VOLUNTEERS at the Chasewater Railway’s Carriage and Wagon Team have rolled out their latest project – VEA box van B784106/230258.
Originally constructed at Wolverton as a Vanwide No. B784106 as part of lot 3392 in 1962, it was renumbered under TOPS to 230258 and later rebuilt at Horwich in 1982, part of lot 4017, into a VEA. These were to give the Ministry of Defence an air braked wagon for munitions and supplies which could negotiate the tight curves at some Army bases.
They survived into the mid- 1990s – some being repainted into Railfreight red and grey – working both block trains and as part of the BR Speedlink network.
With the demise of the latter, many continued in MoD service and No. 230258 was no exception, finding work at MoD Bicester as No. WGB4036.