Dapol Vanwide/VEA
◆ GAUGE ‘O’ ◆ MODELS Dapol 7F-049-001 VEA 12t ‘Vanwide’ Freight brown, 230026 • 7F-049-204 VEA 12t ‘Vanwide’ Freight brown, 783994 • 7F-049-003 VEA 12t VEA, Raifreight red/grey, 230117 • 7F-049-004 VEA 12t VEA, Railfreight grey/yellow, 230142 ◆ PRICE £58.59 each ◆ AVAILABILITY Dapol stockists Web www.dapol.co.uk
The move towards palletised freight in the late 1950s led to issues with British Railways’ existing general merchandise vans. The pressing need for larger doorways and easier access, for forklift and handoperated pallet trucks led BR to offer the ‘Palvan’. This was a plywood-panelled 12t van with large double doors ranged to the extreme left of each side. Access may have been improved, but these hastily designed vans were not a success. However, a much-improved design emerged a few years later, termed the ‘Vanwide’.