A general utility van (GUV) is a type of rail vehicle built by British Rail primarily for transporting mail and parcels. They were used by both Rail Express Systems and Railtrack. Colas Rail and some train operating companies still use them.
British Rail
Fleet details
Number rangePrevious number rangeTOPS codePrimary useNotes80250-80259NPXPost Office vanConverted from 940xx range93078-9398486078-86984NJ or NKMail van94000-9403485500-85534NLXNewspaper vanConverted from 86xxx range94050-94078NMVNewspaper vanConverted from 93xxx range94100-94229NKAMail van (high-security)Rebuilt from 93xxx, 951xx and 953xx ranges95100-95199NOXMail van (100 mph)Converted from 93xxx range95350-95374NOXMail van (100 mph)Converted from 93xxx range95715-95763NOAMail van (High-security)Rebuilt from 951xx range96100-96195NXMotorail vanConverted from 93xxx range96210-96218NPAMotorail van (110 mph)Converted from 961xx range96602-96609NVAMotorail vanRebuilt from 961xx range in 1999 for use by First Great Western on daylight trains and the Night Riviera to Penzance until 2005, briefly used by FM Rail and later sold to Colas Rail, used as brake force runners on Network Rail trains since 2015Network Rail takes on Motorail vans The Railway Magazine issue 1378 January 2016 page 84
Livery examples
Preservation Many GUVs have found new uses on preserved lines in the UK either stored and kept as coaches or converted for uses as different things.
Number Location Image Type Livery Status Notes86129 Great Central Railway (Nottingham) NLX lined maroon 86565 Great Central Railway (Nottingham) NLX BR BlueUsed as store86696 Midland Railway – Butterley NLX Maroon Used as store 93180 Midland Railway - Butterley NJ or NK BR Blue Used as store 93226 Mid-Norfolk Railway NJ or NK Rail Blue Static or Stored 93380 Midland Railway - Butterley NJ or NK BR Blue Used as store 93381 Midland Railway - Butterley NJ or NK BR Blue Used as store 93701 Battlefield Line Railway NJ or NK Rail Blue Stored 94062 Northampton and Lamport Railway NJV Rail Blue 94071 Northampton and Lamport Railway NJV Rail Blue 94102 Rushden, Higham and Wellingborough Railway NKA 94148 Helston Railway NKA Rail Express Systems (RES) Red In use as shop and mechanical store 96100 Tyseley Chocolate 'REG' ('Range-Extending GUV'). Converted for use as a water carrier for mainline steam railtours. (originally 86734).96927 Plym Valley Railway Motorail Van BR Carmine & Cream Stored 96887 Plym Valley Railway Motorail Van RES Red Stored
PMV The Southern Railway used the designation PMV (Parcels and Miscellaneous Van).
References