| Class K ballast wagons (Class V before 1900) |
|
An important variant on the Standard H class wagon built on the NZR type underframe were the wagons which before 1900 formed class V. These wagons had bottom doors in the floor through which fresh ballast could be dropped on the track. They were built in 1895 as 1018-1037 and 1395 - 1436. Their subsequent history is very difficult to trace as they were all out of service in this form by 1909 when the wagon records cards were started. It is complicated by the fact that in 1900 when the new classifications were issued these wagons were lumped together at first with the ballast hoppers (later class L). It took until about 1907 to sort that out. However some information can be gleaned from the annual reports and is listed below.
The photo at right shows a K class ballast wagon in an awkward predicament on the Waroona- Lake Clifton line, probably whilst in PWD ownership. The doors in the floor can clearly be seen. |
 |
| 1895 | 1018 - 1037, 1395 - 1436 built as class V |
| 1900 | Gone 1037, 1396, 1398, 1399, 1401, 1402, 1405, 1409, 1411, 1412, 1414, 1415, 1421, 1424, 1430, 1431, 1433 -1435 (probably to PWD or contractors)
Reclassified as H 1019, 1021, 1022, 1031, 1395, 1397, 1403, 1406, 1408, 1413, 1416, 1418 - 1420, 1422, 1425 - 1427, 1432 Classified as K 1018, 1020, 1023 - 1030, 1032 - 1036, 1400, 1404, 1407, 1410, 1417, 1423, 1428, 1429, 1436 20 "lowside ballast wagons" taken over from Baxter and Prince but written off without being renumbered. Wagons K4881 - 4891 and 5095 - 5103 taken over from Smith and Timms in 1900 all appear to have been L class hoppers as they were reclassified as such by 1907. |
| By 1905 | 1018, 1020, 1023 - 1025, 1027-1029, 1033, 1034, 1036, 1400, 1404, 1417, 1423, 1428, 1429 converted to H probably leaving 1026, 1030, 1032, 1035, 1407, 1410, 1436 as K |
| Before 1909 | 1022, 1026, 1030,1031, 1032, 1035 to G from either H or K. |
| 1900 - 01 | 2 K to G |
| 1901 - 02 | 4 K to G |
| The fact that all of these conversions took place so early on suggests that as ballast wagons the K's were not that successful - hoppers of class L being preferred. However in 1918 some more wagons of this type (almost certainly ex W.A.G.R. stock and most likely those listed as gone in 1900) were returned from the P.W.D. to the W.A.G.R. They were numbered 10059 to 10076 but not given a class. However, this group included some ballast hoppers 10059 - 10063, 10072 - 10076 that were classified L in 1919. The remainder were classified H in 1919. A further 17 ballast wagons ex PWD were acquired in 1931 and quickly classed as H even though they had bottom doors. By this time class K had been re-used for some steel-sided open wagons.
The WAGR outline diagram is shown below. |
|
|
 |
 |