Model Railway Forum

Hi Folks,
Can anyone explain the definitions of the following terms used in (G)WR working documents such as Local Parcels Train Formations and Passenger Train Working books for stations:-
1) Small Van
2) Van
3) Large Van
4) Van (8 wheel)
5) Gas Heated Brake (e.g.: Van No. 57 or 305)
6) Brake Van (I assume this is a BG (GWR or BR)?
7) Parcel Van

None of these are Syphon G or GUV, because these terms (which I understand) are also used in the same documents.

Stay safe, enjoy your modelling,
Best regards
Paul

Some GWR telegraph codes are-

4w Special Cattle Box 18’ 6” BEETLE
4w Special Cattle Box 18’ 6” Dual Braked BEETLE A
4w Special Cattle Box 23’ 0” and 26’ 0” with compartment dual braked BEETLE B
4w Special Cattle Box 23’ 0” and 26’ 0” with compartment vacuum braked BEETLE C
4w Fish Van 21’ 0” FISH
4w Ventilated Fruit Van 16’ 0” FRUIT
4w Ventilated Fruit Van 22’ 0” FRUIT C / FRUIT D
4w Fish Van 28’ 6” BLOATER
6w 27’ 6” Fish Van SIPHON A
Bogie 50’ 0” covered van gangwayed GIANT
Bogie 50’ 0” open carriage truck GOLIATH
4w 8 ton Well wagon 19’ 21’ or 25’ 6” HYDRA
4w Well wagon 20’ 10” HYDRA
4w 5 ton Well wagon 30’ 6” HYDRA
4w 15 ton Well wagon 28’ 6” HYDRA
Bogie 50’ 0” covered scenery truck MONSTER
Horse Box 16’ 0” PACO
Horse Box 16’ 0” dual braked PACO A
Horse Box 21’ 0” with fodder compartment PACO B
Horse Box 21’ 0” with fodder compartment dual braked PACO C
4w Covered carriage truck PYTHON
4w Long Covered carriage truck for elephants PYTHON B
4w Long Covered carriage truck PYTHON C
4w Open Carriage Truck SCORPION
4w Open Carriage Truck dual braked SCORPION A
4w Open Carriage Truck 21’ 0” SCORPION B
Bogie Open Carriage Truck 45’ 0” SCORPION C
4w Open Carriage Truck 21’ 0” dual braked SCORPION D
4w Milk Van 27’ 6” SIPHON
4w Milk Van 18’ 0” SIPHON B
4w Milk Van 28’ 6” with end doors SIPHON C
6w Milk Van 27’ 6” SIPHON D
Bogie Milk Van 40’ 0” with end doors SIPHON F
Bogie Milk Van 50’ 0” gangwayed SIPHON G
Bogie Milk Van 50’ 0” end doors SIPHON H
Bogie Milk Van Insulated 50’ 0” gangwayed SIPHON J
Open Fish Wagon TADPOLE
Open Fish Wagon with guards compartment TADPOLE A
4w Passenger Brake Van SNAKE
Bogie Brake Van SNAKE B
Bogie Brake Van Gangwayed with side corridor SNAKE C
Bogie Brake Van Ganwayed without side corridor SNAKE D

Goods Wagons (abbreviated)
Motor car van ASMO
Banana Van (ex FRUIT B) BANANA
Meat Van MICA /TEVAN
Motor Car Van DAMO
6w Refrigerated Fish Van INSIXFISH
Meat Van MICA
Van goods MINK / VAN / VANFIT
Cattle wagon MEX / OX / OXFIT

Hi Folks,
It appears I didn't make my question clear enough!

Let me explain:-
I am familiar with the Telegraphic code names for stock and abbreviations used in the Telegraph.

What I am trying to work out is for instance:-

If the Parcels train formations section of a carriage working book says of a given train that its consist is:-
Small van (for Bristol)
Van (for Bristol)
Large van (for Cardiff)
Van (8 wheel) (for Cardiff)
Gas Heated Brake Van (for Cardiff)
Syphon G (for Newport)
GUV (for Newport)
Brake van (for Newport)

What stock should I use in my model of it?
I know what a Syphon G is, and also a GUV, and It is safe to assume the Brake Van at the rear is a BG (BR or GWR), but what about the others?

If a "small van" is a 4 wheel 10ft wheel base XP rated van, what are the possible rolling stock that the Terms "Van" and "Large Van" cover?

I hope this makes clearer the questions I am trying to answer?
Many thanks
Best regards
Paul

a

It all sounds somewhat imprecise, I am very surprised that standard codes are not used, but then this is the Western Region, which always had an odd way of working.

A small van may well indicate a vanfit which describes a small goods van with vacuum brake but it could equally refer to a short passenger van such as a SPV (formerly a fish van) or a SIPHON B which is 18' long or a FRUIT. A large van could easily be a SIPHON, SIPHON C or SIPHON D or a FRUIT C or FRUIT D or indeed a BLOATER. If this is a BR era publication then a large Van may indicate a CCT or possibly a Southern Region PMV, or COVCAR. Brake Van may be a SNAKE but also a BR BG of course or a Southern Van C, or an LNER full brake.

My experience with parcels trains admittedly on the Southern and Eastern Regions in BR days was that BR, Southern LMS and occasionally GW vans were used indiscriminately except where specified in BRUTE loading programmes to carry a fixed number of BRUTEs.