No.26405 is one of 499 vans constructed by CIÉ at Inchicore Works, Dublin, specifically for the carriage of palletised freight. Known as pallet vans or ‘palvans’, they were built over the course of 1964-1965. They appeared on goods trains all over the CIÉ system. They were built on O.V.S. Bulleid’s triangulated chassis design, as had been customary for CIÉ wagon construction since the 1950s. Although they arrived too late to be hauled by steam on the mainline, we do have photographs of one being shunted by an O&K steam locomotive at one of the sugar factories.
The development of ISO standard containers meant that their working lives were relatively short, with the vans falling out of use by the 1980s. However, this particular example managed to survive by fluke and good fortune. No.26405 was used as a tool van during the filming of The First Great Train Robbery in 1978. It accompanied the RPSI steam locomotives, Nos. 184 & 186, taking part in the production. This led to it returning to Mullingar with the locos after filming ended. Somehow, it never found its way back to its fleet.
It would remain at Mullingar for almost 50 years, used as a stores vehicle while the RPSI was based there, but still on the CIÉ books. It even managed to withstand an arson attack. In the early 2020s, it was privately purchased for preservation, with its benefactor kindly donating the van to our railway in 2026, where it arrived on 18th July.
While the plywood sides were destroyed in the arson attack, the metal framework, though rusty, has held up well. Markings on the underframe suggest it last got a repair in 1971! We have some ideas as to how to restore it and potential uses, watch this space…
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