Repurposed railway wagon. Is this of any interest?

[mike57]

On our local selling site this has popped up free. To be honest it looks like scrap, but I have no idea how old it is or if it is of any interest. If anyone wants any more information I can put them in touch with the owner. Its based in East Riding of Yorkshire. I have spoken to the owner and he has no idea about it either.

Image from Facebook marketplace post showing the delapidated state, posted by the owner Tom Legard who is happy for me to share here.

Edit: Added 3 more pictures

 

[43096]

On our local selling site this has popped up free. To be honest it looks like scrap, but I have no idea how old it is or if it is of any interest. If anyone wants any more information I can put them in touch with the owner. Its based in East Riding of Yorkshire. I have spoken to the owner and he has no idea about it either.
View attachment 211133

It looks like a set from The Fast Show!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

To be honest it looks like scrap...

Agree with you there. Not that long now until 5th November!

 

[mike57]

Agree with you there. Not that long now until 5th November!

Yes, I just didn't want to condemn something that turned out to be historically important.

 

[Sprinkle]

Unfortunately i think any restoration attempt would be a "ship of theseus" situation

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Unfortunately i think any restoration attempt would be a "ship of theseus" situation

Or "Trigger's broom", for anyone - like me - who didn't quite follow the above. "Same" broom, but 17 new heads and 14 new handles!

 

[DelW]

I wonder how many old wrecks like that there are around the country?

One of my relatives lives alongside the trackbed of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line. Her neighbour's smallholding has about three old steel wagon bodies used for storage. From their location, alongside the trackbed and on the opposite side of the plot from the road, I suspect they were delivered by rail before the track was lifted in around 1970. They're in much better condition than this one though.

As for a restoration project, there are plenty of goods wagons already resident on heritage lines that need a little TLC, which would be a much better use of anyone's time and effort.

 

[mike57]

As for a restoration project, there are plenty of goods wagons already resident on heritage lines that need a little TLC, which would be a much better use of anyone's time and effort.

That was my assessment of it. Problem is I know very little about goods wagon, beyond recognising them, its not an area of interest for me, and I didn't want to say "Scrap it" and then someone tells me it was actually 'XYZ' and should have been preserved....

 

[Sprinkle]

I wonder how many old wrecks like that there are around the country?

One of my relatives lives alongside the trackbed of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line. Her neighbour's smallholding has about three old steel wagon bodies used for storage. From their location, alongside the trackbed and on the opposite side of the plot from the road, I suspect they were delivered by rail before the track was lifted in around 1970. They're in much better condition than this one though.

As for a restoration project, there are plenty of goods wagons already resident on heritage lines that need a little TLC, which would be a much better use of anyone's time and effort.

there's quite a few in somerset! one on a field adjacent to junction 23 on the M5(pictured below), two others adjacent to Washford station (surprisingly, unrelated to the WSR!)
and i noted several in random fields in and around the former Culmhead airfield site toward the southern edge of the county - which makes sense as it seems these old freight wagons were popular with farmers, as it's essentially a shed with a metal frame pre-assembled

 

[mike57]

which makes sense as it seems these old freight wagons were popular with farmers, as it's essentially a shed with a metal frame pre-assembled

Old coaching stock was often converted into living accomodation. In the 1930s my grandfather bought a smallholding near Kings Lynn and started with an old coach, and then extended over the years as he could afford it. There is a picture taken in 1959 of a mini me where the coach basis can be clearly seen which I have posted on here in the past.

 

[Forty29]

Used to holiday every year at Naish Farm near New Milton in the early seventies ( under the Hoburne banner now) in a gas lit Railway coach sadly no photos. The field where they were located has disappeared into the sea now! Always used to leave a penny under a gorse bush to find the next year but had always gone.

 

[WesternLancer]

On our local selling site this has popped up free. To be honest it looks like scrap, but I have no idea how old it is or if it is of any interest. If anyone wants any more information I can put them in touch with the owner. Its based in East Riding of Yorkshire. I have spoken to the owner and he has no idea about it either.
View attachment 211133
Image from Facebook marketplace post showing the delapidated state, posted by the owner Tom Legard who is happy for me to share here.

Any way to identify what sort of wagon it is or originally was?

It’s not a standard box van and it looks reasonably long wheelbase for a wagon.

Maybe change thread title to something like ‘wagon of any interest?’ To see if people look and recognise it. That’s the key to finding out if it’s of any historical interest.
Tho it may be too far gone to save

But then if you look at some of the things people restore anything is possible

 

[mike57]

Maybe change thread title to something like ‘wagon of any interest?

Thread title changed, and 3 more pictures added. Its got about 2 weeks left then its going to be cleared unless someone makes firm arrangements to recover. it.

 

[Titfield]

I wonder how many old wrecks like that there are around the country?

One of my relatives lives alongside the trackbed of the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line. Her neighbour's smallholding has about three old steel wagon bodies used for storage. From their location, alongside the trackbed and on the opposite side of the plot from the road, I suspect they were delivered by rail before the track was lifted in around 1970. They're in much better condition than this one though.

As for a restoration project, there are plenty of goods wagons already resident on heritage lines that need a little TLC, which would be a much better use of anyone's time and effort.

Given that most heritage railways are short of volunteer resource (and money) they prioritise the restoration of rolling stock in the following order: locomotives, carriages, guards vans, wagons, covered vans and tank wagons. Most goods vehicles are for show only (and do not generate revenue), a small number are used for pway works and are maintained accordingly. Sadly some heritage railways appear as linear scrap yards because of the large amounts of rolling stock awaiting restoration.

 

[Gloster]

Frankly, it looks like an old BR 12 Ventilated Goods Van (Vanfit or VVV) of Diagram 1/208 or similar, of which thousands were built. However, this one looks as though it is has been so severely messed about with that returning to a suitable state for preservation is likely to be near impossible; it probably isn’t even worth using for spares.

 

[Mr. SW]

It's an LNER van. The two corrugations above the end ventilator are distinctive. The LMS and BR equivalents lacked this feature.

 

[WesternLancer]

Thread title changed, and 3 more pictures added. Its got about 2 weeks left then its going to be cleared unless someone makes firm arrangements to recover. it.

Thanks for the extra pics!
I thought the end corrugated section looked like one of the standard pressed wagon ends you see on lots of old box wagons from the BR era a bit like this one pictured here

File:British Railways 12 Ton ventilated van number B750081.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

commons.wikimedia.org

of which we have all no doubt seen very many - but it sort of looked a bit longer than these standard vans in your picture - so I wondered if it had been modified / lengthened at some point in its life - probably in its life as a shed not a van.
Could it indeed be longer? (original advert screen grab doesn't show dimensions I don't think)

But then I note the 2 helpful posts from @Gloster and at @Mr. SW - who have brought good knowledge to the question

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2026 ==

It's an LNER van. The two corrugations above the end ventilator are distinctive. The LMS and BR equivalents lacked this feature.

Good spot - I see what you mean about those corrugations when compared with the image I just linked to.

If of LNER vintage I suspect more unusual than the BR type vans of which numerous examples are about the place in decent condition as well as less decent condition

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 9 Sep 2026 ==

there's quite a few in somerset! one on a field adjacent to junction 23 on the M5(pictured below), two others adjacent to Washford station (surprisingly, unrelated to the WSR!)
and i noted several in random fields in and around the former Culmhead airfield site toward the southern edge of the county - which makes sense as it seems these old freight wagons were popular with farmers, as it's essentially a shed with a metal frame pre-assembled

View attachment 211201

Interesting to see this pic - just the rusting framework left and the timber all gone / rotted away.

There must have been so many of these standard vans that farmers took numerous examples of the van bodies for use as you do or certainly did often see them in fields and farmyards converted into storage sheds / static horse boxes / shelters etc all over the place.

I'm sure I once found (probably from a link on a thread on this forum somewhere) a website where someone was trying to list and catalogue old railway wagons and carriages being used or abandoned in fields etc with quite a few entries - I did think when I saw it this was an ambitious project to say the least - given the probability of such wagons to be burned out / swept a way with a blow from a tractor etc etc when they were considered to have reached the point of no further use by their owners - not to mention the sheer number of them potentially dotted around the countryside across the UK.
Perhaps the ultimate spotting challenge?

I have to say that I would think those 12T van bodies would have the potential to make the perfect garden shed - robust and spacious - esp for a rail enthusiast. In decent condition I'd have one for that purpose myself - preserve a bit of railway history and look after it - and then have a decent quality shed too.

 

[mike57]

@WesternLancer I think concensus is its too far gone to be any use. As to its history I have no idea. It is of course in LNER territory so that would fit. I pretty much knew what the answer would be, but not having any knowledge of freight rolling stock I didn't want to condemn something without asking some questions.

 

[overthere 2]

That was my assessment of it. Problem is I know very little about goods wagon, beyond recognising them, its not an area of interest for me, and I didn't want to say "Scrap it" and then someone tells me it was actually 'XYZ' and should have been preserved....

Wouldn't hurt to E-mail the advert/this thread to one or two heritage railway's/railway museums to see if they know anything about it or would be interested in it.

Also you could try these people: www.nwpg.co.uk because while they say they are BR 1948 onwards they might be able to pass you onto someone else, as they may have been offered stuff in the past that people thought was BR but turned out to be Big Four or earlier.

Whilst Looking for something else I came across this thread

ttps://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/old-railway-carriages-repurposed-for-other-uses.213998/

Also again while searching for something ages ago I typed in a word (cant remember what it was now) but it came up with lots of threads that talked about wagons, abandoned repurposed etc

One post, if I remember correctly asked about what happened to a wagon that had been left just outside a station south of London for many years and suddenly disappeared and another one was about a wagon that had a tree growing on top of it/through it.

I'm sure I once found (probably from a link on a thread on this forum somewhere) a website where someone was trying to list and catalogue old railway wagons and carriages being used or abandoned in fields etc with quite a few entries - I did think when I saw it this was an ambitious project to say the least - given the probability of such wagons to be burned out / swept a way with a blow from a tractor etc etc when they were considered to have reached the point of no further use by their owners - not to mention the sheer number of them potentially dotted around the countryside across the UK.
Perhaps the ultimate spotting challenge?

Not exactly what you are talking about, but I came across this thread when I was searching for something else: www.railforums.co.uk/threads/grounded-wagons-and-coaches-spotting-book.300835/ also check out the link in post #2.

 

[WesternLancer]

@WesternLancer I think concensus is its too far gone to be any use. As to its history I have no idea. It is of course in LNER territory so that would fit. I pretty much knew what the answer would be, but not having any knowledge of freight rolling stock I didn't want to condemn something without asking some questions.

Thanks - I do agree with this - but also very much salute you for your efforts to flag it to people with a possible interest and knowledge.

I suppose the one thing it might be worth doing, given location in East Riding - would be to flag it with the Wagon Team at the North Yorks Moors Railway? - just in case they had any interest in salvaging anything from what indeed looks like a very far gone wagon.

Wagons

www.nymr.co.uk

eg via
please email info@nymr.co.uk or use the contact form

I think having done that you could sit back in the knowledge that you had done everything reasonable to draw it to the attention of well informed people who could decide if it was or was not anything of interest to them even for selected parts
For example the pressed metal LNER design panel at the end might be of use/ interest if not too corroded - I see in the past for example efforts must have bee made to keep it painted.

Although I can't claim an exhaustive image search, but after a quick look on line I didn't find any pics of preserved LNER vans with the design of end panel that @Mr. SW points out is characteristic, even on vans that were clearly listed as LNER origin, so maybe that is an unusual part.

The rest of the images look like it's wholly timber framed and panelled (another clue to its age?) - perhaps with the exception of some steel framing along the base

Mind you for bits without rot I bet the older timber is good quality wood - not the sort of 'instant rot' timber that now seems to be what you can buy when needing a bit of wood for a job....

Good spot on your part and thanks for posting it!

 

[overthere 2]

That was my assessment of it. Problem is I know very little about goods wagon, beyond recognising them, its not an area of interest for me, and I didn't want to say "Scrap it" and then someone tells me it was actually 'XYZ' and should have been preserved....

Wouldn't hurt to E-mail the advert/this thread to one or two heritage railway's/railway museums to see if they know anything about it or would be interested in it.

Also you could try these people: www.nwpg.co.uk because while they say they are BR 1948 onwards they might be able to pass you onto someone else, as they may have been offered stuff in the past that people thought was BR but turned out to be Big Four or earlier.

Whilst Looking for something else I came across this thread

ttps://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/old-railway-carriages-repurposed-for-other-uses.213998/

Also again while searching for something ages ago I typed in a word (cant remember what it was now) but it came up with lots of threads that talked about wagons, abandoned repurposed etc

One post, if I remember correctly asked about what happened to a wagon that had been left just outside a station south of London for many years and suddenly disappeared and another one was about a wagon that had a tree growing on top of it/through it.

 

[norbitonflyer]

Old coaching stock was often converted into living accomodation. In the 1930s my grandfather bought a smallholding near Kings Lynn and started with an old coach, and then extended over the years as he could afford it.

Back in the 1890s my grandfather and his five brothers used an old railway carriage as bedrooms, whilst their three sisters and their parents slept in the house itself.
The carriage in question had previously been used as a playhouse by the next door neighbours' children.

 

[WesternLancer]

Wouldn't hurt to E-mail the advert/this thread to one or two heritage railway's/railway museums to see if they know anything about it or would be interested in it.

Also you could try these people: www.nwpg.co.uk because while they say they are BR 1948 onwards they might be able to pass you onto someone else, as they may have been offered stuff in the past that people thought was BR but turned out to be Big Four or earlier.

Whilst Looking for something else I came across this thread

ttps://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/old-railway-carriages-repurposed-for-other-uses.213998/

Also again while searching for something ages ago I typed in a word (cant remember what it was now) but it came up with lots of threads that talked about wagons, abandoned repurposed etc

One post, if I remember correctly asked about what happened to a wagon that had been left just outside a station south of London for many years and suddenly disappeared and another one was about a wagon that had a tree growing on top of it/through it.




Not exactly what you are talking about, but I came across this thread when I was searching for something else: www.railforums.co.uk/threads/grounded-wagons-and-coaches-spotting-book.300835/ also check out the link in post #2.

Thanks. Some remarkable pics off that link. Some truly historic remains.