The VDA van is a type of air-braked closed van built by BR between 1969 and 1977. The vans, reminiscent of a classic vent van albeit extended, served a very similar purpose to their stout predecessors.  The VDA was a general use van designed to haul anything and everything. The VDA vans were used on ‘Speedlink’ services designed to quickly haul general freight around the country. 

The wagons were rapidly withdrawn after the ‘Speedlink’ service was discontinued; 436 vans were in service at the end of 1990 but by August 1994 only 97 were shown on BR books. By 2008, only two VDA vans remained.

The VDA van is finished in an eye-catching BR Railfreight red and grey livery. The hook couplings enable easier coupling of other rolling stock and locomotives on your layout.