The WA class cold storage vans were the first new bogie cold storage wagons to be built for the W.A.G.R. since the W class of 1897. The were similar in design to the smaller EB class four-wheelers and entered service from 1958. A total of twenty-four were built as follows:
1958 - 23451-23458
1960 - 23459-23467
1961 - 23468
1963 - 23469-23474
In 1963 two WA class wagons (23452, 23470) were modified to use mechanical refrigeration and reclassified WAR. The body was shortened in this process and the equipment mounted on a platform at one end. Four more new wagons of this type (23401-4) were built in 1965.
Three of the WAR class wagons became VT class filter vans (23401, 23452 in 1978 and 23403 in 1980). The rest were written off in 1986.
Another modification programme resulted in class WAM when 23461/4 were modified in 1971 followed by 23460/2/3/5 in 1972. The first of the WA class to be written off was 23458 in 1979, however in 1980 this became a QG class flat wagon numbered 23405. In 1982 23473 became a VT class filter van but the rest of the WA class wagons were converted to
class QG as follows:1982 - 23451/5/7, 23467/8
1983 - 23453/4, 23469, 23471/2/4
1984 - 23456/9, 23466
WAM 23465 became a VT class filter van in 1986 whilst 23461 was written off in 1987. The chassis from 23461 later became a QV class wheel wagon.
23462 formed the basis for the
QRJ class tanker in 1987 whilst 23464 was reclassified SB in 1987. The two remaining vans were written off in 1988(23460) and 1990 (23463).
