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.

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