Surviving Brake Van, at Morpeth NSW

This brake van was one of the original vans built by John and Alexander Brown for their private railways line, which ran between Minmi and Hexham. The brothers were 'coal barons' in the New South Wales.

The railway line was originally owned by John Eales and was opened in 1857. The Browns purchased the line in 1859 for £60,000, a handsome sum in those days!

Coal was transported from the mines at Minmi to the Hexham where it was loaded onto ships for export.

This "B3" painted on the can indicates this was the third van built by the Browns. IT was rescued and brought to Morpeth where it resides in the garden of an antiques shop and tea room!