Brake Van 809 ZR

The fleet of ZR class guards vans, represented here by 809ZR, are the result of a long period of development. The first such vans produced for the DBT were constructed out of timber in the 1970s, classified ZA and ZB - the ZA had no passenger accomodation, while the ZB had a compartment and an end platform. A revised version was soon constructed, with the same classification, constructed from styrene. The final version is the ZR, a direct descendant of the original timber bodied vans, but manufactured by polyurethane casting. Suprisingly, when the decision was made to cast these vehicles, the dimensions of the originals turned out to be almost identical to the SAR End-Platform Goods Brake operated on the Eyre Peninsula, except in length. Removal of a single panel from the SAR prototype side made the length conform to the older vans, but allowed castings to be made which can be used on a 3'6" prototype SAR model.

One of this class is painted in a green livery matching the old SAR passenger colours

Peter Knife