Brake Van, London Midland & Scottish Railway, 20-ton Goods Brake Van, No 295987, 1933.

A brake van is a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake that can be applied by the guard. Many British freight trains did not have continuous brakes, so the only braking method was the locomotive or the brake van, which would usually be at the rear of the train.

Once continuous braking was introduced brake vans were no longer necessary and were discontinued by many railways.

This brake van was built for the London, Midland & Scottish Railway in 1933 for freight services. Goods brake vans differed from passenger brake vans, in that they were often open on both sides and did not have interior lighting. There would be a lavatory for the guard, as the hours were long on freight trains.