of Vanfits and Palvans. Shock wagons were used to transport fragile goods which were at risk of being broken as a result of heavy shunting or other jolts whilst in transit; this was especially important for eggs and pottery. The van bodies were about shorter in length than the chassis and were mounted to the chassis via springs which absorbed some of the shock of sudden jolts. Insulated Vans (for meat), Meat Vans (ventilated for fresh meat), Insulfish vans (insulated for fish traffic – these had longer wheelbases so that they could be operated at higher speeds), Fruit Vans (ventilated vans for fruit traffic) and Banana Vans (unventilated and fitted with steam heating apparatus to warm and ripen the load, which was picked before ripening) were all specialist types for specific types of perishable goods traffic. Gunpowder Vans were specially constructed vans for explosives. They were shorter in length and height than standard vans, and were double skinned. Mogos had doors in the van ends so that cars and similar loads could be driven/rolled into and out of the wagon. Cattle wagons were built for livestock traffic. Ferry Vans were larger vans fitted with securing points for train ferries, dual brakes (air and vacuum) and various other features for international use. Construction of the traditional small vans ceased in 1962 due to declining traffic and a surplus of wagons. When construction of general merchandise vans resumed around 1970, these were the air-braked VAA/VBA/VCA/VDA family of wheelbase vans. The last mass-produced merchandise vans built for British Rail were the wheelbase VGA class sliding-wall vans of the early 1980s. Subsequent vans used in the UK have mostly been large (usually bogie) sliding-wall vans of continental design. See also Covered goods wagons in wartime use General Utility Van Kangourou wagon Pocket wagon Sources Behrends H et al.: Güterwagen-Archiv (Band 2), Transpress VEB Verlag für Verkehrswesen, Berlin 1989. Carstens S et al.: Güterwagen (Band 1), MIBA-Verlag, Nürnberg 2000. Carstens S et al.: Güterwagen (Band 2), MIBA-Verlag, Nürnberg 2000. Note References International Union of Railways Freight rolling stock