This unique van had a long and convoluted history. It originally started life in 1883 as six wheeled composite carriage number 6. In 1890 it was rebuilt as a Vice-Regal carriage and was reclassified as AN6 in 1900. As the Vice-Regal carriage it appears in several photos of openings of lines in the early days of the WAGR. At some point in this process it was converted from its 6 wheeled Cleminson chassis to bogies and was extended in length from 32'-0" to 35'-3" over headstocks. It also gained a unique form of Clerestory roof. It was replaced in the Vice-regal role in 1902 by a new carriage and in December 1902 it was rebuilt as Z4993. It became Z26 in August 1939 and was re-bodied in March 1952 at which time it gained electric lighting. It was finally written off in May 1975. An early photo of this van also appears at the back of a train in a picture on page 52 of "A history of W.A.G.R. Steam Locomotives" by Adrian Gunzburg.

A still from a film taken by Jack Platt held by the State Library of Western Australia as slwa_b1568178_1