Class DA and DB vans

The first DA class van was a single prototype converted from a class GA open wagon numbered 5568 in 1924. This van was 17'-0" long over headstocks and had a 9'-0" wheelbase. Number 5568 was rebuilt with in 1927 and it wasn't until 1928 that any more were built but eventually a total of 85 new vans to this design were built as follows:

1928 10871-10895, 10921-10949, 10951
1929 10950, 10952-10975
1935 319, 1236, 2012, 2316, 2385

All of these vans seem to have had a 9'-0" wheelbase. The WAGR outline diagram is shown below.

The 1935 vans and 10959 were converted in 1937 to class DB by inserting a ventilated crate floor.

A further 16 new DB class vans were built in 1938 but these had a 9'-6" wheelbase.They were:

661, 708, 793, 943, 949, 1035, 1159, 2270, 2284, 2336, 3165, 4343, 4344, 4351, 4354, 4357

The WAGR outline diagram for the DBs is shown below.

There were also a number of conversions to class DA (or possibly replacements) whose status is uncertain. These may have been perfectly standard vans but they may also not have been. Number 5944 was converted from a 17-0" long workmen's van (DW) in 1929 as was 1412 in 1941. Number 2624 was converted from a 16'-0" long D van in 1940, whilst number 5010 was also converted from a D Van in 1943 and number 86 was converted from a 17'-0" long D van in 1944

In 1950 the final batch of twenty DA class vans were built. These vans (13299-13318) were 17'-0" long over headstocks and had a 9'-6" wheelbase like the class DB vans.

The class DA vans were withdrawn as follows:
1951 10941 to PWD Port Hedland
1953 10946 to DW, 10880 written off
1954 10948 written off
1959 10845, 10952, 10970 written off
1962 1412, 5568, 10877 written off
1964 86 written off
1966 10962 written off
1970 10879, 10881, 10882, 10891, 10932, 10935, 10936, 10953, 10956, 10957, 10960, 10961, 10967, 10969, 13299, 13305 written off
1971 10871, 10872, 10875, 10889, 10890, 10895, 10923, 10925, 10926, 10930, 10939, 10942, 10944, 10949, 10955, 10964, 10973 written off
1972 2624, 5944, 10873, 10874, 10876, 10878, 10883, 10884, 10888, 10893, 10894, 10922, 10928, 10929, 10935, 10936, 10940, 10951, 10965, 10966, 10974, 10975, 13301, 13302, 13306, 13312, 13315, 13318 written off
1973 5010, 10886, 10887, 10892, 10921, 10924, 110943, 10950, 10954, 10958, 10963, 10968, 10971, 10972, 13300, 13303, 13307, 13308, 13310, 13317 written off

10931, 10933 to DW

1974 10885, 10927, 10938, 10947, 13313, 13314 written off
1975 13309, 13316 written off
1977 13304, 13311 written off

In practice at least 13311 survived its write off date by 10 years in use as a workmen's van although never reclassified DW. In later years the sides of this van were plywood rather than the planking it had started out life with.

The twenty-two DB class vans were written off as follows:

1962 319 written off
1967 319 written back
1969 2316, 3165, 4344 written off
1970 1236, 10959 written off
1972 319, 661,1035, 2270, 4343 written off
1973 793, 1159, 2012, 2284, 2835, 4351, 4354, 4357 written off
1974 708, 943, 949, 2336 written off

Other vans
Other four-wheeled vans can be found in classes D and DC with louvred vans in classes F, FA, FB, FC, and FD. Bogie vans are in classes V, VA, VB, VD, VF and VG.

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