New from Rapido Trains UK are these all-new ‘OO’ gauge BR 20ton ferry vans. Built to BR Diagram 1/227 by Pressed Steel and British Rail’s Ashford Works, the first examples of these long wheelbase vans entered traffic in the early 1960s for use on cross-channel freight services via train ferries. 450 examples were built across two lots initially. Their appearance was influenced by European designs and they featured a large sliding door on each side for loading and unloading their cargo.
Whilst intended for freight use to and from Europe, these wooden-bodied vehicles were also used on domestic traffic too. They continued in frontline service into the 1980s, although new fleets of bogie vehicles which had started to appear on cross-channel traffic resulted in them being cascaded to other uses, including departmental duties.
Above: The new ferry vans are available in a range of liveries covering their careers.
Rapido Trains UK has produced 12 different models for 'OO' gauge initially covering many of the colour schemes carried by these distinctive vehicles, ranging from BR bauxite and Railfreight red and grey from their heydays to BR departmental olive green and eye-catching Satlink yellow and red livery from latter years.
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