lass VW bogie workmen's vans (ex Platform ended coaches)

Class VW bogie workmen's vans (ex Platform ended coaches)

Two of the 1903 built AR class carriages (277 and 284) ended up as VWs. Both were originally built as AR class second class carriages. They were converted to provide sleeping accommodation in 1912-3 and reclassified ARS to reflect this status in 1924. Both were written off in 1975 at the end of WAGR sleeper services and became VWs in 1979.

VW286 was originally a matching first class sleeping car (AQ286). It became a second class sleeper (AQS) in 1935 and was converted to a dining car (AV) in 1950. It too became a VW in 1979 after being written off in 1975

VW277.

Four dining cars to match the AQ and AR classes were built in 1905. They were the first dining cars built for Western Australia.

AV315 was the third of the four dining cars built in 1905. It gained 4-wheeled bogies in 1924. The bogies were changed again in 1965. It was written off in 1975 and became a VW in 1979. It was finally written off in 1992.

The photos show both sides of the vehicle which apart from the air conditioning units on the roof had not changed much externally from its days as a dining car.

VW315

Although superficially similar to the 2XX series carriages the 3XX series AQ and AR (but not the AV) class coaches built in 1908 used a different underframe arrangement although they had the same 6-wheeled bogies. This was eventually less satisfactory than the that of the 2XX series coaches and was replaced in some coaches.

VW339

Three of the 3XX series AQ class first class sleepers built in 1908 eventually became workmen's vans. AQ 338 built in 1908 became a composite sleeping car (class AQC) in 1949 and was reclassified VW5082 in 1964. It was written off in 1975.

AQ344 (reclassified AQC in 1932 and fitted with a steel underframe in 1955 from a suburban car) became VW5146 in 1973. It was written off in 1996.

VW5146

VW5146 (other side

VW5146 (later)

The final conversion was AQC339 which became VW339 in 1979after being written off in 1975. It began life as AQ339 in 1908, became an AQC in 1949, was given a steel underframe from a suburban car in 1956. It was written off in 1991.

Two of the 3XX series AR class coaches (348 and 349) became VWs in 1979. Both were AR class second class day coaches until 1956 when they were converted to ARS class sleepers. In this case the steel underframes are known to have come from AT 299 and AT252 respectively in 1956. Both were written off as coaches in 1975.

VW349

VW349 (other side)

Number	Old no	TYPE	old class	to VW	Written off
277	277	AR2XX	ARS	1979	-
284	284	AR2XX	ARS	1979	-
286	286	AQ2XX	AV	1979	-
315	315	AV	AV	1979	1992
5082	338	AQ3XX	AQC	1964	1975
339	339	AQ3XX	AQC	1979	1991
5146	344	AQ3XX	AQC	1973	1996
348	348	AR3XX	ARS	1979	-
349	349	AR3XX	ARS	1979	-