Product Highlight: OO Scale BR 12 Ton ‘Palvan’ Pallet Vans

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Product Highlight: OO Scale BR 12 Ton 'Palvan' Pallet Vans

It’s the start of a new year and with it comes the arrival of some newly tooled OO scale models into the Bachmann Branchline range! These new wagons are the BR 12 Ton ‘Palvan’ Pallet Vans, which have been highly anticipated since their engineering prototypes were first displayed last year’s London Festival of Railway Modelling.

These wagons have been produced with all new tooling and feature the usual high level of detail that you would expect from a new Bachmann Branchline model. Each model also features several separately-fitted parts including the door hold open brackets, handrails and chalk boards on each side and end. Where appropriate to the prototype, the wagons feature advertising boards on the side too. 

38-954 - BR CLV Palvan 'Johnnie Walker Whisky' Green
The first wagons were built with four-shoe Morton brakes and were fitted with the characteristic tie-bar between the axleboxes. Oil axleboxes were employed. Our Early-BR and Johnnie Walker Palvans feature this underframe arrangement.
38-952 - BR Palvan BR Bauxite
Later builds had eight-shoe clasp brakes which negated the need for the tie-bar, and some were also fitted with roller bearing axleboxes, as depicted by our Late-BR models.

On the buffer beam, there are separately fitted lamp brackets, vacuum pipe brackets and coupling hooks. Under the solebar, the new tooling allows for various combinations of axle boxes or roller bearings, brake types, styles of buffer and wheel types in order to accurately depict the wagons through their lifetimes. The chassis features a full complement of brake gear, including optional brake pulls and safety loops on the wagons that are fitted with eight shoe clasp brakes. The vans also have NEM Coupling Pockets and come with an accessory pack which includes vacuum brake pipe and Instanter couplings.

The detailing continues underneath the wagon too, especially on the Late-BR wagons with their eight-shoe clasp brakes – these models include optional brake pulls and safety loops.

The 12 Ton Pallet Vans were constructed by British Rail between the mid-1950s and early-1960s and were characterised by their 8 foot 6 inch wide doors that would allow pallets to be loaded more easily than the 5 foot wide doors that were standard on previous vans. Almost 2,400 wagons were constructed, although many were withdrawn during the first decade of use due to their running gears being unevenly worn. This was caused by the wagons being loaded in an unbalanced manner, possibly because the asymmetrical positioning of the doors could lead to the wagons being loaded only at one end. Despite these issues, many of the Palvans survived into the 1980s and several were sold into private ownership with companies such as Johnnie Walker who produced whisky in Scotland. Today, the vans are common sights at preserved railways and heritage sights where they are instantly recognisable, distinguished by their external framework and large, offset doors.

38-950(A) – BR Pallet Van BR Bauxite (Early)

38-950 - BR Pallet Van BR Bauxite (Early)
38-950 – BR Pallet Van BR Bauxite (Early)
38-950A - BR Pallet Van BR Bauxite (Early)
38-950A – BR Pallet Van BR Bauxite (Early)

Our first group of Palvans are in early BR Bauxite livery. These vans are equipped with oil axleboxes, Morton brakes and spindle buffers.

EraRunning No.FinishItem No.
4B769951Pristine38-950
4B772996Pristine38-950A

38-952(A) – BR Palvan BR Bauxite

38-952 - BR Palvan BR Bauxite
38-952 – BR Palvan BR Bauxite
38-952A - BR Palvan BR Bauxite [W]
38-952A – BR Palvan BR Bauxite [W]

Our next pair of Palvans are in the later BR Bauxite livery. These vans have eight shoe clasp brakes, roller bearings and OLEO buffers.

EraRunning No.FinishItem No.
5B782212Pristine38-952
5B782042Weathered38-952A

38-954(A) – BR CLV Palvan ‘Johnnie Walker Whisky’ Green

38-954 - BR 12T Palvan 'Johnnie Walker Whisky' Green
38-954 – BR CLV Palvan ‘Johnnie Walker Whisky’ Green
38-954A - BR CLV Palvan 'Johnnie Walker Whisky' Green
38-954A – BR CLV Palvan ‘Johnnie Walker Whisky’ Green

Our final vans are decorated in the green livery of ‘Johnnie Walker Whisky’. These vans are equipped with oil axleboxes, Morton brakes, OLEO buffers and have advertising boards on the sides.

EraRunning No.FinishItem No.
8C.L.V.197 / JW6050Pristine38-954
8C.L.V.208 / JW6062Pristine38-954A

The first of these models will be making their way to Bachmann stockists later this month, so head to the Bachmann Europe website where you can find more information about the full range. Once you’ve selected your models, get in touch with your nearest retailer to order yours! 

Your nearest retailer can be found by using the Retailers page on our website, which can be accessed either from the menu at the top of the page or by clicking on the button below.

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