Class N Timber trucks (classes L and M before 1900) later Shunters' floats

This class is another of the early groups which incorporates wagons built to several different diagrams. It is complicated by the fact that the distinction between classes L and M (Timber trucks and Timber floats respectively) was not clear cut .  Wagons with one, two or no bolsters were mixed up in these classes.  This was not really sorted out until the wagons were re-organized into classes I (single swivel bolster) and N (twin fixed bolsters).  Even then the wagons with no bolsters at all present a  problem. This leaves at least 8 types which I cannot, at the moment, fully separate.  What follows is my best guess at present.

Above.  A blow up from a larger image.  Unfortunately the number of the wagon is unreadable.  However,  it is possible to identify the wagon as one of the group numbered 2037-2062 on the standard NZR type chassis.  These were the only twin bolster wagons without a low 1 plank side. Below. The more numerous version on the standard NZR chassis were the 1541-1590 batch seen in the postcard image below of 1542 at Fremantle.  Most of these were converted to coal box wagons in 1919.

1. Twenty or so early wagons supplied by Metropolitan RCWCo.  5 ton capacity18'-0" long.  At least one of these wagons lost the one plank sides but retained the low ends.   (Battye Library 5323B/1042,or 6423P).  These wagons were probably numbers L13-16, L60-63, L111-122. The diagram book suggests that 3 of these lasted to the 1920s but if so they must have been renumbered at some point as all of the numbers above had been re-used by 1908.

2.  Batch of 50 wagons M1541-1590.  6 ton capacity.  The wagons built to the NZR design.  Most of these were converted to class M coal box wagons in 1919.

3. Batch of 25 wagons 2037-2062 (21 by 1904) 6 ton probably converted from class H.

4. Six Bunbury railway wagons. Numbers unknown. Metropolitan RCWCo order 597A  3.5 ton capacity

5. One 1902 built wagon numbered N5945.  This was the only N built with vacuum brakes and was presumably on the 1901/2 all steel chassis rather than the NZR type. 6 ton capacity.

6. Wagons (at least nominally) converted from old GSR 14'-0" chassis

7. Wagons (at least nominally) converted from old GSR 12'-0" chassis class I

8. Wagons (at least nominally) converted from old 11'-0" NZR class I

9. Wagons reinstated where original numbers and chassis details unknown.  These include Jetty wagons reinstated during the second world war.

1900	L15, L16 renumbered N4912, N4893 respectively. All other wagons reclassified but retain their original numbers  except for 1563 which had already gone by that date.
1902	5945 built new
1905	62 number used for new GB
1907	13, 14,  60, 61, 63, numbers used for new D class 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, numbers used for new B class 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, numbers used for new C class
1908	1563, 4893, 4912   numbers used for new GC's

1912	4340, 4347, 4348, 4349, 4350, 4352, 4353, 4354 converted from GSR class I
1913	4341, 4343, 4345, 4351, 4356, 4357 converted from GSR class I
1914	4346 converted from GSR class I
1919	1541, 1542, 1543, 1544, 1545, 1546, 1547, 1548, 1549, 1550, 1551, 1552, 1553, 1554, 1556, 1557, 1558, 1559, 1560, 1561, 1562, 1565, 1566, 1567, 1568, 1569, 1570, 1571, 1572, 1573, 1574, 1575, 1576, 1577, 1578, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1583, 1584, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1589, 1590 , 2061  converted to class M.
1929	4343, 4353, 4356 to JETTY 4, 6 and 8 respectively.
1934	4151, 4155, 4164 converted from GSR D class
1935	1582 written off
1936	4351, 4354, 4357 written off

From 1943 N class wagons were officially listed as "Shunters' floats" although it seems likely that many of these wagons were being used in this way well before this.  Presumably by this time the vast majority of the timber traffic was being handled by Q and QA class wagons.   It is not clear what the origins of the wagons reinstated form jetty stock were (and hence their size) as new numbers were allocated which bore no relationship to their original numbers.  

1941	753 ex Jetty stock
1944	590, 4310, 4334, 4356 ex Jetty stock 4310 is recorded as being former JETTY 4 ex N4343
1946	2044 written off
1947	2041, 2050 written off
1948	2048, 4164 written off 4340 to JETTY 516
1949	4346 written off
1950	4352 written off
1952	1973 converted from class H 2565  converted from class G 4201, 4285 converted from class G
1953	289, 399, 492, 767 converted from class I 753,  2043 missing at stocktake.
1954	897, 967, 990, 1238, 1513, 2251, 2306, 2318, 3051, 3052, 3104 converted from class H
1955	305, 312, 927, 938, 989, 991, 1940, 1970, 2254, 2268, 2354, 2781, 3102, 3926, 3977 ex H 4558 ex H 4559ex I 2047 to H

In 1956 the wagons in class N that were being used as Shunters' floats were all reclassified NS.  The remaining few wagons were now listed as "Main Line Tailers" (sic).  Presumably they were used as spacers for overhanging loads.

N 897 photographed near the end of its life.  By this stage it had acquired full vacuum brakes (possibly quite late on  as the V hanger reflects the 1950s style).  Some N's (e.g 2306) also had disc wheels in later life. Photo G R Watson

1956	289, 399, 492, 767 to NS 1555, 1586 to NS 2038, 2039, 2042, 2045, 2046, 2049, 2051, 2052, 2053, 2054, 2055, 2057, 2059, 2060, 2062, 2268, 2565, 2781  to NS 4151, 4155, 4201, 4285,  to NS 590, 4334  to NS 4341, 4345, 4347, 4348, 4349, 4350 to NS 5945 to NS 2056 written off 1973 to NS and then back again.
1957	2425 ex H 2040 ex NS
1967	1564 , 1970, 2037,  3926, 4310 written off
1968	1342 ex DW 305, 2040, 2425, 3977,4558 written off
1969	1488, 1492, 2632 ex NS 1940 written off 2632 to NS
1970	2251, 3052 written off 1138 ex NS
1971	312, 4559 written off
1972	897, 938, 967, 989, 991, 1238, 1342, 1488, 1492, 1513, 2254, 2306, 2318 written off
1973	990, 1138, 2354, 3051, 3104, 4356 written off
1974	927 written off
1975	2058 written off
1976	1973 written off
1977	3102 written off