Before the road network and suitable motor vehicles developed, the railways were the main carriers of racing pigeons. Special vans were loaded with baskets of pigeons and taken to a remote station or siding, where a railway employee would release the birds at the specified time. The design is really that of a full brake, but fitted with racks for the pigeon baskets. Pigeon Vans regularly worked as main line brake coaches when not required for their specialised purpose.
