A new type of louvred van appeared on the W.A.G.R. in 1902. Unlike earlier wagons it was 17'0" long and had a body which consisted of deep steel louvres. A total of 52 were built with FA1380-5, 5229-5258 entering service in 1902 followed by 5259-5262 and 6198-6209 in 1903. They were painted white when new. The chassis was an all steel derivation of the NZR 15'-0" underframe with the springs in the solebar channel.
In 1906 1380/2/4, 5234-7, 5240-2/9, 5257, 6198/9, 6204/6-9 were noted as being used as meat vans but I don't know if this involved any special markings. By 1933 only 5256, 5248 and 6207 were noted as being meat vans.
Photo W.A.G.R. official from ARHS collection
At some point it is believed that many of these vans acquired new, wooden bodies like the FC class. 5242 was noted as being "rebuilt" in 1914 but this doesn't help with what the changes were. I would be surprised if any of those that survived the second world war had still had steel bodies.
By 1962 they were all gone (as were their FC class derivatives).
