Identification request: brakevan body

A colleague has this brakevan body in his garden: it hasn't got long left on this earth but I wondered if it was something that should be saved? Looks a bit far gone to me.

Any ID help would be appreciated , if nothing but to satisfy his curiosity.
Thanks
Tim

 

Yes, an early Midland design LMS brake. Interesting in that, judging from what's left of the paintwork, it was vacuum fitted, or at least piped; not many of this type were.

Some of these survived quite late. I saw one in about 1990, recently outshopped in pristine civil engineers green, on the end of a siding at Whitemoor yard. I was very tempted to try and buy it, but unfortunately it was chained to the track, being used as a temporary buffer stop. Some xxxxxx had run a rake of Grainflow wagons into it and stove-in one end

 

Looks like a D1657 from 1927 - 31. Although clearly influenced by earlier M.R. designed 12' WB vans it is pure LMS - the MR didn't fit lookout duckets to any of theirs but they have rotted away on this example. These vans had a very long life and many, as in this example, were fitted with extra side bracing as they got a bit 'shaky' later in their later years. There aren't many in preservation but I fear this one may be too far gone but, as posted above, some parts may be worth saving.
Ray.

 

At Middleton we are currently restoring a 1926 built Midland design van (to D1659, I think). Although it is without duckets, there are a lot of similarities with this van, one of which is the pillar in the centre of the verandah. This pillar is not shown on the D1659 drawings so it may not be to this diagram. What I am intrigued at is the fact that this pillar is not in the centre of the verandah but is offset by a few inches (as also shown on the photo. I can't see an obvious reason for this being done but, on the basis that there is a reason for everything, does anyone know what it is?

 

Only a guess but does the pillar align with the door frame thus ensuring that maximum visibility through the van windows is achieved which wouldn't be the case if it was central?

 

Thanks all! Appreciate your time

 

My drawing of a D1659 definitely shows a verandah pillar set 6" off from the centre line of the van.
Cheers,
Ray.

 

Having looked again, so does my copy! I don't know why I said that! Put it down to old age and poverty. Still doesn't answer the reason for the offset, though.

I've checked and the answer to that is no.

 

I know, from experience, that the vertical handrails from this design will also fit later pattern LMS/LM vans. The two LM vans at High Peak Junction had some handrails stolen last year and would be glad of replacements.

Tim

 

Bowes has a van if this type complete with ducks and offset pillar, it's an LMS van but based on a midland design.

 

Could it possibly be to provide a more secure anchoring for the vacuum pipe, looking at the Bowes van?

 

A sensible suggestion bu there was no vacuum pipe on vans built to this diagram!