GRC 25702 Consumable Gas Refrigerated Van

GRC 25702 in new condition. SRA Archives photo

The single GRC was an experimental gas-refrigerated van modified from MBC 25702 (which in turn was modified from an MRC). A gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen, stored as a liquid in insulated cylinders, was sprayed from roof-mounted jets onto the load thereby reducing its temperature. The gas flow was controlled by thermostats which could be set to operate the nozzles at various temperatures depending on the load to be carried. The van had double doors in the centre of each side; a small door on each side at one end led to a 3’ partitioned section that housed the gas cylinders and their control apparatus. The walls consisted of an exterior layer of 12mm ply, 100mm of polyurethane insulation and an interior of 10mm ply coated with a tough white plastic for easy cleaning. The floor was similarly insulated, with a 3mm steel plate then 100mm floor framing with polyurethane insulation in the spaces. Over this was 25mm waterproof ply covered with a sheet of galvanized iron turned up 75mm at all edges. The roof was tongue and groove board with 100mm insulation. Meat rails were installed for the carriage of carcasses. With the insulation and the cylinder compartment the interior length of this 38’ van was reduced to 34’

Builders:

- Railway workshops?, 1966

Length: 12.446m (over coupling faces) Tare: 27 t Gross: 51 t Equiv Length: 1.9

Capacity: 24 t packaged load, 14 t hanging carcasses

Bogies: 2AE

Coding:

- GRC 25702. It never received a four-letter code.

Colour Scheme:

- White overall body and roof with black underframe metal fittings and lettering.

Period of Service: Converted during 1966, the van survived for several years and was listed in the 1973 Description and Dimensions of Rolling Stock and Locomotives but does not appear in the 1979 Freight Vehicles book. More information would be appreciated.

Operation: GRC 25702 was intended as a prototype vehicle to test the concept and to determine the most suitable gas. The fact that no other vans were converted suggests that the trials were not successful. Whether there were operational problems, higher associated costs, or whether the increasing use of refrigerated containers proved a better option, is not known.

Modelling:

No model is known, but could be modified from a MRC/MBC van.

Further reading:

- GRC 25702 was one of the subjects of an article (Rolling Stock Converted for Special Freight Traffic) in Railway Transportation, November 1966 (pp 48, 49 and 58), from which the details above have been taken.