Rapido Trains UK 918004 Diagram AA20 Toad Brake Van No. 17295, small GWR lettering

Here’s the specification of our ‘OO’ gauge model:

•  Short or long rain strips

•  High or low footboards

•  Spoked or Disc wheels

•  Full interior detail

•  Removable Roof

•  UK designed

•  Finely detailed body and underframe

•  NEM pocket

The Great Western Railway settled upon a design of brakevan that was as recognisable as its locomotives. The first ‘van with the single ended verandah and large, enclosed body for the use of the guard appeared circa 1871 and variants based on this configuration continued to be built into the 1950s.The GWR allocated telegraphic codes to its goods vehicles and brakevans were dubbed ‘Toad’. Consequently, this name is how both railwaymen and enthusiasts referred to these vehicles. The GWR allocated diagram numbers in the ‘AA’ series to 23 versions of post-1888 built ‘Toads’.

Our model depicts the ‘AA20’, which was introduced in 1934. Our AA20 brake van has been de-signed using works drawings and includes a number of different option-al parts to allow for variations within the design including different roof rain strips, different height footboards and different wheelsets. The model includes a full interior alongside a removable roof.The requirement for brakevans ended in 1968 but that didn’t mean the end of the ‘Toads’. Many lasted into De-partmental and even industrial use and a large number of ‘Toads’, including several ‘AA20s’, have been preserved.