Changes

|years2 = c 2008|events2 = Restored

}}'''GWR 103592 MINK A Covered Goods Van''' was built at Swindon in 1923 to Diagram V14, Lot 901. It is a ‘Mink A’ 4-wheeled ventilated covered van with a 12 ton capacity.<ref name=Atkins>[[Bibliography#Other References|Atkins, Beard & Tourret (2013)]] ppp. 33-34, 379.</ref> The GWR telegraphic code 'MINK' refers to a covered van used for transporting merchandise, with the 'A' suffix denoting a ventilated version fitted with shutters, or later with hooded vents. In the earliest days merchandise was carried in open wagons, covered by a tarpaulin if necessary. During the 1860s the GWR began to build covered goods vans with wooden bodies and body frames. Between 1886 and 1901 they were built of iron and became known as an 'IRON MINK'. After that time the GWR reverted to wooden body construction but with iron angle section frames. MINK A Diagram V14 was first introduced in 1912, with 1,625 examples built by 1923. These were the standard 16ft length over the headstocks with a 9ft wheelbase and had a 10-ton capacity. A further 2,186 were built between 1923 and 1927 to the same Diagram and dimensions but with a 12-ton capacity, requiring an increase in the size of the journals from 8in by 4in to 9in by 5&frac12;in.<ref group="note">The ends (or journals) of the axles rotate in bearings inside the axleboxes. The journal length and diameter are larger on vehicles with a higher Tare/load capacity.</ref>Both types had ventilation provided by two bonnets at each end of the van.<ref name=Atkins/> The SVR is home to four MINK As, of which [[GWR 93016 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van|93016]] and [[GWR 93045 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van|93045]] are of the early 10-ton type while [[GWR 101961 Mink 'A' Covered Goods Van|101961]] and 103592 are of the later 12-ton type.

After ==Service and preservation== 103592 entered GWR service in 1923 and continued in use with the GWR and BR(W), the wagon . It was then used at British Steel in Sheffield. It , from where it was acquired from therefor preservation by the [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]], arriving on the SVR on 6 May 1987. It spent some years A [http://www.gwr813.org/pagew32A.html photograph of 103592 at Bewdley in need of restoration – the 1999 Stock Book mentions that May 1988] shows the wagon was regularly “blown up” at War Weekend events.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> It is owned by [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]]in pale yellow paint.

103592 spent a number of years in need of restoration. The 1999 Stock Book noted that the wagon still required major renovation before use, not helped by being regularly "blown up" for demonstration purposes at War Weekend events.<ref>SVR Stock Book Ninth Edition</ref> Between 2006 and 2008 the [[Guarantee Company]] helped fund a sympathetically styled 'tin shed' next to the [[Bewdley Goods Shed|Goods Shed]] in [[Bewdley Down Yard|Bewdley yard]] to replace a life-expired container which had been used as a store. SVR News noted that the completed shed has been electrically wired by the volunteers from the [[1501 Pannier Tank Association|1501 group]] in a break from their extensive overhaul of GWR Mink A 103592.<ref>SVR News 163</ref> The picture below shows work on 103592 still in progress the following year.<gallery mode=packed heights=Gallery200px style==<Gallery"text-align:left">