviving ferry vans can be found at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Peak Rail and at the Eden Valley, Spa Valley and West Somerset Railways. As is usual with Rapido you can order you 'VIX Vans' direct from us or from any Official Retailer. RRP for each model is £45.95. Edited March 31, 2022 by rapidoandy 30 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Popular Post AY Mod Posted February 25, 2022 Moderators Popular Post Share Posted February 25, 2022 I must admit I let out a little "Ooh!" when I got to see the sample a couple of weeks ago; it's very fine indeed and, at last, a ferry van to modern standards. Very, very good indeed. 27 3 2 2 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dj_crisp Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 It looks amazing and just what I was hoping for! Thanks for a great choice which I'll definitely putting in a pre-order for! Cheers Will Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mozzer models Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyman7 Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 The great thing about this wagon is that there's plenty of scope to utilise them singly or just one or two. I'm really glad it has the opening doors too, it's screaming 'boxfile project' at me 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Darius43 Posted February 25, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2022 Looks superb but I have three “improved and detailed” Hornby versions to which I am quite attached. Cheers Darius 3 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Phil Bullock Posted February 25, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2022 39 minutes ago, rapidoandy said: It’s difficult to remember a time when cross-Channel rail traffic went by ferry rather than via the Channel Tunnel. Well, you can now recall the glory days of the train ferry with our new Diagram 1/227 ferry van. BR found itself at odds with European railways in the 1950s/1960s. Incoming goods was being carried in long wheelbase vans with large sliding doors and sliding side vents and air brakes whereas the typical BR van wagon had a 10ft wheelbase and a capacity of 12 tons. The answer was the Dia. 1/227 van. It was nearly 42ft long (over headstocks) and had a massive 26ft 3in wheelbase. The sliding door (one on each side) was 13ft long and it could carry 20 tons. It looked like the incoming vans from Europe, with four sliding vents on each side. More importantly, it had both air and vacuum brakes. Pressed Steel built two batches of Dia. 1/227s, totalling 400 vehicles. With very few airbraked wagons in its fleet, BR ran a train of 99 ferry vans as part of brake trials in 1968. The introduction of bogies vehicles for cross-Channel traffic in the 1970s meant that the ferry vans’, which had been coded VIX on BR’s TOPS computer system, days were numbered. However, they found further use complementing the new, long wheelbase vans (such as the VBAs and VDAs) on domestic goods traffic or, increasingly, as barrier vehicles or on Departmental duties. This led to these ferry vans being re-coded on TOPS. The final ferry vans were literally removed from the national network in 2018 when three ex-Fastline ferry vans had to be craned out of Peterborough yard to be taken away by road. Surviving ferry vans can be found at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Peak Rail and at the Eden Valley, Spa Valley and West Somerset Railways. As is usual with Rapido you can order you 'VIX Vans' direct from us or from any Official Retailer. RRP for each model is £45.95. That looks lovely! 3 early BR ones for us please… 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 15 minutes ago, Darius43 said: Looks superb but I have three “improved and detailed” Hornby versions to which I am quite attached. Cheers Darius My 3 modded Hornby ones are nearly finished but this new one looks the business. steve steve 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold BMacdermott Posted February 25, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2022 Hello everyone Congratulations to Rapido on this announcement! The vehicle has been in the High Polling segment of (what was) The Annual 00 Wishlist Poll since 2014. We wish the project every success! Brian (on behalf of The 00 Poll Team) 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WILLIAM Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Coincidently I 'found' this the other day during a walk near Connah's Quay docks which led me to research the type. The number was still legiable - B786961. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w124bob Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Just what I would like for this , posted before on RMweb but I couldn't resist. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham108 Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 1 hour ago, rapidoandy said: As is usual with Rapido you can order you 'VIX Vans' direct from us or from any Official Retailer. RRP for each model is £45.95. Or £39 @ Hattons - https://www.hattons.co.uk/directory/versiondetails?id=5314#models 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w124bob Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 The two barrier versions now ordered, deposit paid! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Another secret revealed. Original drawing in Bartlett, Paul W. & Mann, T., (1984c) Cross Channel Ferry Wagons used on BR. Model Railway Constructor Annual 1985 pp 18 - 29, edited by Leigh, Chris. https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan Using the Hattons document. I have only indirect input to design and, although my photos appear similar to the artwork shown it does not mean they are a copy of them. 910001 BR Dia. 1/227 Ferry Van in BR bauxite - B786873 Not my photo, but the artwork is in the condition as shown in an official photo taken when the van was brand new. My own photo shows 21 70 214 057-7 = GB786930 in similar finish, without any markings of the door in Feb. 1969 at Staines Central https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e6dc9caaa [not a good photo!] 910004 RBX Ferry Van in BR bauxite - B787170 Barrier Eastleigh 11-82 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e6b997a53 910007 RBX Ferry Van in BR Railfreight red and grey - B707178 should be 787178 Barrier Hoo Junct. Dec. 1986 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e6bcc31ee 910002 VIX Ferry Van in BR bauxite - GB787298 Trafford Park Oct. 1979 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e5808cd6e 910003 VIX Ferry Van in BR bauxite with ferry link logo - B787213 Staines Central Feb. 1969 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/ef8652f 910008 VIX Ferry Van in BR Railfreight International red and grey - 21 70 2380 249-9 Official BR Summer 1980 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e63dbe679 & Hoo Junct Oct 1982 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e10b0ec2d 910005 VIX Ferry Van in BR Railfreight red and grey - GB787252 Hoo Junct Oct 1982 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e1e26d46e 910012 ZJX Ferry Van in BR S&T 'Satlink' red and yellow - KDB787210 Millerhill August 1989 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e1eb1cde8 910010 ZRX Ferry Van in BR Departmental olive green - DB787218 Oxford July 1983 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e16b4a5ba [yes this a colour photo!] 910009 ZSX Ferry Van in BR Civil Engineers 'Dutch' yellow and grey - B786980 Three Bridges Nov 1987 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e1b68c406 910006 ZSX Ferry Van in BR Railfreight red and grey - DB787181 Hoo junc. Feb 1982 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e68e83149 910011 ZYX Ferry Van in BR Departmental olive green - LDB786913 Kings Norton July 1991 https://PaulBartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan/e1baee17e Paul Bartlett 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) I am sure many people will be able to find a home for one or two of them as they were seen across large parts of BR. I think in the revenue service for which they were built they lasted in traffic until about 1980/81, I believe bagged china clay for export was one of their later uses. In the Speedlink era they could be seen in ones or twos as barrier vehicles (TOPS code RBX), often accompanying VEAs on MOD traffic. Bridgwater Yard had a small pool of four of them allocated as barriers specifically to work from Bridgwater yard to and from Severn Tunnel junction with the explosives traffic from the ROF at Puriton. Edit - there appear to be at least three of the Bridgwater allocated barrier wagons on this train. 6B46 06.30 Severn Tunnel Junction to Bridgwater arrives at Lawrence Hill Yard behind 45034, 28/9/83 Here is a returning Speedlink trip from either/or Ernesettle/Keyham to Tavistock Junction behind 08953. Two RBX barriers are sandwiching three VEAs near the rear of the train. 15/11/82 One more for space starved modellers. A local freight trip working from Derby St Marys Yard to Tutbury comprising one barrier wagon and one brake van passes Derby behind 25218, 31311 is heading north with a trip from Derby BREL. 16/11/82 cheers Edited February 25, 2022 by Rivercider Additional photo added. 6 1 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 When they ceased to work on international flows, some received the TOPS code 'VJX'; does anyone know what traffic they might have been used for? I suspect they may have been barriers for MoD traffic, but have no proof. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted February 25, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2022 Whilst this is a nicely detailed wagon, especially underneath, I feel Rapido have missed a few tricks by moulding on the shutters/ventilators as per the Triang version,,,, unless! Mike. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zunnan Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 What could possibly make the week go any better after the Accura 31? VIX vans? Oh very yes please! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonhall Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 4 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said: Whilst this is a nicely detailed wagon, especially underneath, I feel Rapido have missed a few tricks by moulding on the shutters/ventilators as per the Triang version,,,, unless! Mike. Yes that was my first reaction, opening doors is OK, but at that sort of price I'd expect etched vents covering apertures - not that they were seen open very often, but it would have made it easier to take them off for their departmental and MOD lives Jon 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covkid Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 Excellent choice Rapido and a huge gap filler for the 107-s and 1980s modellers Recall plenty of these in and out of Bescot as barrier wagons on the dangerous goods traffic to and from Langley Green. The chlorine traffic from Ellesmere port to Langley Green was conveyed in the distinctive white tanks with orange stripes. Mostly four tanks with an RBX each end and a CAR dual piped brakevan. Other barrier requirements on the same tripper (T48) were for the methanol from Teesside and phosphorous which came over by ferry I believe. Also saw the RBXs as barriers on the military traffic to and from Kineton and Didcot. AM I right in thinking some of these were "decapitated" and used as under runners for long steel traffic and rails ? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Bendall Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 3 minutes ago, Covkid said: AM I right in thinking some of these were "decapitated" and used as under runners for long steel traffic and rails ? Yes, some were. Would be good to know what the chassis looks like with the body off for conversion potential. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Griffin Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 3 hours ago, rapidoandy said: The final ferry vans were literally removed from the national network in 2018 when three ex-Fastline ferry vans had to be craned out of Peterborough yard to be taken away by road. Surviving ferry vans can be found at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Peak Rail and at the Eden Valley, Spa Valley and West Somerset Railways. i worked in the west yard at Peterborough yard for years and i may know where the D plates are from the three vans that were in the yard! 4 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted February 25, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 25, 2022 15 minutes ago, Dan Griffin said: i worked in the west yard at Peterborough yard for years and i may know where the D plates are from the three vans that were in the yard! Fear a knock on the door! Mike. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covkid Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 5 minutes ago, Covkid said: Am I right in thinking some of these were "decapitated" and used as under runners for long steel traffic and rails ? 1 minute ago, Simon Bendall said: Yes, some were. Would be good to know what the chassis looks like with the body off for conversion potential. Yes. That was my thought. Not sure whether my memory is playing tricks but ISTR some runner wagons had rows of rails welded on longitudinally for weight purposes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
w124bob Posted February 25, 2022 Share Posted February 25, 2022 (edited) This RMweb layout thread has featured VIX runner wagons, pretty sure there are some real pictures in there somewhere Paul Bartlett everything VIX https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brferryvan Edited February 25, 2022 by w124bob 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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