No 56400 - 'Toad'

‘Toad’ is the GWR telegraphic code for a brake van. Most goods trains were ‘unfitted’ (no continuous brakes) so relied on the engine’s brake and the Guard’s handbrake in the brake van.  Brake vans were ballasted with scrap metal or concrete to increase the weight and brake force.

56400 was built in 1900 as a 14 ton brake van and later upgraded to 16 tons.

Some 840 brake vans were built to diagram AA3 between 1889 and 1901.

Build date

1900

Built at

GWR Swindon

Lot Number

282

Diag No

AA.3

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