GWR 'Toad' brake van Profile and Models

GWR 'Toad' brake van

68684 at Swindon in November 2008. ©Hugh Llewelyn

The GWR Toad is a class of railway brake van, designed by and built for the Great Western Railway. Used by the GWR from 1894, and post-1947 by the Western Region of British Railways, its role was a safety brake on goods trains in the West of England, the Midlands and Wales. The nickname "Toad" was derived from the GWR's telegraphic code for a brake van, with each bespoke Toad model allocated diagrams in the AA series. The standard GWR brake van design dates from 1894, with many varieties were built between 1894 and the early 1950s. No longer in operational use on the mainline, a number have survived through preservation and on many heritage railways, owing to the design, which incorporates a long, open veranda and large enclosed cabin; this makes the Toad an ideal, cheap, and versatile passenger carriage.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Vehicle

Brake Van

Builder

GWR Swindon Works

Build Dates

1894 to 1950s

Total Built

1000s

Wheel Configuration

4-wheel

Operated By

Great Western Railway
British Railways

Main Duties

Safety brake on Goods Trains

In Service Until

1970s

Surviving Examples

21

 

HO Gauge (1:87 Scale)
TT3 Gauge (1:100 scale)

Products awaiting categorisation

Scale Brand Image Construction Type DCC Capability Product Code Product Title Livery
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Connoisseur Models PMKOO27 GWR Toad Brake Van - Etched Brass Kit Requires assembly Not set PMKOO27
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GWR Toad Brake Van - Etched Brass Kit Unpainted
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Parkside Models PC569 GWR 20 ton 'Toad' brake van - plastic kit Requires assembly Not set PC569
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GWR 20 ton 'Toad' brake van - plastic kit Unpainted
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Ratio 569 GWR 20 ton toad brake van - plastic kit - replaced by PC569 Requires assembly Not set 569
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GWR 20 ton toad brake van - plastic kit - replaced by PC569 Unpainted
OO Gauge (1:76 Scale) Tri-ang R124-BrakeGWR GWR Toad Brake Van in BR bauxite - 57740 / W6297 RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set R124-BrakeGWR
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GWR Toad Brake Van in BR bauxite - 57740 / W6297 BR bauxite
N Gauge Graham Farish 3105 GWR 'Toad' brake van in BR grey - 114920 / 114926 RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set 3105
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GWR 'Toad' brake van in BR grey - 114920 / 114926 BR grey
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Parkside Models PS44 GWR 20 ton Toad  Brake Van Kit, diagram AA19 Requires assembly Not set PS44
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GWR 20 ton Toad Brake Van Kit, diagram AA19 Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Parkside Models PS601 GWR 16t Toad brake van kit Requires assembly Not set PS601
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GWR 16t Toad brake van kit Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Parkside Models PS602 GWR permanent way brake van kit Requires assembly Not set PS602
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GWR permanent way brake van kit Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Peco Products W-601 "GWR Toad, 16ton Brake Van" RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set W-601
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"GWR Toad, 16ton Brake Van" Awaiting Categorisation
O Gauge (1:43 Scale) Peco Products No image available RTR/RTUse/Pre-assembled Not set W-602
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GWR Permanent Way Brake Van GWR grey