As someone completely new to model railways info like this is a great help.

I just love these nuggets of information, keep them coming Barry.

A very interesting and practical video for all those who wish to operate in a realistic manner. Well done. May I add a fact that is pertinent to the content of this video? Across the network it a loco crew would often work in tandem with a guard in his brake van throughout a shift. They would work as a pair from duty to duty. These pairings were often permanent and would last from shift to shift or even longer. This did mean that if a crew for example, left a train for onward movement to another railway or region at an exchange siding and did not have a return working to their home shed it was not uncommon for a light engine movement to include the partner brake van and guard.

Thanks Barry a very good summary. One fairly common feature you missed - used mainly in areas that had unbalanced freight flows was the engine and brake van or vans ( I think this was lamp code G) Where a loaded mineral train may run to say 20 wagons a single loco could haul up to 60 or so empties back to the mine resulting in an accumulation of locos and brake vans at one end of the line. These then worked back to the traffic source as engine and brake van(s). This was also used at the start of some pick-up/trip freights where the engine and brake would work from the shed/main yard to the sidings where the wagons were waiting for collection.

This is awesome keep this coming Barry

These videos are really brilliantly done, and the modeling first class.

Excellent. Don't forget Southern's bogie Queen Mary goods brake vans. Not only were brake vans fitted or unfitted, some were through piped as well. The train vacuum brakes didn't operate the brakes on the brake van (the guard could do that manually with the hand wheel), but there was a valve in the van where the guard could apply the train brakes by opening the brake pipe to atmosphere to lose the vacuum. It wasn't uncommon to on train of mixed fitted and unfitted stock to have the fitted stock at the head of the train to provide additional brake force. This was commonly known as a fitted head. I've also seen diesel brake tenders substituted for fitted brake vans. On two occasions I saw on the coal trains to Tolworth, a class 73 with on one occasion a fitted GWR toad, and the other occasion a Queen Mary acting as brake tenders. The traffic originating from Acton on the GW.

Excellent

Very interesting & informative plus a great layout in the making!

Great video mate!

Very interesting video.....

Very interesting. Thank you.

I find your railway practice videos so interesting and visually enjoyable thanks to your beautiful modelling. Thank you for doing them, I can't wait for the next. Btw, I can hear you fine with the sound of the trains.

hi, great video. i have two LBSC hornby brake vans which are used all the time and go on any train, also a Pill box van, as we are all playing with toy trains i don't think we should take them too seriously.what ever is handy put on the back

Really enjoying this series of videos you’re putting out. I see you have quite a variety of wagon loads. Maybe in the future you could do a video on how you made or bought various loads. Keep up the great work 👍

Hi, Yes your right had no idea about all the things we need to know just on brake vans it was very interesting but will I now be getting it all right on the railway well no as I have a train set but thank you so much for this a super video. Cheers Robert.

Thanks for a great educational video, I love you vids. thanks Dallas.

Tx for this, was it always intrigued me as to how and why brake vans were used, am modelling Tyne Dock iron ore flows as part opf my layout so all helps

Greetings, this is amazing🎉 Thanks for sharing

Some GWR vans allocated to branch lines had through vacuum and steam heating pipes to allow them to run in front of passenger coaches to avoid shunting when not working a mixed train ( Bridport six wheel Toad) - did this also apply to other companies? Fully fitted Toads (Toad A) had the brake cylinder above the floor at the veranda end in place of the seat.

Informative as ever.

Great video. I was the one who originally asked for this topic when your request for suggestions went out. Once again your video was informative and entertaining. Just one more question, would a brake van be pushed onto the back of an already formed train with the use of a loop or would the train be pushed back into the siding where the van is awaiting? Or did it depend on the size/style of yard used? Thanks again.

You won't see a toad in the NE? Bet someone has😂. Prototype for everything?

A nice informative video. However, I think you need to mute your video footage of trains running. The sound of the trains is drowning out your voice audio.