931024 SECR 6 Wheel Brake Van – No. S55446 – BR Grey

Description

To go alongside the newly announced SECR Open Wagons, we are alsoannouncing a new batch of OO Gauge SECR 6-wheel Brake Vans. This batchbrings some new liveries to a popular model and the addition of single-endedvans into the main range.

In 1898, the SER built a brand new type of brake van, which was very similarto the designs found on the Midland Railway. This first batch of 20-ton six-wheeled Goods Brake had a single enclosed veranda at one end. A total of 40 were built. The design would later be designated as Diagram 1558 by theSouthern Railway.

The amalgamation of the SER and the LC&DR into the SECR occurred theyear after the first D1558 Brake vans were built.

In 1910, the SECR decided to use the design to build a second batch.However, they tweaked the design so that both ends had enclosed verandas.Another 50 were built to this amended design.

Then, between 1914 and 1920, the SECR also converted the single verandaversions into dual-ended examples. There were subtle differences between theones newly built in 1910 and the converted examples. However, they weresimilar enough for the Southern Railway to group them by the same diagramnumber.

All 90 passed into Southern Railway ownership (where they received thediagram 1558) and, incredibly, BR inherited 86. Withdrawals took placebetween 1949 and 1960, although a number of vehicles were transferred intodepartmental use.

Only one of these vans survives. It was one of the 1898 batch that was rebuiltin 1910. BR sold it to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough,Hampshire, where it was bought for preservation on the Kent & East SussexRailway.

• SER/SECR (SR Diagram 1558) 20t Brake Van
• BR Grey No.S55446
• As-built dual veranda condition
• Highly detailed body
• Highly detailed underframe with many separately fitted parts
• Full interior detailing
• Split-spoked wheels running in metal bearings
• 1:76 scale, (OO gauge)