KMRC announces exclusive Western Region SPV Parcels Van

The exclusive model is being produced for KMRC by Rapido Trains UK Ltd and is based on its BR diagram 1/801 Fish Van and features a wealth of detail alongside many separately fitted parts and metal wheel bearings. 957019 Western Region SPV parcels van number W87715 is priced at £31.99 and is available to pre-order now online or at both KMRC branches.

Chris Trerise, Managing Director at KMRC, said: “We are pleased to bring a notable exclusion from the main Rapido Trains UK range, of the SPV Parcels van with a Western Region ‘W’ prefix to our range of exclusive models. Quite a number of these vans were transferred to the Western Region and ran behind a range of classic Western Region traction.”   

About the prototype

The SPV parcels vans were first introduced by British Railways between 1960 and 1961 as the diagram 1/801 fish van. These vans featured a 15ft wheelbase and 21’8” body and were fitted with roller bearings from new that allowed the wagons to travel at speeds of 60mph. 

With the decline in fish traffic, and services ceasing in 1968, many vans were transferred to Parcels Traffic (coded NRV and later SPV under TOPS) and sported BR rail blue livery with ‘double arrow’ logo. This resulted in the vans being seen across the network. 

SPV number E87715 was transferred to the WR, receiving its ‘W’ prefix, becoming W87715, for newspaper working and then later in life was used as an RBV barrier vehicle.