10 ton Banana Van SR Profile and Models

In the Early 1930s, the SR identified a need to expand their fleet of banana carrying vehicles. 200 new vans constructed under diagram 1478 were completed in 1935, which were the first to use the new Rail Clearing House 10' wheelbase. They later built 125 additional vans under diagram 1479, which were originally intended to be ordinary goods vans. As with other banana van designs, the vans were specially designed to transport their delicate and perishable cargo with  special handling, heating and ventilation systems in place. The fleet continued in service with British Railways, and continued to transport bananas well into the 1960s. By 1968 most were taken out of service due to the decline in transporting bananas via rail. Those that remained were pressed into departmental service and were classified as 'Tadpole', with some ending up in industrial settings. The final example was withdrawn around 1978 and none were preserved.

(Information provided via Accurascale)

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Surviving Examples