The WA class cold storage vans were the first new bogie cold storage wagons to be built for the W.A.G.R. since the W class of 1897. A total of twenty-four were built.  There were two main modification programmes to the WA class.  The second of these resulted in class WAM when 23461, 23464 were modified in 1971 followed by 23460, 23462, 23463, 23465 in 1972.

WAM 23465 became a VT class filter van in 1986 whilst 23461 was written off in 1987. The chassis from 23461 later became a QV class wheel wagon. WAM23462 formed the basis for the QRJ class tanker in 1987 whilst 23464 was reclassified SB in 1987. The two remaining vans were written off in 1988 (23460) and 1990 (23463).

Other Cold Storage vans The W.A.G.R.'s other cold storage trucks were classes E, EA , and EB, and the bogie vehicles in classes W, WA, WAR, WBR, WO, WVD, VDB and VDR.