The LNER Encyclopedia

I've just finished the 4mm Ian Kirk it of a pigeon van, how wide spread were these on the LNER system and did they venture to all parts of the UK rail network?

Good kit of an unusual subject which I've not come across in RTR

The pigeon van was a subset of the LNER's bogie vans, classed BGP instead of BG, but not restricted to solely pigeon traffic. They went wherever the load on board required delivery is the brief answer under LNER ownership; but if that took them off system would then have been worked back. Very widely distributed under BR as they usefully had the Pullman gangway and knuckle coupler to work with BR mk1 stock, which saw a good number carry on into the 1970s in BR blue.

Good morning all

I can remember a Gresley pigeon van, painted light blue in a bay at Woking Station around 1970.

I've no idea what is was doing so far south, but was quite excited to see it.

Malcolm

earlswood nob wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:18 am Good morning all

I can remember a Gresley pigeon van, painted light blue in a bay at Woking Station around 1970.

I've no idea what is was doing so far south, but was quite excited to see it.

Delivering pigeons?

earlswood nob wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2019 9:18 am Good morning all

I can remember a Gresley pigeon van, painted light blue in a bay at Woking Station around 1970.

I've no idea what is was doing so far south, but was quite excited to see it.

Malcolm

If you bothered to look in David Larkin's BR Parcels and Passenger Rated Stock,Volume 1, Kestrel, you would see numerous examples of NPCS vans far away from their 'home' territory and it was ever thus. A 'Pigeon Van' was equipped with folding racks designed to carry pigeon baskets, but was principally used for parcels traffic.

Perhaps your younger self should have got out more?

I see no Kestrel. Have I missed something in this discussion?

Maybe there was a Kestrel van that chased the pigeon van?

Or a Peregrin van that was the fastest of them all and swooped in on the pigeon van on a crossover ......or maybe my imagination is running on too many E numbers...

Atlantic 3279 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 06, 2019 5:23 pm I see no Kestrel. Have I missed something in this discussion?

Kestrel Railway Books, David Larkin's current publisher: www.kestrelrailwaybooks.co.uk/

Thank you, I am now better informed.

As there is a "Kestrel" amongst our members who had not contributed to the recent discussion, I was confused......

AFAIK the pigeon van was the basic van with Fox Bogies and Mansell wheels.

The Kestrel van had Gresley bogies and disc wheels.

The Peregrin van was rare, had a streamlined shape and often was found between Grantham and Peterborough, in the Little Bytham area.

Earlswood nob

earlswood nob wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 9:59 am AFAIK the pigeon van was the basic van with Fox Bogies and Mansell wheels.

The Kestrel van had Gresley bogies and disc wheels.

The Peregrin van was rare, had a streamlined shape and often was found between Grantham and Peterborough, in the Little Bytham area.

Earlswood nob

There were several LNER types of van fitted with the racking for transporting Pigeons, starting with the well-known 4-wheel Dia. 120 and extending through the 51' 1.5" non-vestibuled Dia. 129 fitted with Fox pattern bogies (but steel wheels, not Mansell), to the 61' 6" vestibuled Dia. 245, built specifically for racing pigeon traffic in that they met the Federation's requirement for members to be able to inspect their birds during transit.

The Peregrin (sic) was presumably a figment of someone's imagination who wore a big smile on their face

A real can of pigeons has been opened here, just hope you know who does not read all this pigeon van nonsense...they were fruit vans you know

Dave wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:57 pm A real can of pigeons has been opened here, just hope you know who does not read all this pigeon van nonsense...they were fruit vans you know

I wouldn't take that to any of the banks...

65447 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:57 pm The Peregrin (sic) was presumably a figment of someone's imagination who wore a big smile on their face

Neatly done......

A past member on here would be having a fit by now. It's his favourite subject !!!

Peregrine