What is a CCT van?

The term CCT van stands for 'Covered Carriage Truck'. These Railway vans were designed specifically to carry motor vehicles. First built in the 1950s these vans were subsequently banned by Motorail in the mid-1960s.

Clearances for carrying motor vehicles were inevitably tight, added to which loading and unloading via the end doors was a time consuming and manpower intensive process. Many vehicles were subsequently used for the carriage of parcels and mail.

Just over 800 were built and individual vans have been preserved around the UK with examples operated by the Bluebell Railway in Sussex and the North Norfolk Railway.