Workbench Witterings #28 A Diagram 3105 Bulleid Plastic Bodied Luggage Vans

As often with Bulleid he utilised innovative construction techniques and materials; and his lightweight Diagram 3105 Luggage Van were no exception. The ten vans were built using reinforced plastic body panels for the sides, ends and roof attached to a lightweight welded body framing (the roof supports were laminated ash to give the required curvature. Whilst the vents were traditional light steel sheet. The body required to be mounted to the underframe via shock absorbing mounts to prevent any distortion in use. Even the underframe was unconventional with no solebars, but two centre longitudinal members cantilevered from which were the body supports and axlebox assemblies. The underframe was 1′ longer than the body, again to aid protection of the body. These ten vans, numbered 1401-10 were constructed between December 1943 and September 1944. As the plastic could only be produced in black they entered service in a black livery later painted BR(s) Green. The capacity of the body was…