GWR Article

Robert Ferris has transcribed the following information on the building and development of Moor Street station from articles which appeared in several editions of the Great Western Magazine.

The Transport of Banana Traffic - New Wagons for Banana Traffic

Extract from Great Western Magazine Vol. XXXV. No.3, March 1923

Few people outside those connected with the business realise the care and trouble expended on the transport of bananas in order that they may reach the consumer in good condition. The fruit is of a delicate nature and will not withstand even moderate variations in temperature. Special precautions have, therefore, to be taken. Bananas are picked in their green state, and the object of the shippers is to deliver them nearly ripe. To this end the ships conveying them are specially equipped so that a uniform temperature is maintained. Too high a temperature would result in premature ripening.

The fruit is now being shipped all the year round, and in order that the care bestowed on the voyage should be continued after arrival in this country, Messrs. Elders & Fyffes entered into arrangements with the Great Western Railway Company for special vehicles to be used for this ever increasing traffic from Avonmouth Docks. Some 250 covered vans have recently been turned out of the Company’s shops at Swindon, fitted with vacuum brake, steam heating, and special ventilators. The vans are also insulated.

The steam-heating apparatus consists of a through pipe under the vehicle, from which an uptake rises through the floor to the roof, where it branches into two pipes of larger section running along the roof converging again to one pipe for the outlet. The roof pipes are arranged to have a suitable fall towards the outlet. The heating system can be cut-off from the main supply by means of valve operated outside the vehicle. In common with all steam heating systems the greatest obstacle to be overcome is the getting rid of water due to condensation. To deal with this, four automatic drip-trays are fitted, and, in addition, the external pipes are well lagged with non-compensating material.

When the engine is coupled to the train all the valves controlling the internal pipes are closed, and steam is passed through the main pipe for the whole length of the train until it issues at a considerable pressure from the last vehicle. Then, at intervals of a second, the valves before mentioned are opened, commencing at the vehicle furthest from the engine and working towards it. The sides, ends, floors, and doors are double boarded, the intervening space being packed with non-conducting material. The door-joints are sealed with rubber to render them airtight when closed. The chief reason for insulating is to ensure that after the vehicles are detached from the trains the interiors of the vans shall remain warm until the trader takes delivery of the fruit, often some hours later. Small eyebolts are fitted to the doors, to facilitate the fixing of lead seals to obviate the goods being tampered with or the doors opened by unauthorised persons. A drawing of the special vehicles is reproduced 'gwrms1729'.