Class RB wooden bodied open wagons

Class RB wooden bodied open wagons

In 1937 the last batch of twelve RB class wagons (956, 974, 982, 1025, 1083, 1097, 1120, 1143, 1151, 1158, 1203, 1237) appeared with wooden rather than steel bodies. This group of wagons was all sold to the Commonwealth Government in 1942. Construction started again in 1947 as follows:

1947 3836, 4126, 4133, 4232, 4274, 4311, 4434, 4498, 4572, 4627, 4904, 5101, 5162, 5198, 5462, 5719, 6023, 6360, 6413, 6457, 6483, 6506, 6516, 6529, 6544, 6553, 6642, 6692, 6784, 6813, 6868, 6875, 6910, 6941, 6985, 7002, 7031, 7046, 7055, 7072, 7111, 7133, 7136, 7138, 7163, 7179, 7221, 7232, 7237, 7239 built

This was the final batch of 50 wagons as new construction switched to class RC and its derivatives. The WAGR outline diagram is shown below.

In 1954 number 1025 was written back into W.A.G.R. stock but was the only wagon of this class to return from the Commonwealth after the war. In 1963 number 4126 was converted to a class RBC bulk cement wagon. The class remained intact until 1970/1 when most of the remaining wagons were converted to class QRC.

1970 1025, 4133, 4572, 4904, 5719, 6360, 6457, 6483, 6506, 6516, 6544, 6813, 6875, 6910, 6941, 6985, 7055, 7072, 7133, 7136, 7163, 7232, 7237, 7239 to class QRC

1971 3836, 4232, 4274, 4311, 4434, 4498, 4627, 5101, 5162, 5198, 5462, 6023, 6413, 6529, 6642, 6692, 6784, 6868, 7002, 7031, 7046, 7111, 7138, 7163, 7179, 7221 to QRC

This left just 6553 in service. It was finally written off in 1983. However a number of wooden bodied conversions of steel RB class wagons were reclassified from RBT to RB in 1971-6. They appear to have kept their RBT type bodies and the reason for the reclassification is unclear. These wagons were reclassified and then written off as follows:

1971 11293 ex RBT

1972 755, 2490, 11284 ex RBT, 11187 ex written off RBT.

1973 11293 written off

1976 11295 ex RBT

1979 11187 written off

1983 755, 2490, 11284, 11295 written off

1970	1025, 4133, 4572, 4904, 5719, 6360, 6457, 6483, 6506, 6516, 6544, 6813, 6875, 6910, 6941, 6985, 7055, 7072, 7133, 7136, 7163, 7232, 7237, 7239 to class QRC
1971	3836, 4232, 4274, 4311, 4434, 4498, 4627, 5101, 5162, 5198, 5462, 6023, 6413, 6529, 6642, 6692, 6784, 6868, 7002, 7031, 7046, 7111, 7138, 7163, 7179, 7221 to QRC
This left just 6553 in service. It was finally written off in 1983. However a number of wooden bodied conversions of steel RB class wagons were reclassified from RBT to RB in 1971-6. They appear to have kept their RBT type bodies and the reason for the reclassification is unclear. These wagons were reclassified and then written off as follows:
1971	11293 ex RBT
1972	755, 2490, 11284 ex RBT, 11187 ex written off RBT.
1973	11293 written off
1976	11295 ex RBT
1979	11187 written off
1983	755, 2490, 11284, 11295 written off