G Class GSR type high-sided wagons (class IW 1898-1900 possibly GSR class H) |
In 1898 the W.A.G.R. took over the stock of the Great Southern Railway. Many of the G.S.R. wagons were built on a standard 14'-0" long underframe, as were these high-sided wagons. They were unique in having gable ends and ridgepoles although in many cases the ridgepoles were removed. The same design were also used by the M.R.W.A. as their class A. The original GSR numbers and the class letter of this group are not known. It is believed that the original W.A.G.R. number sequence for these wagons was 4201-4240 and 4266-4315. In the 1900 renumbering 4229 was listed as a J class tanker and 4232 is missing. Number 4276 was rebuilt into an F class louvre van at about the same time (1900/01). Before 1906, number 4236 was also out of service. |
Chidlow's Well station, just before 1900. The ex GSR wagons have WAGR numbers (from 1896) but not the post 1900 classes (class I in the photo not G). (Photo W.A.G.R. official from the RHWA collection) |
It is known that in 1910 the following wagons retained their ridgepoles: 4201, 4204-9, 4211, 4218, 4219, 4221, 4222, 4224-7, 4231, 4237-9, 4240, 4266, 4270, 4272, 4274, 4277-4284, 4286, 4288, 4290-2, 4294-9, 4305, 4308. | ![]() |
This partial image at right, blown up from from State Library of WA 154005PD, shows G4224 at Fremantle still with its ridgepole in about 1911. |
G4272, loaded with coal, was burnt out at Jessops Well on 20 December 1916 but seems to have survived until 1951. It may have been either replaced or repaired. The demise of the remaining wagons in this group seems to have been as follows: |
1920 |
4233 replaced by GC |
1924 | 4211 replaced by GC |
1925 | 4270 replaced by GC |
1929 | 4238, 4284 replaced by GC |
1930 | 4209, 4225, 4266, 4290 to JETTY 62, 40, 60, 59. G4295 to JETTY wagon possibly 63 |
1934 | 4288, 4293 written off |
1935 | 4226, 4307 written off
4267, 4298, 4301 to JETTY 399, 397, 398 |
1937 | 4206, 4221 written off
4303, 4304 to JETTY 548, 550 |
1939 | 4217, 4227, 4309 to JETTY 330-332 but note that Jetty stock dates of the last two are 1952 and 1953 whilst the other is unknown. |
1942 | 4222, 4268, 4297 written off
4237, 4275 to Commonwealth Railways 4233, 4289, 4305, 4308, 4310 to JETTY stock 581, 101, 441, 558, 498. Listed as written off in 1942 but JETTY stock dates are 1940, 1941, ?, 1940, 1939 |
1943 | 4300 written off |
1944 | 4274, 4311 to JETTY 613, 115 |
1946 | 4203, 4302, 4315 to JETTY 163, 63 or 64, 87 respectively |
1947 | 4202 to JETTY 85
4314 written off |
1948 | 4219, 4287 written off
4214 to JETTY 665 |
1949 | 4228 written off
4215, 4234 to JETTY 737, 745 |
1950 | 4205, 4279, 4296, 4312 written off
4279, 4296 to JETTY 772, 767 |
1951 | 4213, 4269, 4272, 4273 written off
4208 to JETTY 861 4292 to Albany Harbour Board |
1952 | 4212, 4280, 4294 written off 4201, 4285 to class N |
1953 | 4210, 4235, 4278, 4281, 4306 written off
4277, 4282, 4291, 4299 to JETTY 56, 343, 28, 65 |
1954 | 4231, 4271 written off |
1955 | 4207 written off |
1957 | 4224, 4283 written off |
1958 | 4238, 4240 written off |
1959 | 4220 written off |
1960 | 4218 to JETTY 271 |
1963 | 4204 written off |
1966 | 4216 written off |
1970 | 4286 written off |
I find it hard to believe that one of these wagons lasted until 1970 and I am a bit dubious about the other late survivors but that is what the record cards suggest! The late survivors could possibly be standard N.Z.R. type G's which had somehow acquired numbers in this series. This is possible because of the sale and repurchase of wagons to contractors. The diagram below is the WAGR outline diagram for the class. |
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