{"product_id":"983009-rapido-gcr-dia-17b-van-no-542793-lner-grey-post-36","title":"983009 - Rapido - OO - GCR Dia. 17B Van - No. 542793 LNER Grey (post-’36)","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDiagram 17B Covered Van LNER Grey (Post 1936) 542793\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eModel\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1:76 Scale model produced by Rapido Trains. This model is ready-to-run and will make a great addition to any model railway collection.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eModel Features\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1:76 Scale Model\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGCR Dia. 17B Covered Van\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLNER Grey (post-’36) No. 542793\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLNER Axleboxes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGCR Doors\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGCR Lifting link brakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSplit-spoke wheels running in metal bearings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh level of detail above and below the floor line\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHigh quality livery application\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUK designed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThis model is if fitted with Yes style couplings\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDetails\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1910, the Great Central Railway (GCR) introduced a new design for its covered vans, all measuring 19 ft long with a steel underframe and sliding doors on either side. The main distinction between variants was the type of brakes fitted, with the unfitted version assigned Diagram 17B. Developed as an all-purpose vehicle, the Dia. 17B was widely used across the GCR network and beyond, though the absence of roof or end vents limited its suitability for perishables.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs co-owners of the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) with the Midland and Great Northern Railways, the GCR contributed designs to the joint fleet, reusing the Dia. 17B for the CLC. Two hundred and seventy vans were built by the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon \u0026amp; Finance Co Ltd at Oldbury, initially without external end-stanchions, which were later added to match GCR standards.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike most railways, the CLC retained its own stock into the late 1920s. In 1929, its fleet was divided: one third to the LMS and two thirds to the LNER, creating the unusual situation of a single diagram split between companies. The LNER designated their share Diagram 43B. Several vans survived nationalisation, though the only preserved example had been extensively modified into a windowed mess van by British Rail.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Rapido","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54156521505107,"sku":"983009","price":34.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1028\/2985\/0963\/files\/Harburn_983009.jpg?v=1784292176","url":"https:\/\/www.harburnhobbies.co.uk\/products\/983009-rapido-gcr-dia-17b-van-no-542793-lner-grey-post-36","provider":"Harburn Hobbies","version":"1.0","type":"link"}