GWR Route: Alcester to Bearley
Alcester Station (MR): gwra465
The Great Western allocated a brake van (TOAD) to the
Alcester Branch for use on the mixed trains. Brake Van No. 35860 (diagram AA3)
was one of forty eight 16ton brake vans built in Lot 432 between 1889 and 1901.
It was branded 'Bearley' and would be stabled there when not in use (see
gwrb772a). This photograph shows this Brake Van adjacent to the MR goods shed
at Alcester. Circa 1936 – 38.
The Great Western used telegraphic Code Names to describe
different wagons when transmitting telegraph messages and these distinctive
code names soon entered everyday usage. The code name ‘TOAD’ was used
to describe a goods brake van. The guard’s hand brake was located in the
centre of the veranda, while adjacent sand boxes allowed sand to be discharged
via pipes on to the rail ahead of the wheels to improve adhesion.
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