Class VB Bogie vans (steel underframe) |
The first VB class wagons built as such (as opposed to converted VAs) were turned out by Midland Workshops in 1938. They were originally painted white rather than the more usual Indian red. They had a steel rather than a composite underframe and 5'-6" wheelbase RB type bogies. More wagons to the same design were built after the war in 1946/7. |
VB3846 in less than pristine condition near the end of its life |
The fate of this groups is as follows: |
1938 |
3937, 3960, 3963, 3975, 4072, 4144, 4226, 4267, 4298, 4301, 4307, 4330 built Midland |
1946 | 3023, 3043, 3105, 3170, 3194, 3197 built Midland |
1947 | 3647, 3654, 3680, 3712, 3765, 3773, 3782, 3799, 3846, 3859, 3867, 3872, 3874, 3883 built Midland |
1949 | 4226 written off |
1951 | 4226 written back |
1963 | 3773, 3872 written off |
1968 | 3874 written off |
1972 | 3023, 3765, 3799, 3859, 3867, 3883, 3975, 4144, 4330 written off |
1973 | 3043, 3105, 3170, 3197, 3647, 3654, 3680, 3712, 3782, 3846, 3937, 3960, 3963, 4072, 4226, 4267, 4301, 4307 converted to QBC
3194, 4298 written off |
In 1950/1 a final batch of VB class vans was built. This time the new vans had RC type bogies and rather than taking the numbers of written off stock they were numbered in one sequence. None of these new built VBs lasted quite as long as the final composite framed examples but this is perhaps because the underframes were useful for other types. |
No picture available |
1950 |
13322-13338 built |
1951 | 13339-13351 built |
1961 | 13323 written off |
1968 | 13345 written off |
1972 | 13324, 13327, 13329, 13331, 13332, 13341, 13342, 13344, 13346, 13347, 13348, 13349 written off |
1973 | 13322, 13326, 13328, 13330, 13334, 13335, 13336, 13337, 13338, 13339, 13340, 13350, 13351 to QBC
13333 to QV |
1974 | 13343 written off
13325 to QV |
The WAGR outline diagram is shown below. Note that it identifies 3 types of VB but probably includes the steel underframe vans even though the cornerposts continue to the bottom of the solebar which was not the case on the steel framed vans. |