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Bachmann 33-300H

GWR 20T 'Toad' Brake Van GWR Grey

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI/AI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)

Manufacturer description

The Toad is a brake van, designed by and built for the Great Western Railway. Introduced by the GWR in 1894, and used from 1948 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. As with all GWR wagons and non-passenger carrying coaches, its operating code "Toad" was derived from the GWR's telegraphic code for a brake van. The last Toad brake vans remained in service into the 1970s; phasing out occurred along with the network wide reduction in brake van duties, although many passed to the Engineers and ended their days in departmental service. The Toad brake van is a familiar sight on preserved railways, because the large veranda is capable of carrying staff or passengers; it is also popular due to the Thomas & Friends ™ character of the same name.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Bachmann GWR 20T ‘Toad’ Brake Van – a 2020 range model in pristine condition. The kit measures 125 mm in length, bears the running number 56703 and is finished in GWR grey livery. It represents a GWR brake van and carries the manufacturer part number 33‑300H. The model depicts the period of the Big Four railway companies (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR).

The original Toad brake van was designed and built for the Great Western Railway and introduced in 1894. From 1948 it was employed by the Western Region of British Railways as a safety brake on goods trains in the West of England, the Midlands and Wales. Its telegraphic code “Toad” denoted a brake van on GWR documentation. The last examples remained in operational service into the 1970s, after which many were transferred to engineering and departmental duties. The Toad is a common sight on heritage railways because its large veranda can accommodate staff or passengers, and it is also well known from the Thomas & Friends series.