| Class GF and GH high-sided wagons. |
| In 1950 a new high-sided wagon, GF13320, was introduced into service. It was followed by a second wagon, GF13319, in 1951. They were WAGR's first attempt at a high-sided wagon since the GD class of 1907. As can be seen from the WAGR official photos below they had detailed differences. These two wagons formed the prototypes of the GH class which seems to have been more closely based on GF13320 which had larger side and end doors than 13319. Confusingly GH was also the classification that was used for the prototype GM class open wagon GH13321. This was reclassified GM in 1953. |
The WAGR official photos above allow comparison of the two prototype GF wagons. (RHWA collection) |
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The GH class went into mass production in 1953. In that same year both of the two GF prototypes were rebuilt as ZF class four wheeled brake vans. The GH class wagons were built as follows:
The WAGR outline diagram is shown below. |
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| The first sub class to be derived from the GH was the short-lived GHR group of wagons fitted with ridgepoles. The second major group of conversions was the GHD class, which had additional cupboard doors above the side drop door. Some wagons were also used as the basis for NC and NW class flat wagons. |
| 1955 | 18506, 18592, 18626, 18667, 18699, 18730, 18740, 18806, 18966 to GHR |
| 1956 | 18966 converted from GHR |
| 1957 | 18506, 18592, 18626, 18667, 18699, 18730, 18740, 18806 converted from GHR |
| 1960 | 18655 written off |
| 1963 | 18988 written off |
| 1964 | 18793, 18806 to GHD
18759, 18547, 18910, 18746, 18999, 18700, 18617, 18619, 18501, 18897, 18464, 18595 to GHD 19001-19012 |
| 1965 | 18863, 18629, 18496, 18937, 18900, 18593, 18739, 18998, 18480, 18517, 18948, 18563, 18920, 18606, 18707, 18821, 18433, 18899, 18701, 18573, 18775, 18627, 18859, 18476, 18744, 18637, 18865, 18752, 18788, 18925, 18918, 18931, 18446, 18410, 18438, 18442, 18483, 18734 to GHD 19013 -19050
18428 to GHD |
| 1966 | 18424, 18456, 18636, 18787, 18915, 18949 to GHD
Written off GH18655 to GHD! |
| 1967 | 18404, 18419, 18430, 18462, 18466, 18507, 18508, 18521, 18535, 18596, 18607, 18613, 18633, 18689, 18692, 18724, 18741, 18802, 18832, 18839, 18851, 18860, 18934, 18935, 18951, 18963-6, 18971, 18981, 18984-6, 18989, 18992 converted to GHD |
| 1968 | 18420, 18549, 18584, 18610, 18727 converted to GHD |
| 1969 | 18437, 18647, 18861 converted to NW |
| 1970 | 18534, 18589, 18678, 18944, 18968 written off
18405, 18418, 18422, 18450, 18509, 18552, 18566, 18568, 18663, 18972 converted to GHD |
| 1971 | 18451, 18458, 18461, 18470, 18477, 18481, 18489, 18490, 18491, 18500, 18506, 18540, 18545, 18569, 18580, 18586, 18591, 18592, 18597, 18601, 18604, 18612, 18639, 18649, 18650, 18664, 18675, 18723, 18738, 18745, 18748, 18764, 18783, 18815, 18854, 18912, 18917, 18919, 18943, 18991, 19000 to GHD
18403, 18417, 18423, 18439, 18447, 18463, 18473, 18478, 18482, 18497, 18503, 18505, 18537, 18556, 18558, 18560, 18600, 18620, 18653, 18669, 18671, 18673, 18681, 18687, 18690, 18706, 18709, 18710, 18712, 18717, 18721, 18728, 18730, 18736, 18750, 18756, 18758, 18760, 18763, 18766, 18769, 18770, 18777, 18784, 18791, 18800, 18810, 18820, 18825, 18828, 18834-6, 18850, 18866, 18871, 18878, 18891, 18895, 18909, 18913, 18922, 18923, 18936, 18952-4, 18957, 18964, 18977, 18994, 18995, converted to NC |
| 1972 | 18525 written off |
| In 1974 a group of ten wagons were fitted with Fibreglass roofs and reclassified GHA. The next set of conversions was the GHC class coal wagons, which had no side doors (GHB having been already used for some conversions from flat wagons). A steel-bodied conversion (GHE) followed in 1977. Finally some steel-bodied GHB class wagons were rebuilt from the other classes from 1979. After it was written off in 1986, the chassis of GH18523 was lengthened and used as a trolley at Midland Workshops. I am unsure if this had a Jetty wagon number. |
| 1974 | 18440, 18448, 18469, 18495, 18515, 18542, 18628, 18646, 18648, 18672 converted to GHA |
| 1975 | 18529, 18765, 18990 written off |
| 1976 | 18407, 18618, 18634, 18665, 18666, 18737, 18772, 18844, 18849 converted to GHC
18655 converted from GHD 18413, 18426, 18457, 18479, 18498, 18731, 18762, 18879, 18903, 18911, 18940 written off |
| 1977 | 19046 converted from GHD
18747 converted to GHE 18511, 18516, 18527, 18531, 18674, 18843, 18868 written off |
| 1978 | 19005 converted from GHD
18530, 18548, 18679, 18812, 18882 written off |
| 1979 | 18584, 18689, 18984, 19009, 19033, 19048 converted from GHD
18484, 18499, 18512, 18528, 18651, 18656, 18803, 18804, 18829, 18867 converted to GHB 18432, 18449, 18493, 18631, 18635, 18798, 18853, 18887, 18889, 18921, 18960, 18996 written off |
| 1980 | 18553, 18813 converted to GHB
18441, 18694, 18862 converted to GHE 18827 written off |
| 1981 | 18827 written back
18781, 18822, 18830, 18993 written off |
| 1982 | 18486, 18693, 18722, 18768, 18818 written off
18814, 18846, 18877, 18898, 18942, 18962 converted to GHB |
| 1983 | 18774, 19048 converted to GHB
18789 written off |
| 1984 | 18429, 18978 written off |
| 1985 | 18401, 18402, 18406, 18408, 18409, 18412, 18416, 18421, 18431, 18434, 18436, 18460, 18467, 18471, 18472, 18474, 18475, 18502, 18510, 18514, 18518, 18519, 18522, 18524, 18536, 18544, 18546, 18550, 18559, 18572, 18577, 18594, 18598, 18599, 18603, 18605, 18611, 18614, 18615, 18623, 18624, 18640, 18645, 18657, 18660, 18670, 18677, 18684, 18689, 18696, 18697, 18702, 18713, 18715, 18718, 18719, 18732, 18733, 18735, 18740, 18742, 18743, 18751, 18754, 18755, 18761, 18767, 18771, 18776, 18792, 18797, 18805, 18807, 18808, 18809, 18811, 18817, 18826, 18827, 18838, 18845, 18847, 18855, 18856, 18858, 18869, 18880, 18886, 18892, 18893, 18896, 18905, 18926, 18927, 18938, 18945, 18946, 18947, 18950, 18955, 18965, 18967, 18969, 18970, 18982, 18984, 19046 written off |
| 1986 | 18445, 18492, 18523, 18533, 18539, 18543, 18575, 18578, 18582, 18587, 18676, 18682, 18699, 18703, 18725, 18726, 18729, 18840, 18842, 18907, 18933, 18939, 18975 written off |
| 1987 | 18414, 18425, 18444, 18459, 18488, 18538, 18551, 18564, 18576, 18583, 18590, 18602, 18609, 18641, 18642, 18667, 18686, 18691, 18704, 18749, 18753, 18757, 18780, 18782, 18785, 18799, 18801, 18833, 18837, 18841, 18848, 18864, 18885, 18904, 18916, 18941, 18956, 18959, 18973, 18974, 18987 written off |
| 1988 | 18455 written off |
| 1989 | 18411, 18487, 18680, 18685, 18779, 18796, 18924, 18961 written off |
| 1990 | 18435, 18453, 18465, 18468, 18485, 18520, 18526, 18541, 18557, 18562, 18567, 18570, 18574, 18581, 18585, 18621, 18626, 18630, 18632, 18659, 18668, 18683, 18778, 18816, 18819, 18874, 18875, 18883, 18890, 18894, 18914, 18929 written off |
| 1992 | 18622, 18643, 18786, 18790, 18932, |
| 1994 | 18452, 18494, 18504, 18565, 18571, 18584, 18588, 18625, 18638, 18644, 18654, 18662, 18705, 18708, 18714, 18773, 18831, 18852, 18872, 18876, 18881, 18902, 18906, 18930, 18979, 19005, 19033 written off |
| 1996 | 18997 written off |
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unaccounted for 18443, 18454, 18532, 18554, 18561, 18655, 18661, 18698, 18711, 18720, 18857, 18870, 18884, 18888, 19009 |
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This class was rather unstable in their early days on poor W.A.G.R. track but at least two wagons (GH18596, 18881) were altered in a major way in an attempt to improve its riding in the 1950s. On both of these wagons the wheelbase was extended to 13'. This modification did not result in a new classification. Interestingly 18596 then became a GHD in 1967, presumably retaining the long wheelbase. |
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At least two GH class wagons (18972 and 18974) were fitted with roller bearings in the 1950s. (I wonder about 18973 as well at least). The WAGR official photo at right from the RHWA collection shows 18974 with a return date in the 1950s so the roller bearings may have been fitted from new. |
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In 1968 twenty-three GH class wagons were rebuilt with new all steel bodies (18415, 18427, 18513, 18579, 18608, 18616, 18652, 18658, 18688, 18695, 18716, 18794, 18795, 18823, 18824, 18873, 18901, 18908, 18928, 18958, 18976, 18980, 18983). No more of the class were re-bodied in this fashion but most of this group lasted well into the 1980s. Similar wagons were built in classes GHB and GHE. |
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Disposal dates for these wagons are given below: | |
| 1971 | 18980 converted to NC |
| 1975 | 18823 written off |
| 1976 | 18873 written off |
| 1977 | 18652 written off |
| 1983 | 18824 written off |
| 1985 | 18688, 18716, 18794, 18795 written off |
| 1986 | 18958 written off |
| 1987 | 18579, 18976 written off |
| 1989 | 18616, 18695 written off |
| 1992 | 18513, 18608, 18658, 18983 written off |
| 1994 | 18415, 18427, 18901, 18908, 18928 written off |
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