Oxford Diecast 76TV008

Tricycle Van Grand Union Canal Company - 1:76 Scale

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

Prototype Eras
Era 3 (1923 to 1947) The Big Four (LNER, LMS, GWR and SR)
Era 4 (1948 to 1956) British Railways Early Crest
Era 5 (1956 to 1966) British Railways Late Crest

Manufacturer description

The Tricycle Van was a light commercial vehicle introduced in the 1930s and put to a wide variety of uses right up until the 1950s. Here we see it as Service Van No. 2 used by the Grand Union Canal Company, 5 Lloyd's Avenue, EC3. Decorated in bright blue with white lettering registered FGK 315, there is a map of the route of the Grand Union Canal on the cab doors, showing the extent of the 137 mile London to Birmingham waterway, which to this day has spurs off it to other major English towns and cities on the way. The model also features a bright red front mudguard and wheel hub surround and a single headlamp built into the framework above. Further masking detail creates an illusion of circular windows on the back doors while the front windscreen is masked in silver and black. In 1929, five canal companies joined together to form the Grand Union Canal Company operation which with the purchase of the Associated Canal Carriers based in Northampton formed the start of the fleet. In 1934, an expansion programme was launched and the company changed its name to the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company. We can therefore date our little replica van to the period leading up to this new phase in 1934.

Catalogue listing

Oxford Diecast Tricycle Van – Grand Union Canal Company, 1:76 scale.
Manufacturer part number 76TV008. The model is intended to represent the British Railways early crest era, specifically the period up to 1934.

The replica depicts Service Van No 2 of the Grand Union Canal Company, based at 5 Lloyds Avenue, EC3. It is finished in bright blue with white lettering and bears the registration FGK 315. A map of the 137‑mile Grand Union Canal route from London to Birmingham is printed on the cab doors. The van features a red front mudguard, red wheel hub surrounds, a single headlamp mounted in the framework above the windshield, and masking detail that creates the appearance of circular windows on the rear doors. The front windscreen is masked in silver and black.

The Tricycle Van was a light commercial vehicle introduced in the 1930s and remained in use until the 1950s. In 1929 five canal companies merged to form the Grand Union Canal Company, later expanding in 1934 and renaming itself the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company after acquiring Associated Canal Carriers of Northampton. Accordingly, the model is dated to the period immediately before this 1934 expansion.