GWR 'Toad' brake van Profile and Models
Jack Morgan
68684 at Swindon in November 2008. ©Hugh Llewelyn
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The GWR Toad is a class of railway brake van, designed by and built for the Great Western Railway. Used by the GWR from 1894, and post-1947 by the Western Region of British Railways, its role was a safety brake on goods trains in the West of England, the Midlands and Wales. The nickname "Toad" was derived from the GWR's telegraphic code for a brake van, with each bespoke Toad model allocated diagrams in the AA series. The standard GWR brake van design dates from 1894, with many varieties were built between 1894 and the early 1950s. No longer in operational use on the mainline, a number have survived through preservation and on many heritage railways, owing to the design, which incorporates a long, open veranda and large enclosed cabin; this makes the Toad an ideal, cheap, and versatile passenger carriage. |
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|
Type of Vehicle |
Brake Van |
|
Builder |
GWR Swindon Works |
|
Build Dates |
1894 to 1950s |
|
Total Built |
1000s |
|
Wheel Configuration |
4-wheel |
|
Operated By |
Great Western Railway British Railways |
|
Main Duties |
Safety brake on Goods Trains |
|
In Service Until |
1970s |
|
Surviving Examples |
21 |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
Models Produced
Liveries Produced
GWR grey
LNER grey
SR brown
LMS grey
BR grey
BR bauxite
BR departmental olive
BR engineers yellow
Departmental grey
Virgin West Coast
Cotswold Rail
Freelance
Unpainted
Thomas the Tank Engine
(Fictitious) N Gauge
Models Produced
Liveries Produced
O Gauge (1:43 Scale)
Models Produced
Liveries Produced
HO Gauge (1:87 Scale)
Models Produced
Liveries Produced
TT3 Gauge (1:100 scale)
Models Produced
Liveries Produced
Products awaiting categorisation
| Scale | Brand | Image | Construction Type | DCC Capability | Product Code | Product Title | Livery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | ABS Models |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
KB2393 View |
Diag AA16 12 ton 4 wheel brake van 35679 in GW grey (Bristol East) - built from ABS Models kit | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | ABS Models |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
KB2394 View |
Diag AA16 12 ton 4 wheel brake van 8761 in GW grey (Bullo Pill) - built from ABS Models kit | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | ABS Models |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
KB2409 View |
Diag AA16 12 ton 4 wheel brake van 17842 in GW grey (Bristol) - built from ABS Models kit | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
30-075-17410 View |
20 toad brake van - 17410 -split from set | BR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
33-306E View |
GWR 20T Toad Brake Van BR Grey (Early) W114985 | BR black with early emblem |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
33-307ADELUXETMC View |
Ex-GWR 20 ton 'Toad' brake van W17414 in BR bauxite - Deluxe weathering by TMC | BR bauxite |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
33-307B View |
GWR 20T Toad Brake Van BR Bauxite (Early) W17416 | BR bauxite |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
33-309A View |
GWR 20T Toad Brake Van GWR Grey 114971 | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Bachmann Branchline |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
33-311A View |
GWR 20T Toad Brake Van BR Departmental Yellow DW35724 | BR engineers yellow |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Connoisseur Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PMKOO27 View |
GWR Toad Brake Van - Etched Brass Kit | Unpainted |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Hornby |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
R1254M-56686 View |
20T toad brake van in GWR grey - 56686 Rogerstone - Split from set | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Oxford Rail |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
OR76TOA003W View |
Toad Brake Van BR 6 Wheel Bordesley Junction - Weathered | Not Applicable |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Oxford Rail |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
OR76TOA004W View |
Toad Brake Van BR 6 Wheel Wolverhampton 56962 - Weathered | Not Applicable |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Oxford Rail |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
OR76TOB002W View |
Toad Brake Van GWR 4 Wheel Acton 56034 - Weathered | Not Applicable |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Oxford Rail |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
OR76TOB003W View |
Toad Brake Van BR Toad 4 Wheel Basingstoke 35717 - Weathered | Not Applicable |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Oxford Rail |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
OR76TOB004W View |
Toad Brake Van BR Toad 4 Wheel Bala 56449 - Weathererd | Not Applicable |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Parkside Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PC569 View |
GWR 20 ton 'Toad' brake van - plastic kit | Unpainted |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Rapido Trains UK |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
918011 View |
20 Ton GWR Toad Brake Van 17282 'Lydney Junction' in GWR grey - Exclusive for Derails | GWR grey |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Ratio |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
569 View |
GWR 20 ton toad brake van - plastic kit - replaced by PC569 | Unpainted |
| OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) | Tri-ang |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
R124-BrakeGWR View |
GWR Toad Brake Van in BR bauxite - 57740 / W6297 | BR bauxite |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
3105 View |
GWR 'Toad' brake van in BR grey - 114920 / 114926 | BR grey |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
373-325B View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van 68690 in GWR Grey Livery - 'Dowlais Cae Harris' | GWR grey |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Unpowered |
373-325C View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van 56683 in GWR | Not Applicable |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
373-326 View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van W11496 in BR Bauxite Livery | BR bauxite |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
373-326B View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van W68870 in BR Bauxite Livery - 'Tavistock Junc.' | BR bauxite |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
373-327 View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van W35960 in BR Grey Livery - 'Shrewsbury (Coton Hill) R.U.' | Private Owner |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
373-328 View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van DW17455 in BR S&T Department Bauxite Livery | BR bauxite |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
377-375C View |
20T Toad brake van in GWR grey with large logo - 114756 | GWR grey |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
377-375D View |
21 Ton Toad Brake Van GWR Grey | GWR grey |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
377-376B View |
GWR 20T 'Toad' Brake Van BR Grey (Early) | BR black with early emblem |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
Not set | Not set |
377-379 View |
20 Ton Toad Brake Van in BR Departmental yellow | BR engineers yellow |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
NR13DG View |
GWR brake van in unlettered brown | Not Applicable |
| N Gauge | Graham Farish |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
NR16 View |
GWR Brake Van in Unlettered Grey | Not Applicable |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Connoisseur Models |
|
Requires assembly | Unpowered |
PMK-11 View |
GWR 20 Ton Toad brake van kit | Unpainted |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Parkside Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PS44 View |
GWR 20 ton Toad Brake Van Kit, diagram AA19 | Awaiting Categorisation |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Parkside Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PS601 View |
GWR 16t Toad brake van kit | Awaiting Categorisation |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Parkside Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PS602 View |
GWR permanent way brake van kit | Awaiting Categorisation |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Parkside Models |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
PS603 View |
GWR 24t 6-wheel brake van kit | Unpainted |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Peco Products |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
W-601 View |
"GWR Toad, 16ton Brake Van" | Awaiting Categorisation |
| O Gauge (1:43 Scale) | Peco Products |
|
RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled | Not set |
W-602 View |
GWR Permanent Way Brake Van | GWR grey |
| 1:32 Scale (Gauge 1) | Tenmille Products |
|
Requires assembly | Not set |
G130TP View |
GWR 16t toad brake van all-wood kit | GWR brown |