This is a representative of one of BR's first efforts to respond to changing methods of handling. Built at BR's Faverdale Works, Darlington to diagram 1/211 this van is one of 300 built under Lot 2864 in 1956. With a steel floor and offset side doors these vans were designed to carry palletised loads and to be loaded by fork lift truck from both sides. Unfortunately this often led to vans running with loads at one end only, resulting in rough riding and, subsequently, derailment.
B772972 at Sheffield Park Richard Salmon
After a short life in traffic, many were put into Internal Use and a large number were sold to the Port
of London Authority for use within the old London Docks network. This one became their No.A52. When the
PLA began disposal the Bluebell purchased three for storage, this one arriving on 27 March 1971.
B772972 has been used by the Bluebell's S&T Department. However the ply construction is prone to
rot, and one of the three was scrapped some years ago. We are hoping this vehicle or its twin
B761349 can be saved as an example of this unsuccessful BR attempt at modernisation.
During 2009 the van was moved to Horsted Keynes where it continues in S&T Department use.
Text © Martin Skrzetuszewski, acknowledging the work of the late Handel Kardas.