BR Ferry vans; diagram 1/227 of 1962 and conversions

British Rail wagon photographs by Paul Bartlett

15th October 2003

Before 1962, British Railways contributed only specialist wagons to the cross channel fleet of wagons that could operate on the train ferries. They then introduced two batches of ferry vans of diagram 1/227 totalling 400 wagons. These were dramatically different at a time when a variety of rather ordinary, small pallet vans and standard vans were being built. However, they were contemporary in design with European vans. Although in early days some were lettered on the doors others were plain. In the later 1970s a number were repainted but this was short lived as many bogie vans began to appear from 1977. They were only 20 years old when condemnation loomed, however as they were vacuum and air braked many were converted for alternative uses. The photographs show a selection of the later uses, which for some included equipping with Bruninghaus suspension. I wonder if the variety of TOPS codes is a record for a single design? (smile) A scale drawing of the van was reproduced as part of Bartlett, Paul w. & Mann, T., (1984) Cross—Channel Ferry Wagons used on BR in Model Railway Constructor Annual 1985 pp 18 — 29, edited by Leigh, Chris.

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