In Victorian times, covered vans were used mainly for sugar, flour, and other vulnerable consignments. By the 1920s they made up an increasingly large proportion of the goods stock owned by all railway companies, and were used for a wide variety of traffic, gradually superseding the sheeted open wagon which although cheaper to construct, provided less protection and required more labour. Nevertheless, part loads and handling still left goods vulnerable to damage, and to theft.
Until the 1950s, sliding doors were generally favoured, these being less of a nuisance in cluttered goods sheds, but unless carefully maintained these are liable to jam, and British Railways opted for hinged ("cupboard") doors as standard.
