Etched brass and whitemetal kit

Requires wheels (Slaters 7124 or equivalent)/paint/lettering

The prototype of this Milk & Motor Car Van was designed by Peter Drummond in 1914, were introduced that year, the 20 vehicles all being completed by the end of 1915. They were 25’ long and allowed one car to be carried, or, as an alternative traffic, the deep louvres, sliding doors and dual braking systems allowed them to used to carry perishable goods such as milk in churns to places such as London, or other major cities. Most of this traffic originated in Ayrshires Dumfries and Galloway and rapidly expanded in the early years of the 20^th century. In pre-group days, the vans would have travelled from the G & SWR system over the Settle and Carlisle, ultimately to St. Pancras.

With a 15’ wheelbase, they were able to run at passenger speeds, but with timber bodies on a steel underframe, it was found that the body, especially the louvres, rotted quite quickly. In LMS days the louvres were remove piecemeal and new timbers used to board the full height of the sides. It was not uncommon to be vehicles with only three, two, one (LMS N0.37474) or even without any louvres at all (WS No. 37475) at different periods of time.

Livery in G&SWR days was a dull red, almost matt carriage lake without any lining, being gradually superseded by standard LMS non Passenger livery as the vehicles were overhauled after grouping.