W86500 Prototype British Railways Mark 1 General Utility Van

very difficult to trace, but we can speculate that it would have spent most of its working life carrying parcels, goods and anything else that was required all over the UK.

W86500 was later repainted into the standard BR Blue livery when a mid life overhaul was required, we presume during the late 1960’s. The early 1970’s saw the vehicle renumbered 93500 to avoid duplication with Class 86 electric locomotives under British Railways’ new TOPS numbering system. An enthusiast sighting of W86500 tells us that on 25th August 1981, the vehicle was stabled at Salkeld Street parcels depot near Glasgow Central in Scotland, amongst other interesting vehicles such as Southern Railway and London Midland & Scottish Railway bogie brake vehicles also in parcels use during this time. The vehicle also received a through Electric Train Heat (ETH) cable to enable it to work in more modern passenger trains that were heated using this method. This replaced the through steam heating, but only the ends were removed from this system, the through pipe surviving unused under the vehicle. The vehicle was never fitted however with air brakes, which were seeing increasing use on the modern railway.

During the 1980’s the vehicle was rendered surplus to requirements and was transferred to departmental use, being perfectly suited without any modification as a general store/tool van. It was repainted the undesirable shade of olive green which was used for vehicles in use by he civil engineering departments and was renumbered ADB977442. In 1993, the vehicle was finally disposed of by British Rail, and was sold into preservation.

With W86500 being the prototype GUV, the group felt it fitting that the vehicle be preserved in as built condition. The vehicle arrived at the Churnet Valley Railway in mid September 2009 and work to return the vehicle to its former glory commenced immediately. The condition of the vehicle, despite its drab and rusty appearance, was relatively good with only the doors and some small areas expected to require replacement after an inspection. As several of the group’s vans had deteriorated over the years due to a lack of maintenance, it was decided in light of the vehicles historical value that full external restoration would be done immediately.

2009 saw the vehicle’s underframe shot blasted and sprayed black, various components un-seized and the vehicle moved indoors for contract bodywork. 2010 saw the bulk of the metalwork completed before restoration was suspended due to other commitments. In May 2011 the restoration was resumed, with the remaining metalwork (doors) completed and the body sanded/filled. The vehicle was out shopped in the autumn with the remainder of the year spent reinstating the smaller items such as windows and external fittings. The interior was also restored with the ceiling and sides being repainted into their original colours of white and bauxite (brown) respectively.