History
In the period of the layout milk traffic on the Great Western was carried Siphons, 4 or 6 wheeled passenger rated vehicles with open slatted sided to aid air flow to keep the milk cool. The first vehicle to be built for milk traffic on Hallatrow is a Siphon C (GW diagram 08 & 09). The only difference between the two diagrams was that the 08 were 8' 0" wide and the 09 were 8' 6".
Construction and numbering details:
Diagram 08 Lot 1125 18 built in 1907, nos. 1524-42
Part Lot 1133 4 built in 1907 nos. 1515-18
Diagram 09 Part Lot 1133 6 built in 1907 nos. 1519-24
Lot 1162 12 built in 1909 nos. 1503-14
Lot 1183 20 built in 1910 nos. 1482-1501
For more details about Siphons C's can be found in the HMRS book 'GW Siphons' by J N Slinn and B K Clarke. A hand written note added to the caption against a photo of no. 1503 in the book states that it was taken in September 1920 after the fitting of handholds in the doors and that the vehicle was b built without them in 1909. An email to an a Great Western web forum confirmed the dates the handhold were fitted and that the vehicles in Lot 1183 were built with handholds.
