One of the thirty-four former GWR Siphon G vans converted

and branded for Newspaper carriage is seen passing Avoncliff in the Avon Valley. One hundred and fifteen of this highly successful design of van were produced between 1930 and 1945 largely for the carriage of milk from all points of the GWR network either on bulk milk trains or simply attached to the rear of express services. As milk traffic declined due to road haulage they found new uses in a GUV and newspaper role such was their versatility. The last examples survived until 1985 with a small number entering preservation including one as part of the national collection at Shildon. Beyond the GUV is an LMS fifty-foot full brake van. The inclusion of these vans in the consists of a train was always easy to identify due to their protruding ducket and their three pronounced timber running boards. The story of their development and construction is an incredibly complex one with well over three hundred being produced by the LMS between 1925 and 1950 in various guises and to various specifications. The last was withdrawn from service in the early 1980s so the inclusion of one on this train in 1981 represents quite a rarity by this time; it's just a shame that I could not get its number and that of the Siphon G for that matter!