OIT – LMS-BR&BM-type containers (1-148)

The LMS (like other British railways) used very successful containers for transporting foodstuff, especially meat. Basically there were two modes of transportation: Cooling fresh meat by using well ventilated containers and Frozen meat using highly insulated containers with ice bunkers inside or in special roof bunkers.

Most meat containers were either insulated or ventilated, but between 1935and 1938 the LMS built some BR-type containers being able to be used in both modes, with ice bunkers in the roof and ventilation openings which obviously could be closed, when the container was used for frozen meat. This batch of containers consists of 50 pieces of so called LOT886, built in 1935 (BR01…50), another 50 containers of LOT944, built in 1936 (BR51…100) and finally 25 containers of LOT1121, built in 1938 (BR101…125). The most obvious differences between them was the form of ice bunkers on the roof. Another difference is that the body of first two LOTs are made of plywood, were the last one was made of wooden planks.

To identify in what mode the container was running, at each side there was a foldable plank, showing the words “VENTILATED” (if folded down) or “INSULATED” (if folded up). I intentional didn’t model this plank, to make application of decals easier.

Based on the last BR-type LOT in 1940 further 25 containers were built as LOT1220 (BM151…175). These last containers didn’t have ice bunkers and were probably just ventilated meat containers.

For more information, pictures and drawings see modelling source mentioned below.

I have to thanks Carlislecitadel2@Thingverse! He helped me a lot in getting more and better information about British road-rail containers, so I can continue the “containerization”-theme at a higher level. Many thanks to him!

All models sized for British n-scale (1:148). Conversion values:

Continental N-scale, 1:160 -> 92.5%
TT-gauge, 1:120 -> 123%
HO/H0-gauge, 1:87 -> 170%
OO/00-gauge, 1:76 -> 195%
S-gauge, 1:64 -> 231%
O-gauge, 1:48 -> 308%

The livery of these containers was white body with black roof and black letters as well as some outfitting was painted black. The PDF-file contains templates for making DIY-decals for 2-times each LOT in different scales. If you need another scale, let me know.

Sources for modelling:

[1] R.J. Essery “An Illustrated History of LMS Wagons Volume Two“, 1983, OXFORD PUBLISHING CO (OPC), ISBN 978 0 860932 55 0

To respect copyright, historical pictures are intentionally scaled down to low resolution. For better quality you should buy the books.

Update 2025-03-23:
Corrected door handle for LOT1120&1121 to the right side. Reduced file size for others.