In 1980 a radical design of guards van entered service. After many months of rumours the van left Newport Workshops in December 1980.
It was a short bogie flatwagon fitted with a reinforced plastic cabin. The cabin shape included a verandah which was at the handbrake end of the wagon. The opposite end platform had gas and electrical fittings for heating and lighting.
The unusual design was inspired by the fact that planning had been underway for the removal of guards vans from trains. If this eventuated, the cabin could be removed and the underframe utilised for other traffic.
From the design, most operational staff could readily conjure up images of guards seated in the verandah section with sizzling barbeque, amply supported by a full icebox of 'tinnies' and waving cheerily to passers by.
The van was issued as class 'ZMF', the M indicated Modular cabin.
There were plenty of problems. Ten vans in all were built, ZMF 1 - 10. Numbers 1 eneterd service in 1980, numbers 2 - 10 entered service during 1982.
When the vans were recoded from 1983, they were given the class letters VVEY.
Guards vans were removed from trains in the late 1980's. The VVEY class were amongst the first casualties.
Two vans had cabins removed and the underframes converted to _QD_ as transporters for the sleeper discharge equipment. This equipment ran on a track down the sleeper train and was used to hydraulically unload the sleepers.