In 1896 the first pair of an order of 55 vans for the Great Southern Railway (G.S.R) were delivered.

The remaining vans followed until by 1898 there was a class with numbers from 4151-4200. The original GSR numbers of these vans are not known. In February 1900 D4195 was destroyed in a fire at Cue goods shed. By the time record cards started in 1909 D4158 had also gone.

However 4362 and 4381 were also of this type but numbered amongst the ex GSR cattle wagons. They could possibly be conversions of the cattle wagons but could also be the two missing vans with new numbers.

Ex GSR D4155. This image is blown up from a small part of Battye Library 009145PD.

In about 1903/4 number 4183 was reclassified as a workmen's van (class DW) but it eventually came back into the fold in 1925. Number 4193 was a DW from 1931 to 1936. In 1953 numbers 4168, 4172, 4189, 4191 and 4198 were reclassified as workmen's vans as was 4175 from 1959.

The records also note that in 1912 4180 was "rebuilt" as was 4184 in 1914. Just what this involved is not clear. Number 4174 was re-bodied or replaced as late as 1953 and not written off until 1971. I have a suspicion that some or all of these vans may have been replaced by later standard D vans of one type or another but photographic confirmation is needed. Late survivors and in particular 4174 are likely to have been standard 16'-0" vans from 1953 if not well before. Photographic evidence confirms that at least  4173, 4175, 4189 and 4381 had been rebuilt as a new 15' vans by the 1930's (probably in the 1905-1907 period). Disposal dates for these vans are as follows:

This design of van was also used by the Midland Railway of Western Australia as their class B (MRWA).