| M.R.W.A. Class AE open wagons. |
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In 1950 the M.R.W.A. badly need some new open wagons and turned to the W.A.G.R.'s GE class design of 1945. A batch of thirty wagons (AE526-555) was built. They differed from the W.A.G.R. wagons in having external rather than internal diagonal strapping. Of course they were also painted in the traditional M.R.W.A. grey. In 1986 one wagon from this batch was noted carrying the W.A.G.R. number GE11397, presumably in error. |
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A second batch appeared in 1951 (AE556-585) followed by more (516-525) in 1956-7, 1957 (511-5) and 1959 (502-510). These later wagons were identical to the W.A.G.R. originals. Renumbering and reclassification of the M.R.W.A. wagons into the W.A.G.R. number sequence took place in 1964-1965 as follows: |
| 1964 | AE526-532, 534-9, 541-4, 546, 547, 549-555 to GE 40325-40331, 40333-40338, 40340-3, 40345, 40346, 40348-40354 (external strapping)
AE502-5, 507-510, 512, 514-7, 519-524, 557-561, 565-9 to GE40301-4, 40306-9, 40311, 40313, 40316, 40318-40323, 40356-40360, 40364-40371, 40373-40384. (internal strapping) |
| 1965 | AE533, 540, 545, 548 to GE40332, 40339, 40344, 40347 (external strapping)
AE506, 511, 513, 518, 525, 556, 562-4, 573 to GE40305, 40310, 40312, 40317, 40324, 40355, 40361-3, 40372 |
| Once in W.A.G.R. stock these wagons were used indiscriminately with other GE class wagons. They were fitted with cane support brackets along the sides in common with nearly all other GE's. Some were chosen for use as GEF class fertiliser wagons in 1983-4 (at least 40314, 40327, 40338, 40348, 40352, 40381). Disposal of the class was as follows: |
| 1976 | 40342, 40369, 40380 written off |
| 1977 | 40341, 40347, 40363 written off |
| 1978 | 40311, 40344 written off |
| 1979 | 40318, 40346 written off |
| 1981 | 40349 written off |
| 1984 | 40358 written off |
| 1985 | 40376 written off |
| 1986 | 40313, 40379, 40384 written off |
| 1987 | 40304, 40309, 40325, 40328, 40334, 40339, 40343, 40345, 40361 , 40364, 40378 written off |
| 1989 | 40310, 40319, 40320, 40323, 40326, 40330, 40331, 40336, 40350, 40351, 40359, 40362, 40372, 40374, 40375 written off
GEF40338, 40348, 40352 written off |
| 1990 | GE40301, 40302, 40303, 40305, 40306, 40307, 40308,40312, 40315, 40316, 40317, 40321, 40322, 40324, 40329, 40332, 40333, 40335, 40340, 40353, 40354, 40355, 40356, 40357, 40360, 40365, 40366, 40367, 40368, 40370, 40371, 40373, 40377, 40382, 40383 written off
GEF40314, 40327, 40381 written off |
| 40337 unaccounted for but possibly written off November 1990 with all remaining GE. |
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The MRWA outline diagram is shown below.
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