| Class FA louvred vans (17'-0") |
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W.A.G.R. official photo of FA5237 (RHWA collection) |
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A new type of louvred van appeared on the W.A.G.R. in 1902. Unlike earlier wagons it was 17'0" long and had a body which consisted of deep steel louvres. A total of 52 were built with FA1380-5, 5229-5258 entering service in 1902 followed by 5259-5262 and 6198-6209 in 1903. They were painted white when new. The chassis was an all steel derivation of the NZR 15'-0" underframe with the springs in the solebar channel. In 1906 1380, 1382, 1384, 5234-7, 5240-2, 5249, 5257, 6198, 6199, 6204, 6206-9 were noted as being used as meat vans but I don't know if this involved any special markings. The WAGR outline diagram is shown below. | |
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By 1933 only 5256, 5248 and 6207 were noted as being meat vans. At some point it is believed that many of these vans acquired new, wooden bodies like the FC class. 5242 was noted as being "rebuilt" in 1914 but this doesn't help with what the changes were. I would be surprised if any of those that survived the second world war still had steel bodies. The WAGR outline diagram of the wooden bodied FA and FC is shown below. |
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| An enlargement of a Fretwell collection image showing an FA or FC at Boddalin in November 1928 | |
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| By 1962 they were all gone (as were their FC class derivatives). | |
| 1931 | 1382 written off |
| 1936 | 1385, 5235, 5239, 5241, 5242, 5247, 5250, 5254, 6206, 6209 to FC |
| 1937 | 1381, 6201 to FC |
| 1946 | 1383, 5257 to FC |
| 1948 | 5243 written off |
| 1950 | 6199 written off |
| 1952 | 5234 written off |
| 1953 | 5236, 5240, 5249, 5260, 5262, 6203 written off |
| 1954 | 1380, 1384, 5229, 5252, 5253, 5258, 6198, 6200, 6207 written off
5246 to FC |
| 1955 | 5251, 5259, 6202 written off
5259 became JETTY 151 in 1957 |
| 1956 | 5231, 5244, 5248 written off
5248 became JETTY 134. |
| 1957 | 5230, 5232, 5237, 5238, 5245, 5255, 5256, 6205, 6208 written off |
| 1959 | 6204 written off became JETTY 260 |
| 1962 | 5233, 5261 written off |
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Other louvred vans Other 4 wheel louvred vans in this group can be found in classes F , FA(17'-0"), FA(15'-0"), FB, FC, FD, FDF, FDM, FDP,MRWA BL, MRWA BLA whilst their bogies counterparts are in classes VA(exV), VA(long), VB(Composite frame), VB(Steel frame), VD, VDA, VDB, VDL, VDR, VF, VFA, VFL, VG, VGA and VH |
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