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Parcels traffic in BR days, from 1948 to Sectorisation

Covering LMS/LMR, LNER/ER, and SR eras and divided into three broad sections:

1 - Steam era
2 - Post-steam era
3 - The vehicles

In chronological order as far as possible. There is some overlap, especially on the ER where steam was ousted in the early 1960s and diesels took over the traffic.

Introduction

There is also overlap in the vehicle design parameters and actual use in service, which is my main focus. For the sake of clarity, the vehicle shorthand is as established before, the principal types being:

BG = bogie van, gangwayed
BV = bogie van, non-gangwayed
B = 6w and 4w, type described
CCT = covered carriage truck
PMV = miscellaneous van, originally applied to the SR utility vans
vanfit = goods van with vacuum brake (italics for goods vehicles).

In the official codes for passenger-rated carriages the code letter "B" indicated a guard's position and this was straightforward on the ER and LMR where they were called "brake vans".

But this is a complex area for there is overlap with vehicles intended for goods traffic, or that grey area in between of parcels traffic, the term being used for goods sent by passenger train or a passenger-rated service - not the same as the neatly wrapped stuff hand-delivered by your postie!

And multi-purpose designs, of course, whether or not a guard's position was fitted, or if gangways were provided (in which light, modellers' use of terms such as "passenger brake van", "luggage van" and "parcels van" doesn't help for they are basically traffic terms).

Goods vehicles equipped for running with passenger trains were known as non-passenger coaching stock (NPCS). On the WR, a series of such vans, without a guard's position, 4w, 6w and bogie, was designated "Siphon" - but some did have gangways so they could run with passenger trains as a through parcels van (or more rarely on the WR), as a luggage van. On the SR, a bogie van with a guard's position was not gangwayed (and aptly called the "Bogie B") while conversely, the no-guard one was gangwayed and called a "Corridor Luggage Van" and coded GBL. Jargon, codes, abbreviations and shorthand have their uses but overlapping variations like this are best covered in the text.

New additions/updates placed here temporarily.

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Riddles 5MT No 73045 starts the 11am Nottingham Victoria-Marylebone Up parcels in April 1963. I asked if anybody could confirm the working and Mark Hambly (thank you!) has reponded to say that in 1965 it was:

"11.15am ECS Nottingham-Neasden sidings"

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Another dull day sees the same working at Woodford Halse behind sees Riddles 5MT No 73159. The date is around 1960 and most of the vehicles are relatively modern, even the ex-LNER Thompson BGs. Photo: BR.

vanfit

ex-GWR

former fruit van D

GBV

BR

------

------------

------------------------

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

BSK

BR Mk.1

BG

Ex-LNER

Thompson deal

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

Ex-LNER

Thompson deal

BG

BR Mk.1

Note the empty goods brake van and, barely visible among the BGs, a passenger carriage travelling as ECS. Note the two Thompson deal BGs but no ex-LMS BGs!

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1 - Steam era

M7 parcels

The closest I can get to Nationalisation shows an inter-regional transfer c1948, between Acton (WR) and Stewarts Lane (SR). This picture appeared with a letter in Model Rail but the description got a little corrupted and is corrected here.

The train set off behind a WR loco and was taken over along the way, at Kensington Olympia, by a SR one. In this case it's M7 No 30038, in Southern Railway livery with BR lettering, and is seen passing through the already-closed station at West Brompton.

Simon James has recognised this station as Chelsea not as I copied off the back of the print. Thanks, Simon, also for querying how the locos were managed. It seem that there was traffic from Acton(WR) and Willesden(LMR) and from the latter at least, the locos worked through.

I can identify the leading vehicles before they disappear in the smoke. The goods wagons are shown in italics:

4w van

ex-SR

vanfit

ex-LMS

BG

ex-LNER

61'6"

BG

ex-GNR or ECJS

56'6"

vanfit

vanfit

conflat

vanfit

vanfit

4w van

ex-SR

BV?

ex-SR

... remainder unclear...

The ex-SR 4w vans were the long wheelbase ones, of which construction was to continue until 1955. Presence of the pre-Grouping bogie van is a good reminder of how long such stock lasted.

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A4 No 60020 Guillemot in 1950 at Croft Spa with an Up parcels/empties. The most notable feature is the presence of four ex-GWR bogie siphons in inter-regional rosters. Photo: Photomatic.

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The date is believed to be 1950 as No 4935 Ketley Hall runs through Leamington Spa with a marvellous assortment of vans. Photo: author's collection.

CCT

ex-LMS

vanfit

BV

ex-GNR

51'1 1/2" milk brake

BG

ex-GWR

Collett

BV

ex-GWR

Bogie siphon G

... remainder unclear/not visible...

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This scene from 1952 at Saughton Junction behind B1 No 61241 doesn't look to me so much a parcels train as a stock movement. It may even be delivery of a horse box to a station that needed one at short notice, with the guard riding in the bogie van.

BG

ex-LNER

63' Thompson

horse box

ex-LMS

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Wainright 0-6-0 Class C No 31150 is at Dover with a two-van parcels working, comprising an ex-SR 4w PMV and, for the guard, an ex-SR 4w brake van. 1953. Photo: BKB Green.

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This picture from the mid-1950s shows a WR parcels leaving Paddington behind a Worcester "Castle", No 5083 Bath Abbey. It's a light train for a "Castle" and quite a mixture of Big Four and BR designs:

BG

ex-LMS

BG

ex-GWR

57' Collett

CCT

BR Mk.1

4w

B

ex-SR

Bogie van B

BG

BR Mk.1

tank wagon

Horse box

ex-GWR

The horse box on the rear, if that's what it is, would have been empty, of course. Photo: R.C. Riley.

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Parcels 45603

A grand scene near Rugby in July 1958 as "Jubilee" No 45603 Solomon Islands forges away with an Up "Parcels" train:

vanfit

vanfit

BG

ex-LNER

63' Thompson steel-panelled

B

ex-LNER

4w brake van, D.120

PMV

ex-SR

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

... remainder unclear/not visible...

The PMV could have been built by the SR or by BR after the War. The ex-LNER 4w brake van dated back to the late 1920s and may have been the oldest vehicle in the train

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This picture is also under "GCR - Nottingham Victoria" because it shows the downside NPCS platform and the descending approach from street level on the other side of the bridge in 1958. The loco is ex-GCR D11 No 62668 Jutland which was transferred to Darnall that year and is facing northwards with a GWR design Siphon G, the last of these built by BR during the 1950s and looking good in BR crimson.

The loco is carrying a random single lamp in the manner of a light engine but unfortunately it's impossible to tell if it's backing into the bay or coming out of it. Nor is it possible to tell if the move is associated with a parcels or a passenger train. I suspect it may be the latter although it's also possible that the loco was acting as a station pilot but not carrying pilot lights (one over each buffer at both ends). Sorry, folks, there are too many possibilities here to say definitively what was happening. Photo: Colour-Rail.

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An undated picture at York has 4F 44207 (55B) and J39 (GOR) with what I suspect was the Red Bank empties, possibly in 1959. Photo: Neville Stead collection.

Stock which can be seen is:

BG

BR Mk.1

PMV

SR utility van

CCT

n/k - on turnbuckle trussing

B(6w)

Thompson

PMV

SR utility van

PMV

SR utility van

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

... rem not visible

The unidentified bogie van has defeated me! It looks like an LNER steel-panelled conversion for carrying cars but I have yet to find the Diagram.

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B17 61629

Long since relegated from Top Link duties, B17 No 61629 Naworth Castle is seen on 29th September 1959 only days before withdrawal with, according to the photo caption "Lowestoft (Up Parcels)" - but thanks to Mike Boakes, it's a Down Parcels at "Iron bridge", just under half a mile from Lowestoft station. Clearly photographed in order to capture the loco, only the first three vehicles can be seen. Photo: Transport Treasury E98/1:

B(4w)

ex-LNER

passenger brake van D.120

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

ex-LNER

Gresley 61'6" on turnbuckle trussing

... remainder out of sight...

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A fine autumnal day at Clapham in 1959 sees H16 class 4-6-2T No 30518 with a relatively short working made up with five similar-looking SR-design 4w vans.

CCT

ex-SR

PMV

ex-SR

B

ex-SR

PMV

ex-SR

PMV?

ex-SR

Note the brake in the middle of the train with the guard leaning out. Photo: John Scrace.

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B1 61241

B1 No 61021 Reitbok passes through Marsh Lane cutting, a mile or so east of Leeds City, destination York or Hull, with a marvellously mixed parcels train. A quick scan of the stock suggests vehicles from three of the Big Four companies, some BR, and a fair sprinkling of AVB freight vans. The date appears to be late '50s or early '60s when the loco was allocated to York. Photo: Author's collection.

CCT

LMS/BR*

30'5" Motor Car Van

CCT

BR

BV

ex-SR Bogie B

vanfit

vanfit

BG

BR Mk.1

vanfit

CCT

ex-LNER

CCT

ex-LNER

vanfit

CCT

BR

*The ex-LMS design Motor Car Van at the head was a relatively rare vehicle - the design originated in 1938 when 150 were built, but BR added 74 more (from Earlestown and Swindon) between 1951-56, nearly all lasting into the 1970s. This one was almost certainly probably carrying normal parcels traffic.

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"Hall" No 5933 Kingsway Hall passes the signal box at Kennington Junction with a short parcels train comprising vehicles from all the former Big Four companies except for the GWR. Date unknown, possibly the early 1960s. Photo: author's collection.

CCT

ex-LNER

4w "extra long" 37'6"

BG

ex-LMS

PMV

ex-SR

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Another 1960s example of a single bogie van working and a Mk.1 BG, this time at Shildon behind Fowler 2-6-4T No 42406. Photo: R. Goad.

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Seen at Crewe in 1961 is an awfully weary "Jubilee", No 45726 Vindictive (5A Crewe North) with what looks not so much a parcels train but an ECS working of ex-LMS Stanier and BR Mk.1 coaches, possibly for a relief or an excursion.

Behind the tender is an ex-LNWR 6w van to D.444A, long since taken out of revenue earning service and used as a Stores Van. They lasted a long time on the LMR (I have another picture of one attached behind the tender of a milk train) and suggests that this was a normally timetabled movement. Photo: Author's collection.

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5982 Pcls Sonning

A dozen years after Nationalisation, some of the Big Four stock was still in regional rosters but quite a lot had got dispersed. In this 1961 view 5982 Harrington Hall is in Sonning Cutting with an Up working of only four vans, but the same number of design origins:

CCT

BR

BG

ex-LNER teak

61'6"

BG

ex-LMS

50'

BV

ex-GWR

50'

Bogie siphon G


D5606

D5606 heads a down parcels past Holloway in August 1961. Departure from King's Cross was mid-morning, running nearly all-stations to Hitchin and Baldock.The load varied a good deal, on this day being just two vehicles:

vanfit

BG

BR Mk.1


60500 parcels

Before Nationalisation non-LNER vehicles running into King's Cross were unknown because the Big Four companies had their own rosters and termini in the Capital. This changed gradually in BR days as stock became more mixed (although the "foreigners", which tended to arrive in the "Up" direction as strengtheners or stand-ins, did not work back: they taken out, stored, and then be worked as dedicated ECS specials to LMR or WR centres).

This picture taken at Hadley Wood in December 1961 shows A2 No 60500 Edward Thompsonwith the Newcastle-KX parcels. Resolution of the whole train is poor but the leading vehicle is clearly an "ex-GWR" Hawksworth BG, three batches of which were built under BR in 1949-51.

As far as can be ascertained, the stock comprises:

BG

ex-GWR

64' Hawksworth

vanfit

vanfit

BG

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR

... remainder out of sight...


Parcels 46237

A long, well-loaded "parcels" train could be heavy and it's unfortunate that one as long as this is disappearing round the curve! The date was 11th April 1962 and No 46237 City of Bristol is on the Fast Line in charge of a Down working near Preston.

Like so many trains in this period, much 4-wheel stock was included. The visible part of the train until it gets too blurred to make out, comprised:

vanfit

vanfit

BG

BR Mk.1

vanfit

GUV

BR Mk.1

PMV

ex-SR

BG

ex-LMS

50'

... remainder out of sight...


Parcels 45672

"Jubilee" class No 45672 Anson lays its exhaust over its "parcels" train near Preston. The formation is unusual in several ways. beginning with the horse box that has been placed behind the tender - possibly because it's loaded, or simply as a movement of empty stock. Another unusual aspect, although probably by chance, is the apparent separation between 4-wheel and bogie stock. The date was 14th April 1962 and as far as I can tell the composition of the train was:

horse box

BR Mk1

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

PMV

ex-SR

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

GBV

ex-LNER goods brake van

bogie vans

(x5)


60056 parcels

In the summer of 1962, A3 No 60056 Centenary" has the Up Newcastle-King's Cross parcels near Hadley Wood. Only five vehicles make up the train but the oldest design dates back to 1928. In this case there is only one goods vanfit:

BG

ex-LNER

61'6" steel-panelled

B(4w)

ex-LNER

4w brake van, D.120

vanfit

CCT

BR

BG

BR Mk.1

A regional weighting is evident in two of the five vehicles. The second van along is not a "pigeon van" as many modellers believe (see details with a close-up of one of these brake vans lower down).

46201 Hest Bank

Ex-LMS 46201 Princess Elizabeth storms Hest Bank on the WCML with a parcels train in June 1962. To the casual observer the leading three bogie vans are identical BR MK1 BGs, but a closer look shows how very differently the maroon livery has weathered, from quite a dingy one at the back, to a recently refurbished body at the head with freshly applied slate grey panels on the double doors.

The stock further back is harder to resolve but includes at least one pre-nationalisation bogie van, several vanfits, and BR GUVs.

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One of pair of small prints taken at Coventry, this one in early 1961, with Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41285 with a short parcels train consisting of two SR-design 4w vans: note the guard leaning out of the brake van on the rear, with its periscopes on the roof. Photo: Author's collection

PMV

ex-SR

B

ex-SR

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Another small print showing a short parcels train leaving Coventry for Nuneaton, 13.7.62, this time behind Ivatt 2-6-2T No 41231. The load this time is a single LMS-design 50ft BG (although it could have had the gangways removed and be classed as a BV). Photo: Author's collection

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46160 parcels

Ex-LMS "Royal Scot" No 46160 Queen Victorias Rifleman at Farrington Jc in August 1962 with a parcels train. Only the first four vehicles may be indentified but what a selection they are, leading with two SR-designs and a Thompson deal BG!

PMV

ex-SR

B

ex-SR

Bogie B

BG

ex-LNER

61'6" Thompson deal

BG

BR Mk.1

... remainder out of sight...


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Another contender for the Shortest Parcels Train Department, K3 No 61853 is at Knutsford in 1962 with a single BR Mk.1 BG. Photo: Author's collection.

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Only the date on the slide, 23-7-62, alas, and the loco number is hard to read, but looks like 73051, which if correct, would mean a Polmadie loco under the wires at an unknown location. Any thoughts, anybody?

The formation is interesting:

vanfit

vanfit

BG

ex-LMS

vanfit

vanfit

The 50' ex-LMS BG is a Period 1 design with beading.

A remounted slide, an original or possibly Colour-Rail?

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Ex-LMS "Coronation" No 46228 Duchess of Rutland near Preston is blowing off at the valves with a Down parcels. Which is another example of the period when a lot of vanfits were pressed into service:

vanfit

vanfit

BG

ex-LMS

BG

ex-LMS

vanfit

vanfit

BV

ex-LMS

6w Stove R

PMV

Ex-SR or SRegion

vanfit

vanfit

vanfit

CCT

BR Mk.1

... 5 vans unclear...

BG

ex-LMS

vanfit

vanfit

So many vanfits and only one BR Mk.1 vehicle. K.R.Photographics M128.

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The final view shows an Ordinary Passenger on the SR conveying a bogie van. BB "Pacific" No 34064 Fighter Command was captured leaving Weymouth with a gangwayed Bulleid 4-set in September 1962 with, behind the tender, an ex-LMS all-steel BG with no trussing. Its livery would have been BR maroon but like most bogie vans in non-passenger service it's not been washed and a layer of traffic dust has not done its appearance between a well maintained loco and passenger carriages any favours. Photo: C.L. Caddy, Colour-Rail BRS295.

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My apologies for the iffy quality of this picture (possibly a copy and tons of darkroom debris which takes ages to fix with Photoshop until finally you lose heart... some people's darkrooms need a visit by the cleaning lady and her Hoover and more use of the dusting brush)! But it's important to remember that so many loaded parcels trains ran in the evening and overnight. In this view from the 1960s, Newton Heath's "Black Five" No 44736 is at Huddersfield. If this is a west-bound train, it could have originated from several places in a busy part of the country with a destination across the Pennines.

The rolling stock is hard to make out beyond a vanfit, an ex-SR van and a BR Mk.1 BG. What appear to be more vanfits follow and the whole train only adds up to half a dozen or so vehicles. Photo: G.W. Sharpe.

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61158 parcels

A scene from 1963 at East Leake, showing another inter-regional parcels train, in this case from Banbury (WR) to York (ER), behind B1 No 61158. Only the leading part can be seen and identified as follows:

B

ex-SR

Bogie B

CCT

BR

CCT

ex-LNER

vanfit

ex-GWR Fruit D

vanfit

ex-GWR Fruit D

... remainder out of sight...


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Steam was ousted from East Anglia relatively early but the old formations continued to serve. In this view from April 1963 at Ipswich, Stratford's EE Type 3 No D6727 has an Up parcels train with only a couple of BR-built vans; the rest are from all over the Big Four:

B (6w)

ex-LMS

Stove R

PMV

ex-SR

vanfit

ex-GWR

Former fruit van D

BG

BR Mk.1

CCT

BR Mk.1

BG

ex-LMS

Note how only two vans in this train were on bogies, the rest were assorted types and the ex-LMS Stove R had recently been refurbished. Photo: MNLPS.

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This view is alas blighted by motion blur but is useful for showing how the GC Section preferred to stay with bogie vans. I think some vanfits have been placed on the rear but they are impossible to make out. V2 No 60963 (YOR) was captured approaching Ashby Magna on the GCLE with an Up parcels in April 1964. Photo: Roger Kingshott, Colour-Rail BRM2153. Leading are:

BG

ex-LMS

BG

ex-LNER

63' Thompson

BG

ex-LNER

63' Thompson

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

BSK?

BR Mk.1

... rem unclear...

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An example of a 1960s parcels working which employed a single bogie van in a West Riding service, believed to be Bradford Exchange The loco is Low Moor's Fairburn 2-6-4T No 42196. Photo: Author's collection.

BG

BR Mk.1

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This view on a murky day is undated and no location is given. All I can be sure of is that Huddersfield's Fowler 2-6-4T No 42410 is leaving with a one-van parcels train, comprising:

BV

ex-LMS

The gangways have been removed so it's no longer a BG as built. Photo: author's collection.

This turns out to have been Leeds City (thank you, Mark Hambly, who identified the city centre buildings as well). Leeds City was remodelled later with part of the old Wellington St. station becoming a parcels depot.

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It can be hard to draw the line between a fully fitted express freight made up with vanfits and a "parcels" train. Drawing away from Woodford Halse under the bridge carrying the former SMJ towards the Banbury Branch is "Hall" No 6982 Melmerby Hall with what appears to be a fitted express freight which has had a BR GUV attached to the head, possibly only as far as the yards at Banbury.

Almost hidden among the vanfits is an ex-LNER goods brake van. April 1964. Photo: Paul Riley.

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L1 67714 Aylesbury

An undated scene at Aylesbury (which I wrongly captioned off the back of the print as "Rickmansworth" in a Model Rail article, and in the Index here, and nobody has spotted until now; thank you Nigel Pitt)! Thompson L1 No 67714 is marshalling an ex-LMS 42ft CCT, a classic multi-purpose vehicle that was used for all kinds of parcels traffic.

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Captured in the summer of 1964 near Long Lawford and heading from Rugby to Coventry is an unidentified post-WW2 ex-LMS Ivatt 2MT 464xx 2-6-0 with a two-van parcels train:

BG

ex-LNER

Gresley 61'6"

B(6w)

ex-LNER

Thompson

The photographer was hard-pressed to get a result here with the telegraph poles on this side of the track and steel posts being erected for electrification. Photo: Michael Mensing.

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An undated picture taken at Leyland in the 1960s showing ex-LMS 5MT No 45135 (SOUTHPORT or CARLISLE KINGMOOR) near Leyland with a parcels train with almost 50% vanfits among the NPCS Photo: Roger Kingshott, Colour-Rail BRM2153. Leading are:

vanfit

BG

ex-LMS

BG

BR Mk.1

vanfit

CCT

BR Mk.1

CCT

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

vanfit

PMV

SR

vanfit

vanfit

... rem unclear...

The location is given as "Leyland" and as far as I can tell it's a Down train on an evening passing Farington with what became the British Leyland motor works off camera to the right.

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B1 61392

A slight enlargement of a picture showing B1 61392 setting back at Leeds City in 1965 prior to departure with a parcels train. Many vanfits were in this train of which the leading part can be identified. Photo: Steve Banks.

vanfit

CCT

BR

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

vanfit

PMV

ex-SR

... remainder unclear ...


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In a scene from July 1965 at Skiptpn, another uncared-for "Jubilee" No 45616 Seychelles has a short parcels train. The loco had been sent to Holbeck in February 1964 and was withdrawn in October the following year. Photo: S.V. Blencowe collection.

The load was a mere two bogie vans:

BG

BR Mk.1

BV

WR

Siphon G

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Much of the 1960s were a drab period for steam and in this undated view at Chinley the B1 is hard to identify (possibly No 61050 of Sheffield). Photo: R.K. Blencowe archive.

Another short load which comprised:

BG

ex-LMS 50'

vanfit

with sliding door and corrugated ends.

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The final view is from summer 1965 and shows a one-van parcels train at Wakefield Kirkgate. Wakefield's B1 4-6-0 No 61131 is in charge of:

BG

ex-LNER

Gresley 61'6"

The teak-panelled BG has been refurbished recently and would have been in BR maroon livery with a pale grey roof. Other parcels workings are due judging by the number of laden trolleys on the platform. Photo: author's collection.

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D9018 Ballymoss on 22st January 1967 approaches Hertford North with the Edinburgh-King's Cross parcels. Vans from all the Big Four companies can be seen with, from the rear:

CCT

BR

Bogie siphon

ex-GWR

CCT

BR

BG

ex-LMS 50'

Vanfits (x4)

Misc., one ex-SR

BG

ex-LNER 61'6" teak-panelled

GBV

BR

PMV

ex-SR

BG

BR Mk.1

After which the vehicles repeat...

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A fine evening sun slants across the fells at Tebay as 70004 William Shakespeare attacks the gradient with a north-bound parcels train. The last of the Big Four designs, many built by BR, were still running and the BR blue era was just beginning. The seven vehicles comprise:

PMV

ex-SR

PMV

ex-SR

BG

ex-LNER 61'6" steel-panelled

PMV

ex-SR

CCT

BR

PMV

ex-SR

BG

ex-LMS 50'

Photo: S.V. Blencowe collection

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2 - Post-steam era

37114 March

A scene from the 1970s shows 37114 at March in 1976. Over half of the load consists of BR GUVs and Mk.1 BGs, but there are still Big Four design vehicles including ex-SR 4w PMVs (Vans or CCTs) and a high roof, ex-LMS CCT.

Parcels at Ais Gill

This is 25120 on the Settle & Carlisle again, after the photographer chased the train from Culgaith (picture shown in the Railway Modeller article). With a load of 17 bogie vans, the Class 25 was probably not moving very quickly up the 1:100 gradients to Ais Gill where it was captured again - indeed, I didn't at first realise that this was the same train! So it's exactly the same vehicles at the head, but coming off the curve, closer to the camera and looking like a shorter train!

BG

GUV

BG

GUV(x5)

... remainder out of sight...


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A view from 1978 at Southampton with a parcels train made up of five BR-built 4-wheel vans, hauled by an electro-diesel, now Class 73, No 73003. 20-7-78. Photo: Author's collection:

CCT

BR Mk.1

CCT

BR Mk.1

PMV

SR

PMV

SR

CCT

BR Mk.1

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Surely one of Larry Goddard's finest pictures, taken into the sun in 1979 at Dee Bridge near Chester. Class 25 No 25057 (a Liverpool Division loco at the time) is approaching with an 11-vehicle parcels train. It's interesting to see three bogie vans leading, followed by eight 4w. 1979. Photo: Larry Goddard

BV

WR

Siphon G

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

CCT

BR Mk.1

PMV

SR

PMV

SR

PMV

SR

CCT

BR Mk.1

CCT

BR Mk.1

PMV

SR

CCT

BR Mk.1

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<--===== 1980s =====--> Click for full size image in a pop-up window. Use 'X' to close

A code of "02" is being carried by 33058 with what looks like an ECS/parcels movement of BR Mk.1 stock:

TSO

GUV

BSK

BSK

... rem not visible

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John Suckling has just come forward to say that the location was Clapham Junction, which had 17 platforms and carriage sidings. Thanks, John!

Simon James (thank you!) has added more detail based on his professional experience on the railway at the time. The main point is that the code "02" was carried by trains travelling to the Clapham Junction Main Loop, which is the Up Fast South Western Platform line now. The loco was probably propelling into the middle roads which used to be kept for loco-hauled stock. This working appears to be a combination of ECS from a timetabled train with odd vehicles added as a convenient way of getting them back to Clapham.

I've made the point before that the distinction between loaded parcels vans - and empty ones and empty passenger carriages - both technically ECS, was often indistinct, lights or codes carried by the loco being an operational factor which established operating priority on the railway and its signalling.

27014 Annan

A Scottish scene from the 1980s with 27014 passing the signal box at Annan. Among the BGs and GUVs, two saloons are being conveyed as Empty Coaching Stock (ECS)

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It's mid-April 1984 as 25161 runs through Bangor with a modest Red Bank empties, the whole train made up with BR blue era Mk.1 designs. Photo: Author's collection.

BG

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

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A 1984 scene at Preston sees Class 85 No 85008 with a 6-van parcels train led by an empty TPO. This formation is made up entirely with BR Mk.1 bogie designs. 22nd September 1984. Photo: Author's collection.

TPO

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

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Class 47 No 47029 adds to the grey clouds as it passes Swindon on 6th April 1985 with a long "parcels" train of at least 17 vehicles, made up entirely with BR Mk.1 bogie vans, mostly blue GUVs and BGs in blue & grey livery. However, a BSK has been included, either ECS or for the guard to ride in, a common practice on the WR.

Most strikingly, ahead of the BSK are two blue-liveried conversions of BGs for newspaper sorting vans and branded "Newspapers". The modifications varied and involved sealing of doors and panelling over them (see Keith Parkin, 1991, p.194). Two more can be seen further back. Codes varied, both NPV and NCV being used. Photo: author's collection.

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

BSK

BR Mk.1

2nd brake

BG

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

... remainder unclear...

Looks like an Up train bound for London a large part of which was empty vans, many of them for the newspaper traffic which at this time included branded BG conversions and GUVs. See also the colour slide near the bottom of this topic.

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A view from 2nd August 1986 shows 50050 Fearless near Starcross. The train is made up entirely of BR Mk.1 bogie vans: GUVS and BGs. Photo: Author's collection.

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A view from 1986 at Glasgow Central with Class 26 No 26037 in charge of a modest train of three BR-built bogie vans. Photo: Author's collection.

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

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Another example of a short 1980s local parcels service, made up with two GUVs and two BGs in blue & grey livery. In charge is Class 50 No 50004 St Vincent, which was allocated to Laira at the time. Note how clean it is, unlike the scruffy vans it is hauling. Seen at Dawlish on 7th June 1986. It's a misty day and while I have been able to recover the signal box on the platform, the sea to the right is completely out of sight. Photo: author's collection.

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

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Coming out of a low, wintry sun in January 1988 at Stratford is Class 37 No 37128 (which if records are to be believed used to be a Stratford loco but was now allocated to Thornaby in the NE). It's a 35mm slide and the photographer fired early and though I have cropped it a little, you can't do it justice or it looks like porridge, as the detail enlargement of the coaches shows. Heading the formation is a BSK, presumably for the guard's comfort. Behind it are vans for newspaper traffic. Photo: author's collection.

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A detail view is a bit grungy but all the vehicles can be made out:

BSK

BR Mk.1

2nd brake

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

NPV

BR Mk.1

Newspaper van

Converted BG

GUV

BR Mk.1

It's a tidy formation, so unlike the miscellany of previous years. The GUV on the rear could have been branded NEWSPAPERS as well (see illustration near the end of the vehicles section). All these vans were painted plain blue.

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Pcls Crewe

31450 swings off a curve at Crewe on 11th August 1990 with the vans reduced to two BR designs: GUV and Mk.1 BG. In colour the various degrees of weathering really stand out, with a tendency for the BGs, which were also being used with passenger trains, to be cleaner. [Same picture as in the Rly. Modeller article].

GUV

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

BG

BR Mk.1

GUV

BR Mk.1

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The final view in this set has only the loco number on it, 47747 which between June 1994 and July 2000 carried the name Res Publica (which is a Latin phrase loosely meaning "public affair" from which the word "republic" derives. It is also the name of a think tank and a magazine...). The train is a postal one and it's crossing a viaduct in the West Country. If anyone can offer any more details I'd be pleased to hear. Photo: author's collection.

Mark Hambly has come forward to say that this looks like the Penzance-Paddington postal at Moorswater Viaduct, with the old piers from the Brunel timber viaduct in the background.

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3 - The vehicles

Some examples...

Gresley BY

The 32' long-wheelbase passenger brake van introduced in 1928 for East Anglian fruit and veg traffic, to replace life-expired ex-GER vans for that traffic in a like-for-like replacement (plus a small batch for Scotland, likewise replacing pre-Grouping vans, in that case for general service). Like other braked vans in the NPCS fleet, they were multi-purpose and by BR days were more widespread in parcels service.

Contrary to some modeller's misconceptions, they were not built as "pigeon vans" nor were they ever used for that purpose (see also The Pigeon Traffic section under "Prototype and traffic", link below). They lasted into the 1960s, this being E70232E, one of the York-built batch for East Anglia.

Mk1 BG M80571

Portrait of a BR Mk.1 BG in b&c livery, M80571.

BR GUV S86796

BR GUV No S86796 on the SR in lined maroon livery. Caption corrected after feedback from Chris Foren, thank you, who adds his belief that at first only the eight GUVs allocated to the Surbiton-Okehampton car carrier were green.

Mk.1 BG

A classic view of a BR Mk.1 BG, No M80697, in 1978 sandwiched between a BR CCT and a GUV with Express Parcels branding. Photo: Author's collection.

BR CCT W94575

In fresh BR blue livery, BR CCT No W94575. Photo: Author's collection.

GUV newspaper

A GUV branded "Newspapers" for that traffic. Photo: Author's collection.

Related links:

BR parcels traffic (via passenger trains)

Pigeon traffic

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