New Announcement - Hosanna Is A H Van

[Warbonnet]

We certainly alluded that the humble H Van was in our future in our launch of the Grain Wagons, and now we can reveal our model of the standard CIE goods van, here in fitted form!

History

The programme of rolling stock production undertaken by Oliver Bulleid during his time as Chief Mechanical Engineer at Corás Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) in the 1950s contained a number of now-iconic vehicles, among them being the humble H Van. With a 10ft wheelbase and 12-ton capacity, these unassuming vans became CIÉ’s standard covered wagon and they found their way to every point of the Irish railway network during their time in service, present in long rakes or mixed trains in larger yards and in smaller groups or singly in sidings and goods sheds right across the island.

In addition to over 1,300 H Vans constructed with hand brakes only, in 1953 Inchicore Works outshopped 219 wagons with vacuum brakes, with a further 99 H Vans being retro-fitted with vacuum braking between 1961 and 192. These wagons were distinguishable by the presence of brake wheels rather than the usual levers found on unfitted stock, and in most cases by the presence of “Vac Brake” wording on the body sides.

While commonly found running in unfitted trains with standard H vans and other wagons, where the vacuum equipment was not utilised, these vehicles could also be attached to passenger and mail trains to convey mailbags, parcels and other time-sensitive loads.

As with most other stock aimed at wagonload operations, these vehicles continued to ply their trade with CIÉ until the latter half of the 1970s, when more modern bogie stock was introduced and the network was optimised for trainload liner operations. Many of these vehicles were transported to CIÉ’s scrapyard at Mullingar upon withdrawal, where they were subsequently disposed of.

The Model

Probably the least surprising addition to our "Project Bulleid" programme of wagon launches around the famous triangulated chassis, the H Van is the must have wagon for anyone modelling mixed goods trains during the heyday of CIE freight operations. Seen in long mixed trains alongside their counterparts the corrugated opens, the flats, grain wagons and more, they were a staple diet in the Autumn of steam operations along with the diesel dawn.

Modelled accurately in high quality ready to run format for the first time, the accurate proportions and quality materials and details used does these humble vans justice in OO scale. With brass bearings to ensure the smoothness of running characteristics, high quality die cast chassis for weight, a wealth of separately applied details including fine plastic and metal brake rigging, museum quality injection moulding as well as crisp tampo printing and paint application, our Bulleid wagons set a new standard for IRM rolling stock and this will be demonstrated with the H Vans.

At home in a mixed goods, passenger mixed train or even a mail train, the fitted vans offer great flexibility for modellers and the unfitted variants will follow in a future production run. These wagons are due to arrive in stock in Q4 2024 and are priced at our unbeatable price for authentic Irish scale models of €89.95 for each triple pack, with 10% off when you order two more more sets.

Pre-order yours below and benefit from free shipping around Ireland and 3% cash back in the way of loyalty points off future purchases.

Pre-Order Your H Vans Here

View the full article

[Flying Snail]

Very nice indeed! Some of the lads on here who enjoy punning might even call them the bomb! But I'm not going to jump on that wagon* .... (sorry, I'll get my coat and show myself out)

 

* edit: the punning band wagon that is, I'm definitely jumping aboard the H Van wagon 

Edited May 5 by Flying Snail

[murphaph]

Even if somewhat expected these are a lovel addition to the range. Flying snail ones duly ordered  

[leslie10646]

At long last! I stopped making the kit two plus years ago and had to chase people away with various cock and bull stories!

The prototype looks splendid, so well done to your Chinese toolmakers.

Regarding the @Flying Snail comment about "Bombs", this one won't bomb as they were very, very common for decades and every layout should have one - dozens in the case of @jhb171achill.

That said, it was, most mysteriously, my kit was a poor seller - just 130 or so - compared with 370 corrugated wagons and over 270 9and counting "Double Beets"!

Good luck with them lads - off now to decide which livery I want!

Interesting that you   chose "Hosanna" - all of the hymns in church today had "Alleluia" in the chorus .......

Edited May 5 by leslie10646

[Flying Snail]

I meant 'they're the bomb' not that 'they'll bomb'. 

Don't worry @leslie10646, I hopped on board and ordered a few packs of the flying snails and broken wheels faster than Slim Pickens jumped on that H bomb in Dr. Strangelove

[leslie10646]

1 hour ago, Flying Snail said:

I meant 'they're the bomb' not that 'they'll bomb'. 

Don't worry @leslie10646, I hopped on board and ordered a few packs of the flying snails and broken wheels faster than Slim Pickens jumped on that H bomb in Dr. Strangelove

No, I didn't say they would Bomb - obviously my bad English (second language!), they'll do very well.

As for Dr Strangelove, great film, I pray that you guys never see The Bomb ever used again.

[flange lubricator]

Great addition to the range some of the vacuum brake versions also ran in green which were  in that livery to run in passenger trains which was short lived . 

https://archive.rcts.org.uk/shopviewer.php?pg=44353&code=CH06463C
 

Edited May 5 by flange lubricator

[DJ Dangerous]

Delighted with this announcement! The H Vans are my favourite of the Bulleid chassis vans. Will have to order a few to compliment @leslie10646’s Dapol vans and @Mayner’s wagons!

As a rough guide, are we saying Flying Snail until late fifties, grey with CIE Roundel for fifties and sixties, brown for sixties and seventies?

Edited May 6 by DJ Dangerous

[jhb171achill]

2 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Delighted with this announcement! The H Vans are my favourite of the Bulleid chassis vans. Will have to order a few to compliment @leslie10646’s Dapol vans and @Mayner’s wagons!

As a rough guide, are we saying Flying Snail until late fifties, grey with CIE Roundel for fifties and sixties, brown for sixties and seventies?

The roundel appeared in 1963. Immediately prior to that, stencilled snails.

Brown later, from 1970, so obviously brown always has roundels.

[Mayner]

Interesting IRM announcing the relatively rare uncommon-versions of the H Van like the cut down PW, Bulk Grain and Fitted Versions before announcing the 'common garden' unfitted version of which over 1000 existed, great faith in the market/collector appeal of these models.

I am impressed with IRMs modelling of the CIE fitted brake gear complete with riggings and pull rods, I just modelled a representation of the brake gear on the Brake Van being too challenging/expensive to produce from a manufacturing perspective.

[David Holman]

That looks a beauty.

[Noel]

Hooray, excellent. Great news. Presume these will have standard height NEM pockets?

[WRENNEIRE]

I heard they are putting them at different heights so the moaners would have something to give out about 

[ttc0169]

Two packs duly ordered…!!

[Warbonnet]

Hi everyone,

Great news! Our latest wagon project from the Bulleid wagon project, the ubiquitous CIE "H Van", is now at decoration stage!

These first samples are currently being put together and will be sent to us in the coming week.

We will show off the completed samples when they arrive, but these images give you a flavour of what's to come!

We're still on track for a Q4 2024 delivery and pre-orders are coming in fast. Secure yours for a no money down below, with each triple pack priced at just €89.95 each, with 10% off when you order two packs or more and free Irish postage and packaging. An incredible piece of value for money for highly detailed, accurate Irish wagons.

Pre-order yours here: https://irishrailwaymodels.com/collections/h-van

Cheers!

Fran 

[John-r]

Stunning looking wagons, really spoilt for choice these days, two packs on order, wasn't going to miss out on these babies, unlike the grain wagons too slow to hit the button, great work once again lads .

[minister_for_hardship]

Seriously thinking of repainting my Provincial Wagons "H" to make a green "H" out of it for a little variety.

[Westcorkrailway]

The green ones looked very nice. It’s a shame a few more didn’t escape in that guise 

[jhb171achill]

1 hour ago, Westcorkrailway said:

The green ones looked very nice. It’s a shame a few more didn’t escape in that guise 

They were extremely short-lived. Once the green disappeared generally (i.e. the "black'n'tan" era commenced in late 1962), they were repainted grey.

Estimates of how many were turned out in green vary from half a dozen upwards. One source suggests that some fifty were TO BE turned out in that colour - had the green livery persisted, it's possible this might have happened with the fitted ones. But most certainly nothing even close to that number were ever green, or they'd have been seen all over the place, and probably well into the late 60s.

One contemporary source suggested that the initial plan was to paint just 3 or 4 in green specifically for the Cork - Tralee mails, though I have been unable to confirm this precisely. I believe that at the very least six were green, maybe more - but not for long.

[DJ Dangerous]

Do they all come with weathered rooves / roofs?

[Colin R]

Now I am sure I have got on order six of these wee beasties in grey with the flying snail, but I don't think that is going to be enough, what I am not sure about is if the brown version falls into the period I am modelling ie 1945 to 1960. if they do then I need to add to my order!

 

[Galteemore]

No, brown came later Colin

[Colin R]

Thanks So just how many of these H vans got built?

[flange lubricator]

21 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Now I am sure I have got on order six of these wee beasties in grey with the flying snail, but I don't think that is going to be enough, what I am not sure about is if the brown version falls into the period I am modelling ie 1945 to 1960. if they do then I need to add to my order!

 

H vans in brown didn't appear until 1969/70 onwards.

[Patrick Davey]

These look fab!  Lovely stuff IRM. 

[Colin R]

This could become expensive, I hope a second series is being considered but with different Numbers

[iarnrod]

55 minutes ago, Colin R said:

Thanks So just how many of these H vans got built?

Don't forget that this release is of the Vac Brake fitted versions which formed a small percentage (319) of H Vans built when compared to the more common (over 1300) unfitted versions. Would expect a larger run of the more common unfitted versions will follow after this run.

Edited July 17 by iarnrod

[Colin R]

That's OK then, If I could afford them I might need 50 plus unfitted in that case

[popeye]

There are a lot of little rivets/bolts on the side panels that are very distinctive on these wagons.

But they seem to be omitted this model. 

[flange lubricator]

13 minutes ago, popeye said:

There are a lot of little rivets/bolts on the side panels that are very distinctive on these wagons.

But they seem to be omitted this model. 

 

[minister_for_hardship]

Four lines of bolt heads on the sides, these appear to have been captured on Leslie's version.

[Warbonnet]

Hi folks,

Just to confirm that these rivets will be present on the finished models. Some rivet elements are added at the end of the tooling development process, so not always present on samples.

Cheers!

Fran 

[murphaph]

18 hours ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Do they all come with weathered rooves / roofs?

Bump. I don't think so looking at the pics but maybe Fran @Warbonnet can confirm.

[Broithe]

1 hour ago, Warbonnet said:

Hi folks,

Just to confirm that these rivets will be present on the finished models. Some rivet elements are added at the end of the tooling development process, so not always present on samples.

Cheers!

Fran 

Ah, that's why @Garfield's been quiet - locked in a room with tweezers and a tiny hammer.

[Colin R]

21 hours ago, iarnrod said:

Don't forget that this release is of the Vac Brake fitted versions which formed a small percentage (319) of H Vans built when compared to the more common (over 1300) unfitted versions. Would expect a larger run of the more common unfitted versions will follow after this run.

Thanks, Iarnrod since I don't live in Ireland nor have I seen a prototype van can you run through what the major difference will be between the two types, Thank you in advance.

Lynbarn