SECR/SR/BR 20T 
"Dancehall" Goods Brake Van

The SECR first built the Dancehall brakes to their diagram 2139 in 1918 when a single vehicle was built, volume production, with minor variations from the prototype, began in 1921. These vehicles had a 12inch deep solebar and were allocated Diagram 1559 by the SR. The SECR decided that future batches would have a 15 inch solebar the first of which the Southern built in 1923 and a further order was built in 1926/7. The two SR built batches were allocated Diagram 1560. A total of 60 brake vans were built to the two diagrams and had a long life.

BR(S) decided to convert some of the Dancehalls for use as departmental brake vans. The work involved closing in one of the verandahs, providing 2 end windows in it and also adding 3 side windows and vents.
In November 1953 Lancing carried out the work to diagram 1761. 13 vehicles, all from diag 1560, were treated.

The brake vans were originally fitted with 3ft 1in, 3 hole disc wheels, however the prototype brake van had spoked wheels until at least 1950.

The kit consists of an etched brass body and rigid chassis with whitemetal detailing parts and sprung buffers. A pre-formed brass roof is supplied. Any of the three variants can be built from the kit.

Wheels and couplings are needed to complete the kit.

You can download a pdf version (which requires Adobe Acrobat to be read) of the instructions for this kit by clicking here

This file is 4.2 MB which will take a while to download if you are on a dial-up connection.

.

If you don't already have Adobe Acrobat installed, click the logo for free download.