R14 FISH VAN 1952-1973

(INCLUDING R780 BRITISH RAIL PARCELS VAN 1971-1973)

The R14 Fish Van used the same body as the Goods Van and as such had its origins in the Trackmaster body from 1949.

The Fish Van entered the Triang range in May 1952 and stayed in the catalogue until 1973. Although 1972 may have been the last year produced, so 1973 was just clearing old stock. (1973 saw the introduction of the R013 "FINE FISH" van). The van was only produced in white during the early years, but changed to pale blue in 1966.

The R780 BR Parcels van also used the same body and as it was only produced as one single variant, has been added here, it is also the last wagon with Trackmaster origins.

(I am still looking for early Fish Vans for my collection)

1957 TRIANG CATALOGUE

Prior to 1957 the Fish Van carried several numbers, 14280 (1952-54), 28174 (1954-1957), 61745 (1955) and N6307 (1957-1958)

1958 TRIANG CATALOGUE

Running number N6301

1959-1960

With the change to Mk3 couplings, the running number remained N6301, which it kept until the end. The number was still large (10mm) during 1959 and 1960.

1959 TRIANG CATALOGUE

1960 TRIANG CATALOGUE

1961 TRIANG CATALOGUE

Change to smaller numbers (7mm)

1961-1962

This variant only produced for two years, small numbers and open axle boxes (early chassis).

1962 TRIANG CATALOGUE

The artist has shown the van with closed axle boxes, but clearly the earlier chassis.

1963-1965

The chassis changed to plastic and closed axle boxes.

1963 TRIANG CATALOGUE

1964 TRIANG CATALOGUE

1965 TRIANG CATALOGUE

1966 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1966-1973

In 1966 the Fish Van was changed to pale blue, the colour it kept until the end. In fact the replacement van (Fine Fish) used the same blue livery.

1967 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1968 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1969 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1970 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1971 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1972 TRIANG HORNBY CATALOGUE

1973 HORNBY RAILWAYS CATALOGUE

The van looks white in the catalogue, but it remained pale blue in its last year.

R780 BRITISH RAIL PARCELS VAN 1971-1973

The BR PARCELS VAN had its origins in the 1949 Trackmaster tooling, although not the last "Trackmaster" wagon, that honour went to the R10 Open Wagon that still had a further 6 years to run.

However the R780 was the last van in the series and my firm favorite.

The parcels van was not produced long enough to create any variants. It was a welcome addition to any BRITISH RAIL era layout.