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GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Birmingham Snow Hill Station - Grouping Period Rolling Stock: gwrbsh1779

A 57 foot long, steel panelled, ‘toplight’ Parcels Brake Van is seen here being shunted in 1947

Fifty-seven foot long, steel panelled, ‘toplight’ Parcels Brake Van (PBV) No. 1145, recently painted in post-war Hawksworth chocolate and cream livery, is seen here being shunted by an unidentified 4-6-0 49xx (Hall) class locomotive on duty as the Snow Hill station pilot in 1947. No. 1145 was built to diagram K22 under lot 1301 in July 1922. This lot had running numbers 1129 to 1153. A further thirteen PBVs had previously been built to the same diagram (K22) on lots 1253 (1915), 1288 (1921) and 1281 (1922). Each had two luggage compartments accessed by double doors and a guard's compartment. Although steam heating was included from day one, this was not always available throughout the train and during the 1940s gas heating was also provided in the guard's compartment. The roof was the high elliptical type constructed of wood and canvas and internally electric lighting was provided. This PBV is carried on nine foot ‘American’ equalised bogies, a type first adopted in 1906, but phased out on passenger stock after the extensive coach riding trials undertaken in 1925. All of these PBVs had been condemned by December 1962.

This photograph is displayed courtesy of the HMRS (Historical Model Railway Society) and copies can be ordered directly from them using the link HERE, quoting reference AEL409.

Robert Ferris

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