Van 1 - (1955)
This vehicle was the first Van 1 in the preservation era, an ex Quarrymen's Carriage converted to a brake van in pre-preservation days.
- The second was its replacement, now numbered Van 51
- The third was its replica, now numbered Van 7
- The fourth is the replica curly roofed van
The first Van 1 of the preservation era was a FR goods brakevan, formerly a Quarryman's Carriage. It had been rebodied in 1908 with two balconies and numbered 6. It formed part of the last train in 1946 and spent the years of closure in the Loco Yard at Boston Lodge.
Following withdrawal from service in 1963, the body ended its days as a shelter at the Rhoslyn Bridge end of Dduallt Station. As it was beyond redemption by this time, the remains were removed to Boston Lodge in the 1990's and from the dimensions, a replica van, Van 7 was built in 1998. Some metalwork from the original found its way into the replica - 3 brackets on the balcony ends, one door latch mechanism (and also used as a pattern for the second), etc.
