Scottish Railway Preservation Society Collections pages

20 ton Brake Van, Caledonian Railway No.437

20 ton Brake Van, Caledonian Railway No.437
No.437 in the yard at the SRPS former Falkirk Depot. Photo A.J.Harper

Built 1920, Clayton Wagons Ltd., Lincoln.
SRPS Core Collection, on display, CR bauxite.

This type of 6-wheel 20 ton Brake Van was used by the CR for its heaviest and long distance traffic. The Van has no power brake - only a hand brake - and was built for use on unfitted and loose coupled trains. Such trains were provided with brakes only on the locomotive and on the brake van, located at the opposite ends of the train. The Guard (called a "Brakesman" by the CR) had to have a good knowledge of the route, and was expected to apply the brake when required to regulate the speed of the train and to keep the buffers tight. The van's side lamps show red to the rear and white to the front, the latter so the driver could see that his train was still there: broken couplings were quite common.

This van was acquired from the National Coal Board in 1965 from Gartshore 9/11 colliery where it had been retained for running by NCB over the Edinburgh & Glasgow main line between Gartshore Nos 3/12 and 9/11 collieries. The NCB used this vehicle and an ex Great Eastern brake van for running with their trains on the main line with their own steam locomotives. During the 1950s the NCB also ran from Gartshore to Auchengeich and Bedlay with this van.

In CR days, many brake vans were allocated to specific yards and in some cases guards.

Back to Brake Vans list
Back to Brake Vans list