An Interesting Type of Van.

For the transport of miscellaneous traffic by passenger train, there is a big field in which the car designer may exercise his ingenuity and produce an all-purpose vehicle capable of meeting the hundred-and-one needs of to-day. A most interesting type of van recently produced by the London and North Eastern line admirably solves this problem. This van, 45ft. 8in. over buffers, carries a load of 12 tons, and has a tare weight of 21 ¾ tons. It is fitted with Westinghouse, vacuum, and hand brakes. The floor is of steel, and the body of composite construction, with lower panels of steel. The van has folding and falling doors at each end for the admittance of wheeled vehicles, aeroplanes, theatrical scenery, and other bulky traffics. For the reception of mails, parcels, and small packages generally, hinged shelves are arranged in tiers along each side, these shelves folding back flush with the interior walls when not in use. Two pairs of folding doors with ordinary drop windows are placed at each side of the car.

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