What am I looking at here?

[Chops]

I got these from a stateside seller not because I had a gaping hole in my collection, but rather I fancied they would be
easily towed by my lovely, but feeble and old, Triang Electra. That, and I wouldn't get keelhauled for shipping charges.
But, your American Cousin wishes to know, what are they? What was their service life? Southern Railway is all I surmise to
this point.

[BrightonMan]

I have a couple of those. They are Tri-ang/Hornby R226 Bogie luggage vans. They were designed by the SR to be used on fast passenger traffic I believe, but ended up on all sorts of services as general parcels vans. Quite a few found their way into departmental stock. These are pretty basic models but they can be updated. Roxy Mouldings do a detailing kit for them which I intend to invest in one day.

[Chops]

Interesting, sort of like a forerunner for Amazon. About when did these things get about? '50s? '20's? One of the side benefits is that no one in North America has a clue what I am running. Allows for all manner of mischief. If nothing else, I do like them.

[Ironduke]

Allows for all manner of mischief.

such as,
https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/blue ... ryvan.html

[BrightonMan]

About when did these things get about? '50s? '20's?

They were built in the late '30s and were in use in one form or another right up to the 70's, possibly even later.

[GeraldH]

This should help...

https://sremg.org.uk/model/4mm_lugg_vans_01.html

[Bufferstop]

Actuallly when Electra was green it would have pulled Maroon coaching, or blood and custard stock, until everything turned blue. Green was reserved for DMU stock and Southern Region coaching stock. It's a minefield, just remember that on your layout Rule #1 applies.

[Chops]

Rule #1 withstanding, thank you very much for the interesting information, both. Very helpful. As mentioned, nobody in El Paso has a clue
what they are looking at, so all good in that department!