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Bachmann 38-386A

LNER 12T Ventilated Fruit Van BR Bauxite (Late)

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

Prototype Era
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

Britain’s railways were developed primarily to move freight and the early railway companies employed vans of many different designs to transport goods and merchandise that required covered transport. Each railway company had its own designs, some of which were intended for specific traffic like this Fruit Van built by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The fruit vans sported louvres at each end and ventilators on the roof to allow fresh air to circulate within, keeping fruit fresh during its journey.

 

This Branchline models depicts one of those wooden bodied vans and the planked body is replicated with fine engraving, with precision moulding to capture every detail of the sliding doors and their mechanism, topped off with a separately fitted metal door handle. On the roof, the six ventilators are each moulded in full relief before being added individually, the central pair being offset as per the prototype.

 

The chassis employs metal wheelsets of the 3-hole disc variety around which safety loops are added from formed metal wire, whilst the brakes, brake handles and associated gear is all included. Representing a van fitted with vacuum brakes, the brake cylinder is mounted underneath the wagon and brake pipes are fitted to each bufferbeam alongside metal buffer heads cosmetic coupling hooks.

 

MODEL FEATURES:

• Bachmann Branchline OO Scale
• Era 5
• Pristine BR Bauxite (Late) livery
• Running No. E222476
• Lettered ‘VANFIT’
• NEM Coupling Pockets
• Length 90mm (over couplings)

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

Bachmann Branchline produces an OO‑scale replica of a London and North Eastern Railway 12‑ton ventilated fruit van, representing the British Railways Late Crest period. The model, part number 38‑386A, is finished in the pristine BR Bauxite (Late) livery, carries the running number E222476 and bears the ‘VANFIT’ lettering. It is intended to reflect the wooden‑bodied vans that featured louvred ends and roof ventilators to keep fruit fresh during transit.

The model includes detailed engraved planking, sliding doors with a separate metal handle, and six individually moulded roof ventilators, the central pair offset as on the prototype. The chassis uses metal 3‑hole disc wheelsets with formed‑wire safety loops, vacuum‑brake equipment with a brake cylinder beneath the wagon, brake pipes on each buffer beam and metal buffer‑head coupling hooks. Additional features are NEM coupling pockets and a overall length of 90 mm over the couplings.