141 Breakdown Van

Turned out from Swindon in August 1908 to Lot 579 as a four-wheeled Breakdown (also known as Tool) Van which with a Riding Van attended emergencies such as re-railing or accidents. They were based at selected depots and 141 spent most of its existence at Exeter alongside Riding Van 89 being equipped with a range of tools that might be needed. They were both withdrawn in August 1960 before engineering use. It arrived on the SVR by rail from Newton Abbot in February 1971 having been acquired by Bob Sim. Its ownership passed to the Association in 2023 from the 4566 Fund. Currently, it is acting as a store for restored items for our carriages but, in due course, it is intended to be restored to accompany Van 89 once again.

141 in Bewdley yard awaiting a new tarpaulin after Storm Darragh did its worst. Photo: Rob Massey.