Accurascale has revealed that it is working on all-new models of the Southern Railway banana vans covering the Diagram 1478 and 1479 vans and modelling the vehicles in both pre- and post-nationalisation forms.
The new wagons were announced at the 2022 Great Electric Train Show in Milton Keynes with the chance to preview the first samples on the Accurascale stand .
Southern Railway banana vans were introduced in the 1930s to accommodate growth in the import of fruit to the UK which required a new approach to transporting perishable fruit.
The Diagram 1478 vans totalled 200 vehicles by 1935 and used Railway Clearing House 10ft wheelbase underframes. Further vehicles were added by amending an order for Diagram 1458 covered vans which totalled 125 vehicles in the Diagram 1479 series.
Both variants started life in SR Stone livery with Venetian red lettering, but during the Second World War in the 1940s vehicles were repurposed for transport of meat and gained a new Red Oxide livery with Lemon lettering.
Post-war the vans transferred to British Railways stock and gained standard BR bauxite livery with branded labels for Fyffes and Geest.
Accurascale’s new models cover both Diagram 1478 and 1479 wagons with early and late versions in each case to allow for changes to the bodies in the BR era which saw steel plating added to the upper ends of the vans.
Chassis and running gear are common across both vehicle diagrams, with changes to the roof profile and body between the two types. Highlights include a die-cast metal chassis, a scale 40mm wheelbase, operation of first radius curves, standard three-hole disc wheels, blackened metal wheels and NEM couplings pockets with small tension lock couplings. 14.4mm back-to-back wheel sets will be fitted on 26mm pinpoint axles.
Authentic liveries will cover the SR and BR ownership with 12 different triple packs being offered and priced at £84.95 each. Delivery is expected in the fourth quarter of 2023 with decoration samples expected in spring 2023.
Visit Accurascale for more information.
