You can now recall the glory days of the train ferry with Rapido's new Diagram 1/227 ferry van. Inspired by European practice, these vans were very different to existing BR designs. It was nearly 42ft long (over headstocks) and had a massive 26ft 3in wheelbase. The sliding door (one on each side) was 13ft long and it could carry 20 tons. It looked like the incoming vans from Europe, with four sliding vents on each side. More importantly, it had both air and vacuum brakes. Pressed Steel built two batches, totalling 400 vehicles.

Coded VIX on TOPS, they lasted in front-line service until the 1970s, although they found other uses. The final ferry vans were literally removed from the national network in 2018 when three ex-Fastline ferry vans had to be craned out of Peterborough yard to be taken away by road. Surviving ferry vans can be found at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, Peak Rail and at the Eden Valley, Spa Valley and West Somerset Railways.

FEATURES
Highly detailed underframes
Highly detailed bodies
NEM coupler pockets on sprung cams
Opening side doors