No 17447 - 'Toad A' 20T Brake Van

‘Toad’ is the GWR telegraphic code for a brake van. The ‘A’ indicates that the vehicle is vacuum fitted.

The 100 brake vans built to Diagram AA21 in 1940 were all fitted with vacuum brakes and a brake setter (emergency brake valve) which allowed the Guard to apply the brakes on the whole train. They were also fitted with screw couplings. These vans were used on ‘fully fitted’ goods trains which could run at higher speeds and were often hauled by ‘mixed traffic’ engines such as Halls.

17447 was owned by the late David Rawlinson, who based it initially at Steamport, Southport and then at Preston Dock. On his death it was bequeathed to the Great Western Society and moved to the Railway Age at Crewe in March 2004 where restoration was started under the auspices of the Society's North West Group. The vehicle was moved to Didcot in October 2008.

Build date

1940

Built at

GWR Swindon

Lot Number

1370

Diag No

AA.21

« Back To Historic Wagons