Class R bogie open wagons (Class Ib before 1900)

Bristol Wagon and Carriage works builder's photo of IB2929 later R2929 (RHWA collection).

The R (originally IB) class bogie open wagons was another class copied directly from a NZR design (in this case their class R). It used the same 30'-0" bogie underframe as the Q, S, T , U, V and Y class wagons, some of which also had NZR counterparts.

This class was a very large group of wagons by W.A.G.R. standards and the most numerous bogie type for much of their existence. Only the G, GC and GE classes were built in greater numbers.

The R's were built by several builders including Bristol W&C Co, Lancaster RCW Co, Oldbury CWCo and Stableford.

The WAGR outline diagram is shown below.

Two R class bogie opens in original condition (2147 furthest away and 1648? nearer the camera). Ib1305 was also branded LOCO DEPT COAL in similar fashion to 1646. Neither wagon seems to have vacuum cylinders at this stage and the bogies only have brake shoes at the outer ends. They combination of the grey livery and post 1900 classes dates the photo to just after the turn of the century. (Photo RHWA)

The main production batches entered service as follows:
1894 683-688
1895 1304-1328 and 1631
1896 591-1630, 1632-1840, 2147-2196
1897 2876-2975, 3450-3530, 4581-4635
1898 3531-3649, 4636-4641
1900 4642-4853, 4871-4880
1901 4854-4870

The largest change in the early days was the reconstruction between 1901 and 1907 of 540 wagons (out of a total of over 900) with 4 small doors rather than the 2 large ones that the wagons had been built with (although it seems likely that the 1900/1 wagons were built like this). These wagons are listed in the diagram book as class RX in the early years of the 20th century but I have yet to see photographic confirmation of this being painted on the sides. The RXs were rated at 16 tons as against the 12 tons load of the remaining 388 wagons which had not been altered by 1908. This classification seems to have been dropped later and never appeared in annual reports as a separate class.

R4461 managed to survive long enough as a 4 door wagon to be preserved. It is seen here on the Bennett Brook Railway at Whiteman Park in use as an open passenger carriage. The livery is not original. It had acquired 4 additional wooden supports on each side arranged differently from those on the surviving 2 door wagons (one missing) and cane support brackets late in its career.

An early picture of R4839, one of the 4 door wagons, in original condition loaded with firewood. This image is blown up from State Library of WA 010239PD. One of the problems with the R's is already apparent with the sides starting to bow outwards.

The WAGR outline diagram is shown below.

It is possible that the RX classification was more to do with the loading (16 vs 12 tons) than the door arrangement. However, the two later (35'-0") RX class wagons had the same door arrangement.
 
1899 3521, 3522, 3523, 3524, 3525, 3526, 3527, 3528, 3529, 3530 to Fb later J(bogie)
1900 683, 1595, 1600, 1654, 1749, 3497 gone before renumbering.

4896 renumbered from 1314

1902 2987, 2990, 3522 ex J(bogie)

There seems to have been 2 wagons numbered 3614. In 1902 one of these was renumbered 3914 and then again to 9.

1902-5 1846, 1879, 2862, 3361, 3391 ex V
By 1909 4386, 4387 added. No I don't know where they came from.
Five bogie open wagons identical to the WAGR R class ended up on the MRWA from 1913/4 as their class L. These seem likely to have been ex W.A.G.R. wagons of this class. They may have been five of the six wagons missing at the 1900 stocktake (although its not absolutely clear where R9, 4386 and 4387 came from either). The other one was probably used to provide the underframe for Agricultural Bank managers van BC1926. In 1910 thirty of these wagons were modified so that the whole side would drop in three sections. Eventually these wagons were reclassified RD but not for many years.
 
1910 2245, 3370 ex V

684, 685, 686, 687, 688, 1304, 1305, 1306, 1307, 1308, 1309, 1310, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1315, 1316, 1317, 1318, 1319, 1320, 1321, 1322, 1323, 1324, 1325, 1326, 1327, 1328, 4896 fitted with full drop sides but not yet reclassified RD

1913 1882, 2847, 3322 ex V
1914 3424 ex V
1929 2975, 4597 written off (crash?)

This image, blown up from State Library of WA 010239PD taken in 1922 near Wubin, shows the supports added to the sides of R's from about this period on. The leading wagon, one of the 4 door examples has them, whilst the second wagon is also interesting as it is one of the R's modified to have full drop sides (later class RD).

In 1936 R1814 was listed as a "Glass wagon" fitted with a ridge pole. It is possible that this was actually fitted as early as 1906. It is not known if this was removed before this wagon was written off in 1953.

1937 691, 2064, 2984, 2985, 2986, 2993, 3202, 3215, 3219, 3230, 3231, 3232, 3233, 3235, 3239, 3242, 3244, 3245, 3246, 3248, 4446, 4448, 4454, 4459, 4466, 4468, 4469, 4470, 4485, 4491, 4495, 4496, 4499 ex Q
1938 689, 692, 2976, 2977, 2978, 2979, 2991, 2992, 2997, 3205, 3207, 3208, 3216, 3218, 3236, 3238, 3243, 4442, 4443, 4445, 4447, 4449, 4451, 4452, 4453, 4457, 4458, 4460, 4461, 4463, 4467, 4471, 4476, 4481, 4483, 4486, 4489, 4490, 4492 ex Q
1939 705 ex U

2999, 3000, 3221, 3228, 4444, 4450, 4455, 4493, 4498 ex Q

Apart from the 1929 write-offs the class stayed largely intact until the Second World War when two batches of wagons were sold to the Commonwealth Railways for the NAR. At some point after 1933 R4822 formed part of the consist of the "Weedex" train along with U and JA class wagons.

1940 2862, 2908, 3479, 3539, 3582, 3616, 4605, 4632, 4636, 4666, 4696, 4739, 4750, 4780, 4791, 4879 sold to Commonwealth Railways for the NAR.
1942 1685, 1689, 1702, 1704, 1720, 1723, 1764, 1838, 2158, 2194, 2974,2977, 3207, 3242, 3485, 3486, 3641, 4442, 4468, 4587, 4595, 4606, 4643, 4762, 4800, 4812, 4827, 4832, 4846, 4870 sold to Commonwealth Railways for the NAR.
1945 2933, 3647, 4498, 4627 written off
1948 2167, 2939, 3543, 4457 written off
1949 1604, 1617, 1627, 1677, 1716, 1796, 1800, 1820, 3605 to JETTY 705, 681, 711, 715, 708, 709, 685, 712, 716.

2185, 2188, 2192, 3500, 4582, 4873 written off

1950 1612, 1680, 1682, 1766, 1767, 1828, 2162, 2168, 2172, 3498, 4766 to JETTY 817, 780, 305, 794, 812, 808, 782, 793, 787, 811, 788.

4821 is listed as becoming both JETTY 816 in 1950 and 204 in 1953!!!!

1594, 1606, 1621, 1721, 1744, 1748, 1775, 1778, 1799, 1808, 1837, 1846, 3000, 3456, 3557, 3589, 4460 , 4777 written off

1951 1593, 1608, 1622, 1715, 1798, 2151, 3488, 4663, 4682, 4695, 4715written off

1651, 1686, 1740, 1832, 2156, 3626, 3648, 4676, 4721 listed as to JETTY 99, 840, 860, 100, 851, 852, 854, 831, 15 in 1950 but as written off 1951!

1953 1602, 1623, 1738, 1765, 1786, 1810, 1814, 1815, 1829, 1836, 2174, 2910, 2923, 2969, 3424, 3491, 3587, 3597, 4589, 4618, 4620, 4634, 4670, 4672, 4686, 4701, 4708, 4741, 4746, 4778, 4801, 4830, 4837, 4854, 4864 written off

1731, 3504, 4737, 4876 missing at stocktake

It is likely that one of the above became JETTY 204 (possibly 4801)

1954 1698, 1830, 4593, 4649 to JETTY 901, 902, 898, 897

1598, 1634, 1647, 1656, 1659, 1666, 1687, 1690, 1819, 1825, 2178, 2245, 2896, 2905, 2947, 2949, 3370, 3484, 3532, 3549, 3601, 3602, 3609, 3612, 3636, 4586, 4591, 4594, 4603, 4641, 4652, 4661, 4664, 4674, 4678, 4687, 4688, 4692, 4699, 4706, 4707, 4713, 4716, 4723, 4727, 4730, 4733, 4754, 4770, 4774, 4790, 4792, 4793, 4797, 4798, 4802, 4806, 4811, 4814, 4833, 4860, 4867, 4875, 4877 written off

1610, 1615, 1630, 1655, 1662, 1693, 1701, 1722, 1743, 1756, 1758, 1773, 1774, 1811, 2196, 2877, 2888, 2895, 2962, 3361, 3450, 3457, 3463, 3471, 3505, 3516, 3542, 3560, 3576, 3579, 3610, 3617, 3619, 3625, 4583, 4646, 4709, 4756, 4761, 4773, 4775, 4788, 4805, 4818, 4819, 4828, 4847, 4861, 4866, 4874 to Q

4629 toQR

1955 1665, 3581 written off

1592, 1614, 1625, 1669, 1673, 1691, 1736, 1780, 1822, 2152, 2159, 2880, 2883, 2884, 2889, 2901, 3221, 3451, 3461, 3477, 3492, 3496, 3518, 3541, 3545, 3568, 3586, 3615, 3618, 3633, 3642, 4387, 4444, 4447, 4599, 4614, 4624, 4633, 4653, 4662, 4675, 4681, 4689, 4751, 4752, 4753, 4760, 4789, 4799 to Q

1956 1596, 1670, 2175, 2187, 2881, 2912, 2959 written off
1957 1835, 2913, 3562 to Harbours and Lights Esperance (1835 later became JETTY 979 in 1962)

689, 1650, 1710, 2937, 4616, 4630, 4698, 4841 to JETTY 165, 177, 187, 186, 191, 156, 164, 215

1613, 1661, 1681, 1699, 1802, 1817, 1839, 2161, 2190, 2929, 2934, 2960, 3465, 3501,3631, 3638, 4386, 4463 , 4590, 4625, 4631, 4693, 4720, 4808, 4816, 4834, 4871, 4872 written off

1958 1735, 2186, 2191 to JETTY 230, 225, 231

705 , 1611, 1624, 1653, 1657, 1726, 1734, 1737, 1739, 1754, 1809, 1833, 2176, 2847, 2893, 2894, 2990, 3216, 3235, 3475, 3548, 3603, 3623, 4450, 4600, 4647, 4651, 4657, 4659, 4700, 4702, 4710, 4719, 4726, 4728, 4740, 4749, 4763, 4786, 4804, 4824, 4851, 4853, 4859, 4868 written off

1959 1755, and w/o 4728 to JETTY 253, 233

1649, 1777, 1789, 1792, 1801, 2153, 2963, 3472, 3519, 3643, 4602, 4654, 4655, 4680, 4784, 4785, 4787, 4845, 4869 written off

1960 4772 to JETTY 15

1601, 1631, 1712, 1879, 2170, 3458, 3522, 3574, 3594, 4446, 4452, 4458 , 4592, 4598, 4650, 4660, 4717, 4731, 4736, 4738, 4803, 4815, 4850, 4862 written off

1961 3584 to JETTY 125

1597, 1620, 2931, 2956, 3551, 3567, 3583, 3591, 4626, 4683, 4820, 4852 written off

1962 4781 to JETTY 169

1607, 1633, 1646, 1684, 1797, 2064 , 2886, 2897, 2916, 2925, 2953, 2955, 3454, 3459, 3487, 3499, 3521, 3554, 3558, 3621, 3629, 3635, 3637, 4596, 4668, 4684, 4690, 4714, 4744, 4829, 4844, 4858 written off

1963 1753 to JETTY 183

1683, 3452, 3481, 4610, 4622, 4755, 4759, 4767, 4863 written off

In the late 1950s a re-bodying programme was started. I believe that all of the re-bodied wagons had 2 large doors and 4 heavy wooden supports on either side. By 1957 a total of 299 wagons had been rebuilt to this standard. This programme did not extend to the whole class however. This may well have been because of the delivery of new RC and RCA type wagons in the 1950s.

R3590 was one of the wagons re-bodied in the 1950s. The main differences from the original 2 door configuration seen in the first photo were the 4 heavy wooden supports along each side which were not present in the original design (although some wagons do seem to have got them as early as the 1920's). It has vacuum brakes with all wheels braked. The cane support brackets were added after 1963.

Some, at least of the rebuilt wagons had strengthened underframes with angle iron truss rods. In the 1957 annual report it states that 75 "reconstructed" R class wagons were to be treated as newer wagons than they actually were for accounting purposes. It says "The service expectation of these vehicles is virtually that of new wagons". It seems likely that these 75 were the ones with the angle iron underframes.

WAGR Official photo of R2181 which was one of the reconstructed R's with angle iron truss rods. (RHWA Collection)

The WAGR outline diagram of the reconstructed wagons is shown below.

In 1964 a list was prepared of those wagons which still had 4 doors having not been re-bodied. These wagons are listed in green in the final table. Many of these wagons were rebuilds of other classes. Wagons which were originally rebuilt to class R at the same time but which are not on the 1964 list are assumed to be amongst those re-bodied in the 1950s programme - these are listed in red in the following table. Many of the 4 door wagons were "Blue cross" stock by 1964. Numbers 2985, 3322, 4476 and 4665 were marked "Bunbury - Busselton only" in their later years. It seems likely that nearly all of the rest of the wagons remaining in stock after 1964 were re-bodied examples.

1964 1628, 1679, 1805, 1807, 2180, 2182, 2878, 2879, 2882, 2944, 3469, 3535, 3555, 3611, 3634,4453, 4459, 4495, 4496, 4581, 4584, 4604, 4608, 4609, 4648, 4679, 4691, 4857 written off

1730 to U

1965 2915 listed as written off 1965 but JETTY 980 from 1962

1619, 1645, 1771, 1803, 1812, 2904, 2918, 2919, 2941, 2968, 2971, 3233, 3236, 3509, 3510, 3513, 3608, 3628, 4449, 4455, 4705, 4810 written off

1966 1643 to JETTY 312

1705, 1795, 1826, 3572 written off

1967 2177, 2940, 2948, 2957, 3230, 3243, 4585, 4848 written off
1968 1727, 1823, 2160, 2169, 2171, 2902, 2903, 2943, 2967, 2979, 3219, 3238, 3493, 3531, 3534, 3592, 4492, 4619, 4639, 4783, 4880 written off
1969 1618 written off

1642, 1745, 1752, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1772, 1782, 2164, 2166, 2922, 2926, 2954, 3490, 3599, 3607, 3627, 4483, 4607, 4621, 4623, 4635, 4640, 4776, 4794, 4807, 4865 to RO

1970 1732, 2163, 2184, 2928, 2951, 2986, 2992, 3231, 3245, 3322, 3538, 4448, 4466, 4467, 4470, 4476, 4486, 4491, 4613, 4665, 4685, 4729, 4757, 4779, 4817, 4855 written off

692, 1616, 1635, 1636, 1644, 1652, 1660, 1674, 1692, 1694, 1696, 1700, 1706, 1711, 1713, 1717, 1728, 1763, 1770, 1776, 1788, 1793, 1804, 1813, 1818, 1827, 1882, 2150, 2181, 2193, 2900, 2927, 2938, 2950, 2958, 2964, 2966, 2970, 2972, 2973, 2997, 3208, 3244, 3466, 3468, 3476, 3478, 3480, 3489, 3502, 3511, 3524, 3544, 3546, 3552, 3561, 3565, 3566, 3569, 3578, 3585, 3588, 3593, 3595,3598, 3600, 3606, 3620, 3624, 3640, 3646, 4588, 4638, 4642, 4644, 4669, 4734, 4742, 4743, 4745, 4758, 4764, 4769, 4771, 4782, 4795, 4809, 4826,4838, 4839, 4840, 4849 to QBB

1971 691, 1658, 1725, 1768, 1824, 2876, 2952, 2985, 3460, 3470, 3573, 3632, 4454, 4489, 4493, 4617, 4671, 4822 written off
1972 9 to JETTY 42

1599, 1605, 1667, 1668, 1676, 1678, 1688, 1708, 1741, 1747, 1750, 1757, 1769, 1779, 1791, 1794, 1806, 1834, 2149, 2157, 2183, 2885, 2898, 2899, 2906, 2920, 2930, 2942, 2945, 2965, 2976, 2987, 2991, 3202, 3218, 3248, 3391, 3464, 3503, 3506, 3507, 3514, 3517, 3547, 3564, 3630, 4469, 4485, 4611, 4656, 4673, 4694, 4697, 4722, 4732, 4747, 4748, 4843, 4856, 4878 written off

1973 1603, 1632, 1639, 1671, 1675, 1695, 1707, 1733, 1742, 1762, 1816, 1821, 1840, 2155, 2195, 2890, 2892, 2911, 2917, 2936, 2984, 3205, 3453, 3467, 3474, 3482, 3512, 3550, 3559, 3570, 3571, 3575, 4443, 4445, 4451, 4677, 4712, 4813, 4823, 4835 written off
1974 1648, 1672, 1724, 1781, 1785, 2189, 2887, 2921, 2932, 2993, 3215, 3246, 3515, 3540, 4499, 4628, 4831 written off
1975 1719, 2148, 2165, 2907, 2935, 2999, 3232, 3528, 3537, 3556, 3596, 3622, 4768, 4836 written off
1976 1641, 1709, 1729, 2909, 2946, 3483, 4658, 4667, 4842 written off
1977 1640, 2173, 2914, 3228, 3455, 3473, 3508, 3553, 3563, 3577, 3614, 4481, 4704, 4711 written off
1978 629, 1697, 1703, 1718, 2891, 3495, 4615, 4645, 4718, 4735 written off
1979 1609, 1784, 1787, 2924, 3462, 3645, 4490, 4612, 4637, 4703, 4724, 4725, 4765 written off
1980 1591, 1626, 1664, 1746, 1790, 1831, 2147, 2154, 2978, 3239, 3533, 3536, 3604, 3613, 3649, 4471, 4601, 4796, 4825 written off
1981 3494, 3580 written off
1982 1637, 1663, 1714 written off
1983 1638, 1751, 1783, 2179, 2961, 3520, 3590, 3639, 3644 written off
Preserved 4461 +others.

Another R class wagon with angle-iron truss rods.

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