"F" Empress Vans

The Small “F” Series : Empress Vans

Two of these dedicated luggage cans were supplied by the Metropolitan Carriage & Wagon Co., Ltd., of Saltley in Birmingham and delivered in 1897; they became known as the Empress Vans as they were delivered in Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee year and were designed to carry passenger’s luggage in advance as part of the popular boats trains. Accordingly they had no passenger accommodation with two sets of double doors.

These are at each end for ease of access with large items of luggage; the upper image to the right shows F.27 based on the works drawing completed with oil lamp housings which were ultimately not carried, labelled as a Luggage Van on its side; the later conjectural livery of the austerity two-tone brown is also shown. To find out more about each individual Empress Van click the links below for further information and images:-