General Utility Van

A General Utility Van (GUV) is a type of rail vehicle built by British Rail primarily for transporting mail and parcels. They were used by both Rail Express Systems and Railtrack. Colas Rail and some train operating companies still use them.

British Rail General Utility Van
BR Mk 1 GUV in original form and standard Rail Blue livery
In service1956–present
ManufacturerBR York Wagon Works
BR Doncaster Works
BR Glasgow Works
Pressed Steel Company
Family nameBritish Railways Mark 1
Constructed1956–1960
Number built907
Capacity14 tonnes (13.8 long tons; 15.4 short tons)
Operator(s)British Rail
Rail Express Systems
Railtrack
First Great Western
FM Rail
Colas Rail
Specifications
Car length57 ft 0 in (17.37 m)
Width8 ft 6 34 in (2.61 m)
Height12 ft 4 in (3.76 m)
Maximum speed70–100 mph (113–161 km/h), later restricted to 90 mph (145 km/h)
Weight30 tonnes (29.5 long tons; 33.1 short tons)
Track gauge4 ft 8 12 in (1,435 mm)

British Rail

Fleet details

Number range Previous number range TOPS code Primary use Notes
80250-80259 - NPX Post Office van Converted from 940xx range
93078-93984 86078-86984 NJ or NK Mail van -
94000-94034 85500-85534 NLX Newspaper van Converted from 86xxx range
94050-94078 - NMV Newspaper van Converted from 93xxx range
94100-94229 - NKA Mail van (high-security) Rebuilt from 93xxx, 951xx and 953xx ranges
95100-95199 - NOX Mail van (100 mph) Converted from 93xxx range
95350-95374 - NOX Mail van (100 mph) Converted from 93xxx range
95715-95763 - NOA Mail van (High-security) Rebuilt from 951xx range
96100-96195 - NX Motorail van Converted from 93xxx range
96210-96218 - NPA Motorail van (110 mph) Converted from 961xx range
96602-96609 - NVA Motorail van Rebuilt from 961xx range in 1999 for use by First Great Western on daylight trains and the Night Riviera to Penzance until 2005, briefly used by FM Rail and later sold to Colas Rail, used as brake force runners on Network Rail trains since 2015[1]

Livery examples

Preservation

Many GUVs have found new uses on preserved lines in the UK either stored and kept as coaches or converted for uses as different things.

NumberLocationImageTypeLiveryStatusNotes
86129Great Central Railway (Nottingham)NLXlined maroon
86565Great Central Railway (Nottingham)NLX
86696Midland Railway – ButterleyNLXMaroonUsed as store
93180Midland Railway - ButterleyNJ or NKBR BlueUsed as store
93226Mid-Norfolk Railway[2]NJ or NKRail BlueStatic or Stored
93380Midland Railway - ButterleyNJ or NKBR BlueUsed as store
93381Midland Railway - ButterleyNJ or NKBR BlueUsed as store
93701Battlefield Line RailwayNJ or NKRail BlueStored
94062Northampton and Lamport RailwayNJVRail Blue
94071Northampton and Lamport RailwayNJVRail Blue
94102Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough RailwayNKA
94148Helston Railway[3]NKARail Express Systems (RES) RedIn use as shop and mechanical store
96100TyseleyBR Maroon'REG' ('Range-Extending GUV'). Converted for use as a water carrier for mainline steam railtours. (originally 86734).
96927Plym Valley Railway[4]Motorail VanBR Carmine & CreamStored
96887Plym Valley RailwayMotorail VanRES RedStored

PMV

The Southern Railway used the designation PMV (Parcels and Miscellaneous Van).[5]

References

  1. Network Rail takes on Motorail vans The Railway Magazine issue 1378 January 2016 page 84
  2. "BR 86226 (93226)". The Railway Heritage Register Carriage Survey Project.
  3. http://www.helstonrailway.co.uk/rolling-stock
  4. https://shed83a.smugmug.com/keyword/plym%20valley%20railway
  5. "PMV - Parcels and Miscellaneous Van (British Southern Railway)". Acronymfinder.com. Retrieved 30 March 2012.


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