GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

Rowington Junction & Troughs: gwrrj2765

After the branch line to Henley-in-Arden was closed most of the track was lifted in May 1917. At Rowington Junction a short length of double track was retained, which was turned into two sidings and used to store surplus wagons. Apart from some alterations in 1925 associated with the removal of the facing switch on the up line, these sidings were retained until taken out of use in June 1968. For several years after the Second World War a large number of surplus wagons were stored on these sidings and amongst these was this Banana Van photographed in 1948.

Great Western Railway Banana Van No 93563 was originally built as an unfitted ten ton covered wagon (telegraphic code MINK) to diagram V16 on Lot 763. A shortage of insulated wagons during the First World War resulted in 300 covered wagons being converted to Meat vans under order No 1060 in May 1918. The conversion involved; provision of a layer of internal insulation made from cork sheeting, internally blanking of the bonnet vents and provision of meat hooks in the roof. The converted wagons became diagram X6. At the end of the war it was intended that these unfitted Meat vans (telegraphic code MICA A) would be converted back to general merchandise wagons as their lack of vacuum brakes meant that use as Meat vans was limited, but after altering several it was decided to convert the remaining 258 to Banana Vans (Diagram Y4). Avonmouth Docks had become the focus of a thriving banana trade and specialist wagons in which the temperature could be regulated were needed to transport the fruit. Under order No F428 in October 1922, the wagons to be converted were provided with steam heating and an adjustable louvered ventilator in the centre of each end. They were also fitted with vacuum brakes and instanter couplings. The total conversion cost authorised was £21,095, averaging £81 15s 6d per van. For more details see moorstreet-gwr-srticle6. The wagons retained their ‘goods’ grey livery, but a two foot diameter white circle was painted on the Banana vans to indicate that these wagons had steam heating.

The table below (courtesy of John Lewis) gives details of the majority of the Diagram V12 and V16 Covered Wagons converted into X6 Meat Vans and then subsequently to Diagram Y4 Banana Vans:

During the Second World War imports of bananas ceased and many of these Banana vans were again temporarily converted into Meat vans from 1942 onwards.

Robert Ferris

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