Vans (T&F)

There are many different types of vans (also sometimes referred to as box vans) on Sodor, which are used to carry various kinds of goods. In the US, they are known as boxcars. Brake vans are other types of vans that are used for carrying the guard.

BR Ventilated Vans

BR Ventilated Vans
CGI Series Model Series Railway Series File:BRVentVanModelSeries.png

The BR Ventilated Vans serve as Sodor's main type of van. Percy once had to deliver these vans of sugar, but on his way to the chocolate factory, he slipped on an oily track and crashed into the factory's wall. Arthur once had to take some vans of fruit and veggies, but he sped down Gordon's Hill a bit too fast, causing the vans to be destroyed and the fruit and veggies to fly everywhere. Since the eight season, BR Vent Vans have been known to carry other things, like fireworks equipment. Thomas once had to take some vans filled with ice cream.

Livery

These Vans are painted in many colours, like white, grey, brown, orange, etc. Since the CGI Series, all the vans were painted cream, until the twentieth season, where the vans were given new liveries.

Basis

These vans are based of BR 12 ton Single Vent Vans

Trivia

Since the eighth season, all the vans were faceless. They regained faces in the twentieth season.
Prior to the salt vans returning in Journey Beyond Sodor, they were the only type of van in the CGI series.

Merchandise

Meccano
ERTL (discontinued)
Wooden Railway
Bachmann (normal and large scale)
Minis

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

Utility Vans

Utility Vans (bogies)
CGI Series Model Series Railway Series

Utility Vans (4w)
Model Series

Utility Vans are types of vans used to transport goods across the island. They have been seen in many liveries such as olive green, white, brown, grey and red being the most common. Some have four axles while others have eight.

"The Flying Kipper" is primarily made up of utility vans. Though they are usually faceless, a utility van with a face was once briefly seen in the third season episode Oliver Owns Up, although the face was crooked. The Mail Train also consists of utility vans, that specialise in carrying mail.

Basis

The utility vans are based on the General Utility Vans, previously known as "CCT" (covered carriage trucks). These types of vans were designed for carrying parcel goods. The mail coaches also share the same basis.

Trivia

The utility vans are commonly used for goods trains, however in the first season episode, Thomas and Gordon, the vans were used as part of Henry's passenger train as luggage vans.
In the CGI Series, the amount of vents on the front and back of the utility vans were reduced.

Merchandise

TrackMaster (used as ice cream vans)
Hornby (discontinued)
Bachmann (green, live lobster refrigerator versions)

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

LBSC Railway 8-ton Vans

LBSC Railway 8-ton Vans
Model Series

LBSC Railway 8-ton Vans were frequently used from the second to sixth seasons.

Livery

These vans were mostly painted brown.

Basis

These Vans are based of the LBSC Railway 8-ton Vans.

Trivia

Twitter user 'ThomasTankMerch' owns an original face mask that was used on one of these vans.

Merchandise

Hornby
Tomix Trains (discontinued)
Capsule Plarail
Bandai (discontinued)

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

Salt Vans

Salt Vans
CGI Series Model Series Railway Series

Salt Vans (also known as fish vans or ice vans), are used to carry fish, and are often used in fish trains. They are also a frequent sight on the Norramby Branch Line.

The salt vans first appeared in the second season, and were used frequently until the twelfth season. However, they later returned in the special, Journey Beyond Sodor.

Livery

Salt vans have been painted white, brown, grey and green.

Basis

They are based on Saxa Salt Vans.

Merchandise

Wooden Railway (discontinued)
Hornby (discontinued)
Bachmann
Trackmaster
Motor Road and Rail

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Vans

This article is about 'standard gauge trucks'. You may be looking for 'the narrow gauge trucks'.

Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Vans
Model Series

The Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Vans were used in the Classic Series. One helped push Duck into a Barber Shop. Later on, some were used on the Flying Kipper.

Livery

These vans were all painted brown. In later seasons, there was white graffiti on them.

Basis

These vans are based of Lynton and Barnstaple Railway Box Vans. In real life, the vans are narrow gauge, but have been resized to standard gauge in the Television Series.

Merchandise

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

LNWR Non-Ventilated Vans

LNWR Non-Ventilated Vans
Model Series

The LNWR Non-Ventilated Vans first appeared in the first season and continued to appear until the sixth season.

Percy once crushed one of these vans loaded with fruit in the third season episode, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day.

Livery

These vans were mostly colored grey and had "N.E." (North Eastern Railway) painted light yellow on either sides.

Basis

These vans are based of LNWR Non-Ventilated Vans.

Voices

Kari Tamminen (Finland: Toad Stands By, singing voice only)

Gallery

GWR Ventilated Vans

GWR Ventilated Vans
Model Series

The GWR Ventilated Vans, made appearances throughout the Classic Series.

Livery

These vans were painted brown.

Basis

These vans are based of GWR Ventilated Vans.

Merchandise

Bachmann
Hornby
TrackMaster (discontinued)

Gallery

Merchandise Gallery

Banana Vans

Banana Vans
Railway Series File:BananaVan.png

In the Railway Series many Banana Vans appeared. One of these includes U.L.P., who laughed at Oliver after he returned from the works.

Livery

These vans were painted all sorts of colors, such as brown, grey or pink.

Basis

These vans were based of LMS Banana Vans.

Gallery

The Milk Van

This article is about 'the milk van'. You may be looking for 'the milk tankers, the milk float or the magazine story'.

“Do they expect me to pull that?!”

― Daisy refusing to pull the milk van, Branch Line Engines

The Milk Van
Railway Series

The milk van is an old-fashioned van used for transporting milk from Ffarquhar down to the dairy at Elsbridge.

Every morning the van is coupled to Thomas' first train, the farmers send the milk to the stations, and Thomas delivers the milk to the Dairy. When Daisy was preparing for her first train, she refused to pull the van once it was coupled to her, saying "it is bad for her swerves.", and blew a fuse on purpose. Percy and Toby had to take the van in Thomas' absence and Daisy's refusal. However, now that Daisy has learnt sense, she sometimes takes the milk instead of Thomas.

Basis

The milk van is based on the Great Western Railway's four-wheel slatted side milk van.

Livery

The milk van is painted chocolate brown with a light grey roof, and with "NW" in yellow paint on both sides. The letters "NW" was later repainted on both sides in white paint. In the My Thomas Story Library books, the milk van was painted dark blue with white lettering reading "MILK" on both sides.

Appearances

Railway Series

Branch Line Engines - Daisy and Percy's Predicament
Really Useful Engines - Mind that Bike
More About Thomas the Tank Engine - Drip Tank
Toby, Trucks and Trouble - Bulstrode
Wilbert the Forest Engine - Foaming at the Funnel (mentioned)

Magazine stories

1988 - Percy's Predicament (mentioned)
2006 - Food Chain Train
2011 - Dairy Delivery
2013 - Dairy Delivery
2016 - Food-Chain Train

Trivia

In the Railway Series, the milk van is a four-wheeled wagon, while the original model belonging to Reverend W. Awdry was a six-wheeled wagon and based on a cattle wagon.
In the television series, the milk van was replaced with a milk tanker, though it was still referred as a van.