| 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. Several of the DAs were used as advertising vans from the 1950s. Confirmed numbers are 10881, 10942, 10962, 13307, 13308, 13313, 13316, and 13317. | |
|
DA13307 G. R. Watson (RHWA collection) | |
| The class DA vans were withdrawn as follows: | |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. |
 |
 |