6 ton GWR 'Mica B' Refrigerated Meat Van Profile and Models
105873 at the Severn Valley Railway. Date unknown. ©Gareth Price
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'MICA B' was the GWR's telegraphic code for Refrigerated meat vans, fitted with ventilation. 149 diagram X8 MICA B vans were built in the mid-1920s and were mainly used to transport chilled beef carcasses from ports such as Birkenhead to markets at Smithfield and elsewhere. The vehicles were fitted with a revolutionary carbonic acid machine to keep the perishable goods fresh, with roof mounted trapdoors for loading dry ice. The interiors featured hooks for hanging the meat. |
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Type of Vehicle |
Refrigerated closed goods van |
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Builder |
GWR Swindon Works |
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Build Dates |
1923 to 1926 |
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Total Built |
149 |
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Wheel Configuration |
4-wheel |
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Operated By |
Great Western Railway British Railways |
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Main Duties |
Meat transport |
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In Service Until |
1960s |
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Surviving Examples |
2 |
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale)
GWR grey