At this point, you are able to secure a pre-order of this forthcoming release item by placing a £5 non-refundable* deposit with us. Then, shortly before the item arrives, one of our team will be in-touch with you to arrange balance payment and delivery, so please ensure the correct contact details are provided for us to reach you with.

Built over a 20-year period by a combination of the Great Central Railways Dukinfield Works and outside contractors, a significant number of these sturdy 6-wheeled vans could be seen across the GCR network from as early as 1903. The 15T brake vans featured a built-in stove and desk, covered verandas that offered a good line of sight in both directions and a delightful 2-plank hatch-type door on either end. These were fitted so that the guard could easily change tail lamps without leaving his van.

Many of the vans were fitted with automatic vacuum gear, meaning they could be used on fitted freights such as the express fish traffic from the East Coast. In 1915 the Great Central Railway provided the Cheshire Lines Committee with 10 of these 15t Brake Vans, furthering the design's reach to the North West of England and Wales. Many GCR 6-wheelers survived until nationalisation, with BR examples being spotted everywhere from Wick to the Wisbech and Upwell Tramway. Variants even made it into the hands of the National Coal Board and were used by BR as ballast brakes and engineering vehicle.

This model will be the first Great Central Railway brake van diagram ever to be produced in OO gauge ready-to-run, and our model will feature the usual wealth of detail seen on our previously released pre-grouping era brake vans. You can look forward to many separately fitted parts including highly detailed brake gear, running boards, vacuum pipes, rails, lamp irons and a chimney.

The van's interior contains a guard’s desk, stove, sandboxes and lockers, you will also find side lamps in the polybag adding to the realism and detail of this model. The model is also fitted with metal bearings, facilitating smooth running, which is perfect if you want to recreate those Eastern region cross-country freight trains.

*The deposit is non-refunable in the event that you choose to no longer purchase the item. In the highly unlikely event that we are unable to supply your pre-order due to supply issues or any other reason beyond our control, your deposit will be refunded via the payment method you paid with. For more info on pre-ordering, please visit our T&C's here.

Frequently Asked Questions about ordering from Derails:

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept Credit and Debit card via Sagepay and Paypal on our online shop, as well as 'Buy Now Pay Later with Paypal'! With this payment option you can spread the purchase cost over 3 months using Paypal 'Pay in 3'*.

How much will it cost to send?

Here at Derails we have pretty simple postage policy: if your order is over £20, you are eligible for FREE UK 'Regular' 2-4 day shipping. If your order is under £20, you are eligible for our super-cheap £2.99 Regular 2-4 day shipping. 

What if I need this item really quickly?

At the checkout choose one of our shipping option upgrades, either 'Express' Tracked 24 at £1.99 or 'Special Delivery' Next Day at £4.99. The upgraded postage options also jump the long despatch queue too, so they are shipped at the earliest possible opportunity. Please note that 'Express' and 'Special' upgrades are not available for orders with a total value under £20.

I live outside of the UK, can you send to me?

Sorry, we do not ship overseas at this time. 

*More information on Paypal 'Pay in 3' can be found on the Paypal website here. This service is provided and financed purely by Paypal and is simply offered by Derails as an extra Paypal option for our customers.