Class XG Bogie Coal hoppers, XGA, XGAB, XGB, XGBB, XGH, XGT and WXG Bogie hoppers

Class XG Bogie Coal hoppers, XGA, XGAB, XGB, XGBB, XGH, XGT and WXG Bogie hoppers

This class was built from 1977 to 1983 both for the W.A.G.R and also for other users originally as coal hoppers. The two other users were the State Energy Commission of Western Australia (SECWA) and Worsley Alumina. The largest owner of the wagons, in fact, being SECWA. The first batch (20701-20722) was built in 1977 for W.A.G.R. with 20801-20817 being turned out for SECWA in the same year.

XG20818-20834 for SECWA were built in 1978 with 20835-20859 following in 1979. Another batch (20723-20736) were built for Worsley Alumina in 1982 whilst the last group (20860-20879) were built for SECWA in 1983. In late 1984 the W.A.G.R. converted all of its examples (20701-20722) to standard gauge by changing the bogies and reclassified them WXG. They reverted back to XG in January 1985.

The next twist in the story follows in 1984 when 20802-4/7, 20811-4/9, 20822 were converted to XGA class wheat hoppers with a fibreglass roof whilst still being owned by SECWA. 20801/5/6, 20808-20810, 20815-8, 20820/1 followed in 1986. There then followed a bewildering series of changes and reclassifications with some wagons ending up back where they had started.

1986	XGA 20801, 20802, 20807, 20812, 20813, 20815, 20817, 20820 to WXG.
1987	WXG 20801, 20802, 20807, 20812, 20813, 20815, 20817, 20820 to XGA. XGA 20801-4, 20807, 20809, 20812 - 815, 20817, 20820 converted to XGAB XG20830, 20837, 20848/9, 20852, 20854, 20855-20863, 20866-20876, 20878/9 to XGB XGB 20830, 20856, 20859, 20861, 20862, 20864, 20865, 20867, 20873, 20877 to XGBB
1988	XGA20805, 20806, 20808, 20810, 20811, 20816, 20818, 20819, 20821, 20822 to XG XG20704, 20706, 20710, 20712, 20715, 20716 to XGB XG20839, 20840, 20841, 20842, 20846, 20847, 20851, XGB XGB20850 to XG
1989	XGAB20801, 20802, 20804, 20807, 20812, 20814 to XG XGB20704, 20706, 20716, 20839, 20840, 20842, 20847, 20849, 20851, 20853, 20855, 20858, 20868, to XG XGBB20830, 20837, 20866, 20871, 20873, 20874, 20875, 20876, 20879, XG
1990	XGAB20803, 20809, 20813, 20815, 20817, 20820 to XGB XGB20710, 20712, 20715, 20841, 20846, 20848, 20852, 20854, 20869, 20870, 20878 to XG XGBB20856, 20857, 20859-20865, 20867, 20872, 20877 to XGB
1996	40 XG (numbers unknown) declared surplus
1997	XG-XGA 7 WAGONS EX SECWA FOR GRAIN HAULAGE XGB-XGAB 3 WAGONS EX SECWA FOR GRAIN HAULAGE

The next conversion was from class XG to XGT. This involved the fitting of a tarpaulin cover over the hopper.

1998	XG20804, 20815/9, 20842/6, 20854, 20808/9, 20812/4/6-8, 20821, 20847/8, 20850-2/5/7-9, 20861/4-6/9, 20870/1/4-6/9 to XGT

At least two wagons (20701 and 20702) were converted to carry wood chips by the addition of "hungry boards" to the sides and reclassified XGH. They were used on the service to Albany with the XOA wagons.

?	XG 20701, 20702 to XGH

Some day I will get the rest of this story sorted out!!!!