93267

93267 is a General Utility Van (GUV) and has never carried passengers. GUVs were built between 1957 & 1960, and were specifically for general parcel carrying use. They are built on short Mk1 57ft underframes and have their handbrake wheels mounted underneath the floor rather than inside the vehicle. They appear "slab sided" compared to most coaches because they were built to a slightly smaller loading gauge to enhance their route availability. They have no gangways, the ends instead having opening doors and a flap that can be dropped (supported on the adapted buffers). This enabled cars to be driven into them, and from vehicle to vehicle, meaning a whole rake of GUVs could be loading with cars by each one driving into the end vehicle and along the train. Parcels and other goods are loaded conventionally from the side using three sets of double opening doors. These were built with footboards but were removed in BR service as the parcel trolleys in use at the time damaged them. Inside is one large space (no partitions) with folding racks lining the insides, these can be either folded down for workspace or smaller items or folded up leaving the space open for larger items.

93267 was built as 86267 (as it has not been restored it still carries its later number) by Pressed Steel for BR in 1959 (lot no 30417) and weighs 30 tons. The GUV can handle an impressive 14 ton load and was used for parcel and similar traffic on BR in the 1960's. Such an insignificant vehicle (there were over 850 GUVs alone) would be almost impossible to trace, but we can speculate that the vehicle would have spent the 60's, 70's & 80's travelling the BR network hauling parcels, goods and anything else that was required of it. It also was repainted from the BR Maroon it was delivered in into corporate BR Blue. Unlike E86828, which was withdrawn at this stage, 93267 survived long enough to be used by the Royal Mail parcels service and received their striking red livery. It as however eventually deemed surplus to requirements by 1996.

93267 was moved to the CVR in 1996 and became an S&T travelling workshop before being sold to the group. In the years gone by the Royal Mail red has faded somewhat meaning the vehicle is referred to as the "pink GUV". The vehicle has a very shabby appearance and the external condition has deteriorated over the years it has spent in storage. Interior condition however is relatively good with restoration at a future date certainly not a mammoth task.The vehicle is currently stored at Oakamoor Sand Sidings, the eventual intention being to restore it cosmetically. Recently (July 2008) the vehicle suffered a graffiti attack, the treasured members of society attempting to give the vehicle their own all over advertising livery. The vehicle is currently still in its Royal Mail colours and we hope one day to restore it to a condition where it can be hauled by the DMUs as a tail load.