Out of stock
close
Hornby #R6834A 20 Ton Toad E 20 T Brake Van "BR (ex LNER) At first glance, it may seem that the Great Western Railway built huge numbers of 'Toad' brake vans that were all of the same design; four wheeled, of wooden construction and with a distinctive veranda at one end. Essentially this is true, as the basic design didn’t really change between 1888 and the 1950s, but the key here is ‘basic’, as when buffers, drawgear and body details changed, a new diagram number was issued and eventually this was to run to twenty three diagrams in the GWR’s AA index series. The generic term 'Toad' refers to the telegraphic code used by signalmen of the GWR to refer to brake vans of this type, using a bell code system of communication to shorten the telegraphic messages sent between the stations and offices of the railway, replacing some complicated or regularly used phrases. Codes changed from time to time to reflect current needs, but by Grouping, most railways in the country had agreed on standard code words (although the GWR had an extended list of codes, only be used within its own network). 378 vehicles were eventually built for the GWR, across six different lots, between 1918 and 1926 and lasted well into British Railways days. It wasn't until the 1960s that the type was withdrawn from service, as with only a single exit from the Guard’s compartment, the single verandah layout was seen as being potentially dangerous by the Unions.
