PGR-85 Great Western Railway/BR Fruit Van Diagram Y2

Description

The GWR built 162 of these vans between 1889 and 1900. 100 were built with vacuum braking and classified as “FRUIT” and 22 were built with both vacuum and Westinghouse brakes and classified as “FRUIT A”. All Y2 vans were originally fitted with a standard long brake lever on one side but from October 1909 DC1 brakes were fitted. From 1911 some of these vans were fitted with steam heating for use with passenger and banana traffic. These vans were very well built and the majority lasted until the 1950’s. One example of this type of van has been preserved at the GWR Steam centre at Didcot.