Rapido Trains UK BR VIX Ferry Van

◆ GAUGE ‘OO’ ◆ MODEL Rapido Trains BR VIX Ferry Van ◆ PRICE £45.95 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Rapido Trains UK stockists Web www.rapidotrains.co.uk The chassis is perhaps the most impressive part of these models, with a full array of brake gear, all linked with

With a huge fleet of compact 10ft wheelbase, 12T capacity vans, British Railways lagged behind Continental practice when it came to general purpose covered freight wagons. Vehicles running into the UK via the train ferry network were larger and more efficient, prompting BR to look into building a new type of goods van.

BR’S Diagram 1/227 van, built from 1961, was certainly bigger, measuring nearly 42ft long, with a wheelbase of 26ft 3in. It also boasted a 20T capacity and a single sliding door on each side revealed a 13ft long aperture, allowing access for forklift trucks and other mechanical handling equipment. In total, 400 wagons were constructed by BR, ostensibly for cross-channel freight traffic.

The wagons eventually gained the TOPS code of ‘VIX’ and were equipped with both vacuum and air brake equipment from new. They were eventually displaced from international traffic, thanks to the introduction of Continental bogie vans, and were used widely on domestic freight traffic well into the 1980s, working with BR’S other long wheelbase vans, such as VBAS and VDAS.

As BR’S Speedlink network contracted, withdrawal of the ferry vans began, although many found second careers with the Departmental sector or as barrier vehicles, with examples in use into the early years of privatisation. Although they hadn’t turned a wheel for two decades, the final examples were removed (by crane!) from the national network at

Peterborough Yard in 2018.

A ’OO’ rendition of the VIX ferry van has been around since the 1970s, remaining in the Hornby range today. Although the bodyshell still looks good, the chassis is a little crude by today’s standards and Rapido’s announcement of an all-new, high-specification VIX was welcomed by many modellers. Rapido has produced a wide range of livery options, with plenty of prototype schemes to choose from. Despite most of the models now being available, Rapido has withheld two versions, owing to numbering errors (SKU91006/7), pending a decision on how they can be corrected.

We have tested three versions in all, an early BR bauxite version received from Rapido, plus a pair of Railfreight red/grey versions that I’d ordered for my own collection. These are striking models, in terms of size, appearance and finish. The level of detail is impressive, from the moulded bodywork features to the well-appointed underframe. And the side doors even slide open!

The slim profile of the body has been captured, with sharp definition to the framework and bolt heads. Super-fine handrails are installed to the doors and ends, along with footsteps and separate lamp brackets. Tie-down cleats are installed along the solebar – a key feature of a ferry wagon and the oval sprung buffers look the part – and they do not rotate out of alignment, which is always a bonus!

The chassis is perhaps the most impressive part of these models, with a full array of brake gear (both air and vacuum), all linked with rods and pipework. The brake shoes are positioned close to the wheels for maximum realism, with just a modicum of binding experienced on one of our samples which was easily fixed with some gentle bending. The graceful, swan-neck hand brake levers are replicated nicely and the builders’ plates are moulded in relief, complete with two raised mounting bolts.

The twin axles are fixed and run within brass pinpoint bearings. Despite the long wheelbase, I encountered no problems with the Second Radius curves on my test track. Indeed, the sprung, pivoting close-coupler units help the wagons to run reliably and, weighing-in at just over 80g each, they’re well balanced.

The paint finish is top notch across all our sample models. Even the separation between the red and grey on the Railfreight examples is sharp and neat – not an easy prospect with so much surface relief. The printed legends are also perfectly applied, with even the smallest markings legible under a magnifier.

The folks at Rapido have done a great job with these ferry vans, offering an unusual prototype that will appeal to modellers of the late steam era as well as modern image enthusiasts. Offering something a little different to the usual short wheelbase wagon, the ferry vans were always distinctive when seen in real life. And I’m chuffed to finally have a few for my 1980s-era Speedlink services. (GD)