Utility Vans

There are at least three types of Utility Vans seen in the Railway Series and the television series.

They are also simply known as vans or trucks in the UK narration or cars in the US narration.

General Utility Vans

These vans are rolling stock primarily used for transporting letters and parcels throughout various railways.

Biography

The Railway Series

These vans are a frequent sight on the Ffarquhar Branch Line and are usually pulled by Percy. Tom Tipper, the postman, used to help load and unload letters and parcels into the vans at Ffarquhar^[1].

Technical Details

Basis

These vans are based on general utility vans (GUV), however their specific basis is unknown.

Livery

These vans are painted light brown.

Appearances

Merchandise

• Hornby (discontinued)

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV (4 wheels)

These vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and merchandise throughout various railways. They have four wheels.

These vans were slowly phased out by the fifth series and replaced with bogie variants, as they ran easier on tighter turns.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

A utility van was used for carrying passenger's luggage, which was a part of Henry's express.^[2].

They have often been used for the Flying Kipper with other types of vans and have been involved in many accidents while part of the train. Various accidents include derailing into a stationary goods train^[3] and being completely submerged underwater after travelling on a line eroded by high tides^[4].

Henry once used these vans to transport letters and parcels from the Mainland to Percy's Post Train^[5].

Personality

Sentient vans fall into the category of Troublesome Trucks.

Technical Details

Basis

The utility vans are based on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Diagram 960 Parcels and Miscellaneous Vans (PMV), introduced in 1919.

This type of van was designated the standard for the Southern Railway and remained in production, updated as the Diagram 3103, until 1951, remaining in regular service until 1986, with a few surviving on departmental duties into the 1990s. These vans were used primarily for the transportation of letters and parcels.

Livery

These vans were originally painted dark brown with light brown vents. They were repainted in a faded black in the third series.

Appearances

Trivia

• Only one model of this type of van existed. It was constructed out of a Tenmille kit.
• Though they are usually faceless, a utility van with a Troublesome Truck face was once briefly seen in the third series episode Oliver Owns Up, although the face was crooked.

Merchandise

• TrackMaster
• Wooden Railway (4 wheels, as Baggage Cars; discontinued) 

SE&CR Diagram 960 PMV (bogie wheels)

These vans are rolling stock used for transporting goods and merchandise throughout various railways. They are quite common.

These vans replaced the four wheel variants, as their bogies allowed them to run easier on tighter turns.

The Mail Train and the Flying Kipper primarily consist of these type of vans.

Biography

Thomas & Friends

One of these vans was part of Thomas' long goods train. The trucks grew cross with Thomas and pushed him down Gordon's Hill^[6].

Henry once used one of these vans to transport letters and parcels from the Mainland to Percy's Post Train. ^[7].

One of these vans helped form part of the Circus Train. James was given the honour of pulling the train, much to the dismay of Gordon and Henry^[8].

Percy used one of these vans to carry Flynn's special hose. Den and Dart offered to deliver the van but dumped the hose in the garage instead as ordered by Diesel 10^[9].

Personality

Though faceless one of these vans once pushed Thomas down Gordon's hill, thus making them troublesome trucks.

Technical Details

Basis

The utility vans are based on the South Eastern & Chatham Railway Diagram 960 Parcels and Miscellaneous Vans (PMV) with added bogies. The mail vans share the same basis.

Types of designs

Livery

These vans are painted dark brown, cream, dark grey and blue.

There have also been vans with special liveries depicted with logos for various businesses and companies.

Appearances

Trivia

• In the CGI series, the amount of vents on the front and back of utility vans were reduced.
• From the third to fifth series, the mail vans were made out of Tenmille gauge 1 Utility van kits. From Thomas and the Magic Railroad onwards, they were scratch built. This explains why their appearance was altered from the original utility vans they were based on.

Merchandise

• TrackMaster
• Hornby (discontinued)
• Bachmann (live lobster refrigerator, Mail Van)
• Capsule Plarail (ice cream vans)
• Wooden Railway (4 wheels, as Baggage Cars; discontinued) 

References