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)
The GWR ‘Bloater’ vans were built for fish traffic from 1916 onwards, to replace an ageing fleet of older designs used to transport fish. Due to the nature of the cargo, the vans were reserved solely for fish traffic and worked mainly from the major fishing ports in Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. Classed as Non-Passenger-Carrying Coaching Stock (NPCCS), the vans were through-piped for steam heating and were rated to run at express speeds with passenger trains. Three variants of the ‘Bloater’ are covered by these all-new EFE Rail models – the Diagram S8, S9 and S10. Within these diagrams could be found vans fitted with vacuum brakes and those fitted with both vacuum and Westinghouse air brakes – the latter were coded ‘Bloater A’, but by the early-1930s these had seen their air brakes removed and were recoded to ‘Bloater’.
Longer than a standard goods van, the ‘Bloaters’ sported three pairs of doors on each side and the first, the Diagram S8s, had louvres in the body sides and ends. The next vehicles, the Diagram S9 as depicted by this model, featured shell roof ventilators but otherwise shared the features of the S8. The gas lighting originally fitted to these vans has been removed on this example. The detailed underframe features brake gear and pipe runs, whilst footboards are separately fitted to each side of the van and metal spoked wheelsets are employed. At either end can be found sprung buffers, along with tension lock couplings which are mounted to a close-coupling mechanism via NEM pockets.
MODEL FEATURES:
Supplier links are provided for your convenience and do not guarantee that the product is currently available. RailwayModels.uk is not a representative of these suppliers, but may receive a commission when purchases are made through links on this page.
The EFE Rail GWR 10T 'Bloater' Fish Van model features a pristine Great Western Railway brown livery and is decorated with a running number of 2603. The model measures 128mm in length and is classified as a Van, with a coupling compatible with NEM standards. It represents a specific type of wagon that was used for fish traffic on the Great Western Railway from 1916 onwards.
The original 'Bloater' vans were built to replace older designs and were designed to run at express speeds with passenger trains. They were through-piped for steam heating and were rated for Non-Passenger-Carrying Coaching Stock services. The model represents one of three variants of the 'Bloater' van, featuring shell roof ventilators and a detailed underframe with brake gear and pipe runs.
The model includes sprung buffers, a tension lock coupling mechanism, and separate footboards on each side of the van. Metal spoked wheelsets are also featured. The model is suitable for Era 3, which represents the period of the Big Four railways, comprising the LNER, LMS, GWR, and SR.