The WA class were originally coded as _WX_. In 1963, the code conflicted with the introduction of letter 'X' indicating bogie exchange and so the class was relettered to WA. The tanks were used to carry the weed spray chemical. A train of tanks and a weed spray vehicle travelled all the lines of the system spraying the tracks to kill weeds. The spray cycle seems to have been about three years.
The number group was 1 - 9, 20 - 25. Numbers 10 - 19 were WX vehicles scrapped prior to WA reclassification.
The fleet of tanks in active service was reduced to WA 1 to 9. The remaining four wheelers were scrapped or stored with the exception of WA 22 . Several of the WA's in the group 1 - 9 were fitted with replacement underframes in the late 1970's. This work was done at Bendigo Workshops with an ELX_ design underframe being used.
WA 22 became a liquid fertiliser tank. Manure that was washed out of cattle trucks at the Brooklyn Livestock Sidings was transported away for disposal. During the late 1970's it was given routine maintenance and the pump was moved from top of the tank to one side down on the underframe.
Of the various types of WX tank wagons, two types became WA:
Were bogie tankers with _E__ bogie open wagon underframes
Were four wheel tank wagons
Photos for 'WA '
FileID Description................................................AR713 WA - details, [sPJV]BO181 WA - on Weedex train, Flinders Street, 16/10/1984, [oPJV]BF062 WA - part view, deck detail, Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]AR714 WA 1 - s1, North Melbourne C&W Shops, c1975, [oPJV]BK370 WA 1 - s1e2, Bunyip, 16/3/1980, [oPJV]BK369 WA 2 - s2e1, Bunyip, 16/3/1980, [oPJV]AR719 WA 3 - ex ELX underframe, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 3/6/1977, [oPJV]11220 WA 3 - top/deck, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/4/1978, [oPJV]AH592 WA 4, 1978, [oBAU]BC756 WA 4, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 17/10/1976, [oRXO]11221 WA 4 - top/pipe connection/s2 part, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/4/1978, [oPJV]11222 WA 4 - top/s2@e1, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/4/1978, [oPJV]AH593 WA 5, 1978, [oBAU]AR721 WA 5, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 3/8/1977, [oPJV]AA353 WA 5 - e2, [oPJV]AA364 WA 5 - e2, [oPJV]AT624 WA 5 - s1e1, North Melbourne C&W, 10/6/1983, [oPJV]AT625 WA 5 - s1e2, North Melbourne C&W, 10/6/1983, [oPJV]AA384 WA 5 - s2, [oPJV]BW116 WA 7 - e2 profile, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 10/5/1979, [oPJV]BW110 WA 7 - e2p spray gear, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 10/5/1979, [oPJV]BW107 WA 7 - ELX u/f s1e2c, spray gear, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 10/5/1979, [oPJV]B1487 WA 7 - part view, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 13/4/1978, [oPJV]BC757 WA 7 - s2, E u/f, Narre Warren, 9/10/1976, [oRXO]BW115 WA 7 - s2e2c, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 10/5/1979, [oPJV]AR722 WA 9, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 13/12/1977, [oPJV]DS070 WA 9 - s1p, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 1/5/1979, [oPJV]BX719 WA 9 - s1p, ELX underframe, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 1/5/1979, [oPJV]BY350 WA 9 - s1q, ELX underframe, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 1/5/1979, [oPJV]AR715 WA 20, Newport Workshops, 1975, [oPJV]BP418 WA 21 - ID, Newport Workshops, 6/7/1982, [oPJV]BF060 WA 21 - lettering Special .. lining .. , Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]BP420 WA 21 - s1, Newport Workshops, 6/7/1982, [oPJV]BP419 WA 21 - s1e2c, Newport Workshops, 6/7/1982, [oPJV]BP421 WA 21 - s2e2, Newport Workshops, 6/7/1982, [oPJV]BF059 WA 21 - s2e2, .. Weed Killer .. , Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]BP422 WA 21 - s2p, Newport Workshops, 6/7/1982, [oPJV]AR716 WA 22 - Liquid Manure Traffic, Brooklyn, 22/10/1978, [oPJV]AR717 WA 22 - Pump on top, Brooklyn, c1975, [oPJV]BF066 WA 23 - part view, deck, Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]BF056 WA 23 - s1p, Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]AR718 WA 25, Newport Workshops, c1975, [oPJV]BF057 WA 25 - s1e1, L4, Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]BF058 WA 27 - s2e2, Newport Workshops, 20/9/1975, [oPJV]
No diagrams found for WA
File c040m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 23/3/2007
