The design for a brake van was loosely based on the proportions of the WAGR ZF 4-wheel brake van but adapted to suit the available DNC bogies. The length of 1150 mm was dictated by the length of the storage track in the garage and the impending arrival of two bogie open wagons from Mini Train Systems.
The welded underframe is made up from 30x30 and 40x40 square steel sections. The use of 30x30 for the side members matched the proportions of the ZF's 4-wheel underframe, but it complicated the design by requiring tapered ends on the 40x40 cross members. All good practice at fabrication.
The bodywork at this stage is basically a mock-up made from leftover MDF board. The eventual plan is to build a more detailed body resembling the WAGR brake van.
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| Testing the seating position |
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| Handbrake lever connected via cable and pulleys to one bogie |
It was decided to press the brake van into service with the temporary bodywork, so it received a couple of coats of Manor Red paint, as well as some metal and 3D-printed details to give some character, as well as working lights at both ends powered from a small LiPo battery.
The brake van has proved to be a useful addition to the railway. It is quite comfortable to ride in and easy to get in and out of. In the future, it might be possible to devise a sliding door to disguise the large opening in the side.
