Class 31's in the BR era

I have wondered about this photo for a number of years now, and hope someone call help me
Photo taken from NRM c1980’s is of 31327 pulling 3 containers plus escort coach, I have been told it was either a gold bullion train or a movement of nuclear weapons
Anyone any ideas?
https://tinyurl.com/4ed52ukc

Neil

 

I always thought it was the Bank of England train of bank notes between London and their outstations, presumably Scotland in this instance. Changed to this after the Great Train Robbery.

 

Personally I would say currency, which could be foreign, being transported to a clearing bank or sorting bank via bonded containers. Usually nuclear flasks are in strengthened trucks due to the weight and design to prevent spillage of nuclear material in a crash.
Most currency is moved now by road in inconspicuous unmarked containers, you could pull up beside one and not even know there was millions upon millions of coins and banknotes in there.

 

Bullion train is my understanding: I asked this question on the uk.railway newsgroup about 25 years ago and that was the answer I received. The specially-converted BG is the giveaway - I used to see these a fair bit in the 70s in my spotting days and it was one of the rare occasions you'd see a 31 running flat-out through Peterborough.

I think the old RCTS carriage stock guides covered the carriages - there were only a few of them.

 

You are correct. The vehicles are covered both in a 1978-edition RCTS coaching stock guide and in a 1983-edition Platform 5 booklet.

Described as Bullion Vans, Code SLB. Five of them, Running Nos 99200-99204. Converted in 1965-6 from BSKs built 1956-7. One BSK compartment and toilet retained for use by travelling security personnel. Also listed are four "Bullion Bogie Flats", Nos 99500-99503, which presumably were the vehicles carrying the white containers in the OP's photo.

 

I have added a large collection of over 100 of my own photos of Class 31’s covering the period 1977-1993

Including a number of photos of the Heaton Red Bank empties passing the old Hillhouse shed in Huddersfield
31412 (with Stratford white roof) passing the site of the former Hillhouse steam shed with the Heaton to Red Bank empty newspaper vans 7th June 1985
https://tinyurl.com/ms9pe363

full collection starts here with
31102
https://tinyurl.com/mruxxk55
to
31563 & 31450 Huddersfield 14th March 1991
https://tinyurl.com/2nxsbvym

Neil

 

By pure coincidence I was at a meeting of a model railway collectors association today, with a theme of "special coaches". Have a look at what's between the TPO and the BG.