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Hornby R60273

RailRoad: 'Watkins' Vent Van

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

This newly tooled RailRoad vent van carrying the name ‘Josph M Watkins Co Ltd of Cardiff’ is an ideal model to add to a steam-period freight train. Whilst wooden vent vans were mainly used during the steam era, they remained on the rails into the diesel era and there are many still on preserved railways around the UK today making this a timeless piece to add to a model railway layout.

The vent van was a small multipurpose goods van which transported all manner of items whilst keeping them protected from the wind and rain. The wagon design features a single vent on each end of the structure allowing air to flow, thereby maintaining a cooler air temperature, beneficial for the transportation of perishable food items. Closed vans would often be loaded with all manner of miscellany such as flour, meat, parcels or perhaps scale models.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

The Hornby RailRoad range has introduced a model of a vent van, specifically the 'Watkins' Vent Van, as part of their 2025 catalogue. This model is finished in a cream and brown colour scheme and has a length of 98mm. It is designed for use on OO gauge model railways and has a minimum radius curve requirement of 371mm. The model features moulded plastic buffers and uses a NEM tension lock coupling.

The model represents a vent van from the steam era, a period which spanned the operations of the Big Four railway companies: LNER, LMS, GWR and SR. Vent vans were used to transport a variety of goods, including perishable items, and were designed to protect these goods from the elements. The model in question features a single vent on each end, which allowed for airflow and helped to maintain a cooler temperature inside the van.

The 'Watkins' Vent Van model is a suitable addition to a steam-period freight train on a model railway layout. Although wooden vent vans were primarily used during the steam era, they continued to be used into the diesel era and can still be seen on preserved railways in the UK today. This model is a timeless representation of a piece of railway history and can be used on layouts set in a variety of time periods.