Class E Cold storage vans (Class Q before 1900)

The W.A.G.RYS had a total of about 150 class E cold storage vans of four different designs. The first wagon was unique and was a conversion of a D class van (94) in 1894. A public notice from WAGR General Manager, John Davies dated 4 December 1894 reported that the WAGR were about to introduce a special Cold Storage Van with cold apartments full of ice to run from Perth- Bunbury. It was to convey fruit, dairy produce and meat. Ex Perth on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday and returning the following day. E94 eventually became a DW class workmen's van in 1934. In 1896 six D class vans with the standard N.Z.R. type underframes (574/7, 581, 1178, 1188 and 1348) were converted to cold storage vans and fitted with new doors. One van (577) was rebuilt in 1909 but it is not known whether the result of this rebuild was any different. These six vans were written off over a long period:

The third group of fifteen vans were built new at Midland in 1901 (5219 - 5221), 1902 (5222-8) and 1907 (71-75). These vans had the 17'-0" long G^A type underframe. Four of these vans were at least notionally reclassified as E^A in 1940 (5221) and 1954 (5225/6/8). The remaining wagons were written off as follows:

It is not known if number 5222 was ever changed during its charmed life.

The final group of vans were originally intended for Wyndham meat works but were returned by the P.W.D to the W.A.G.R in 1920. They were numbered 10117 -10128 and had been built at Midland in 1917. There is a photograph of one of these vans being unloaded amongst the Battye Library collection.

During 1932 vans 1188, 72, 5219 and 5226 were used for Geraldton - Kalgoorlie Crayfish traffic whilst in 1934 vans 1178, 5221 and 5224 were used for rabbit traffic.

Other Cold storage vans

The W.A.G.R.'s other cold storage trucks were classes EA , and EB, and the bogie vehicles in Classes W, WA, WAM, WAR, WBR and WVD.