The LNER Encyclopedia

Apologies if this may have been covered elsewhere on the forum,I did a search but couldn't find any references to it.
In 1931 Elders and Fyffes switched the import of bananas from Hull to Southampton docks. This left the LNER with a surplus of banana vans, but in a loan deal swapped them for Southern railway covered vans. The Southern Railway even lettered at least some of them SR in place of the NE. My question is has anyone seen any photographic evidence of the SR vans the LNER got in return lettered NE? Also what types of SR or it's constitute companies vans were involved.

I an just after a bit of variety on my layout and the sight of a SR liveried van with NE on the side sounds quite good.

I was aware of the banana vans going south but not of the reverse movement. Was it a swap rather than a hire? I have never seen mention fo that part of the arrangement and neither seen a picture of a Southern van lettered NE.

Presumably they'd have to be Non-Common User vehicles for such an arrangement to make sense.

It is mentioned in Peter Tatlows LNER wagons volume 4A. Probably more a swap than a hire. It does mention the Banana vans were relettered SR but no details of the SR vans they got in return. They may have been to RCH standards I don't know.