Passenger Brake and Composite Brake Vans Gallery

Third class carriage no. 1329

Built in 1939 for the Burry Port and Gwendraeth Valley Railway to diagram C80

1329, Burry, C80, Carriage

Brake Third coach No. 3307 converted into a mobile cleansing unit, 1941

The fear of gas attack was of paramount concern during World War II, as demonstrated by the mass issuing of gas masks prior to the outbreak of war in 1939. One of the responsibilities of the ARP services was to lead the decontamination and cleansing process in the event of such an attack. Mobile cleansing units were made available to the ARP service to clean people who had been exposed to gas attack, and in July 1941 the GWR converted Brake Third coach No. 3307 into an ARP Cleansing Unit for this purpose. The van was equipped with an air lock leading to an undressing room, showers, and further along the vehicle, a dressing room stocked with fresh clothing. As can be seen in this photograph, the windows were completely blacked out and they were also made to be blast proof. This was one of 47 such units converted by the major railway companies, which were stationed at strategic locations for immediate dispatch to any station or rail depot where they were needed

Open Brake Third Carriage, No. 651

Built to Diagram No. D130 (Lot 1644) in 1940

651, Carriage, Coach, D130, Open Brake Thrid