GWR Siphon G van Profile and Models

W1037 at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre in August 2008. ©Oxyman

By 1913, the Great Western Railway had reached a stage whereby the original 4w and 6w milk vans were obsolete and required replacement. A prototype 50’ bogie version, the diagram O.10 of October 1908 had proved successful and satisfied the GWR’s requirements for a versatile gangway design of milk van, leading to the creation of the Siphon G; a family of gangway bogie vans that were built between 1913 and 1955 and that would eventually total 365 vehicles. These vehicles were built in multiple batches by both the GWR and later British Railways. While initially built for the transport of milk churns, the class proved to be extremely versatile, being converted for use as Ambulance trains during WWII and also being used for the transport of newspapers, goods and for departmental purposes later in life.

(Information provided via Accurascale)

Type of Vehicle	Van
Builder	Swindon Works Derby Works
Build Dates	1913 to 1955
Total Built	365
Wheel Configuration	2 x Bogies
Operated By	Great Western Railway British Railways
Main Duties	Milk transport Newspaper transport General freight Ambulance trains
In Service Until	Mid-1980s
Surviving Examples	Some in preservation