SR/BR General Utility Van

Two batches of ten of these very distinctive vans were built in 1938/49. These followed on from an earlier batch of ten built in 1928 that had used second hand London, Brighton and South Coast Railway carriage under-frames, all of these had though been condemned by the early 1960's. Several had adaptations so as to be able to convey elephants in circus train formations. Consequently these very distinctive vans acquired the nickname of 'elephant vans' amongst enthusiasts.

Built: 1938

Order number: 975

Diagram: 3182

Total: 10

4589 adapted for the conveyance of elephants

Number	Withdrawn	Disposal
4587	1976	Bird Group, Long Marston, Worcestershire 10/76.
4588	1979	Transferred to Internal User Stock as Stores Van 083361 based at Hamworthy Goods Yard. Preserved at Llangollen Railway 1993.
4589	1980	Used by Chipmans, Horsham and plated CC99015. Preserved at Mid Hants Railway 11/11. Moved to Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
4590	1979	Transferred to Internal User Stock as Stores Van 083372 based at Eastleigh Works. Disposed of from Bescot to Booth-Roe Metals, Rotherham, South Yorkshire 1/92, then to preservation at Gloucestershire-Warwickshire Railway.
4591	1978	A. King & Sons, Snailwell, Cambridgeshire 10/79.
4592	1967	Bird Group, Long Marston, Worcestershire 5/68.
4593	1977	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Civil Engineers Tunnel Inspection Van DB975663 based on the Southern Region. Broken up on site at Chesterton Junction, Cambridge by Sims Metals, Alfreton, Derbyshire 5/00.
4594	1976	Preserved at Swanage Railway, arrived 16/5/77 from Wareham yard by road having previously moved from Micheldever by rail.
4595	1979	Bogies removed and used at Ramsgate as a store shed. Preserved at East Kent Light Railway with replacement bogies.
4596	1978	A. King & Sons, Snailwell, Cambridgeshire 10/79.

Built: 1949

Order number: 3228

Diagram: 3182

Total: 10

4598 & 4601 adapted for the conveyance of elephants

SR GUV 4604 converted for use in the Chipmans Weedkilling Train and re-numbered DB975966 is pictured at Three Bridges in 1998. Brian Loughlin

Number	Withdrawn	Disposal
4597	1979	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Stores Van DB975890 based at Strawberry Hill, then to Internal User Stock as 083611. Bogies removed and used as store shed at Strawberry Hill Depot. Broken up on site by M. R. J. Phillips, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire 8/97.
4598	1979	Transferred to Internal User Stock as Stores Van 083379 at Eastleigh Works. Preserved by Eastleigh Railway Preservation Society At Eastleigh Works. Body scrapped and chassis used as a wagon. Chassis scrapped on site by Nottingham Sleeper Company, Retford 1/07.
4599	1979	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Local Parcels Movements Van DB975894 based at Shrewsbury. Broken up on site at Shrewsbury Coton Hill Yard by Rollaston, Wellington, Shropshire, 10/86.
4600	1980	Used by Chipman, Horsham, plated CC99014. Preserved at Mid Hants Railway 11/11. Moved to Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
4601	1981	Preserved at Bluebell Railway, arrived 8/9/81.
4602	1979	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Stores Van DB975889 Based at Strawberry Hill, then to Internal User Stock as 083610. Broken up on site at Strawberry Hill by M. R. J. Philips, Llaneli, Carmarthenshire 8/97.
4603	1975	A. King & Sons, Snailwell, Cambridgeshire 7/78.
4604	1980	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Chipmans Weedkilling Train Stores Van DB975966 based at Horsham. Broken up on site at Three Bridges Pre-assembly Depot by Raxstar 2/05.
4605	1980	Transferred to Departmental Stock as Chipmans Weedkiling Train Stores Van DB975967 based at Horsham. Preserved at Isle of Wight Steam Railway 3/90. Body broken up, chassis used for LB&SCR 735.
4606	1981	Transferred to Internal User Stock as Stores Van 060957 based at Trostre Tinplate Works. Preserved at the Gwili Railway 1993. Broken up 6/12.

This page is maintained by Peter Hall.