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.
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 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 Almost 2,400 wagons were constructed, although many were withdrawn during the first decade of use due to their running gears being unevenly worn.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)
Our first group of Palvans are in early BR Bauxite livery. These vans are equipped with oil axleboxes, Morton brakes and spindle buffers.
38-952(A) – BR Palvan BR Bauxite
Our next pair of Palvans are in the later BR Bauxite livery. These vans have eight shoe clasp brakes, roller bearings and OLEO buffers.
38-954(A) – 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.
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.
