To improve the riding qualities of fixed wheel brakevans, twenty vans were 'ballasted' with three tons of rail. The rail was placed along the floor of the van area and a new floor placed over the top.
Vans of the type _Z__ / _ZL_ type were modified in 1971 and reclassed to ZB, numbers 1 to 20.
The first scrapping was in 1973, with most of the class removed from service in the mid 1980's.
Photos for 'ZB '
FileID Description................................................AH589 ZB 1, 1978, [oBAU]B1487 ZB 1 - part view, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 13/4/1978, [oPJV]AS021 ZB 3, North Geelong Yard, 25/3/1979, [oPJV]B3298 ZB 3, North Geelong Yard, 25/3/1979, [oPJV]CN387 ZB 3, 1970s, [oBAU]BB662 ZB 5 - rear Apex spcl train, Sandy Creek, 30/3/1975, [oPJV]BA455 ZB 5 - top view, passing, Ebden/Tallangatta, 30/3/1975, [oPJV]BX701 ZB 7 - body, Bet Bet, 22/4/1979, [oPJV]AU786 ZB 7 - body with HH 11 body, Bet Bet, 22/4/1979, [oPJV]11485 ZB 8 - partially burnt, Tottenham Yard, 16/4/1978, [oPJV]11486 ZB 8 - partially burnt, with burnt ZL 336, Tottenham Yard, 16/4/1978, [oPJV]BP132 ZB 9 - part view, North Melbourne C&W, 20/8/1982, [oPJV]AA375 ZB 10 - distant view, [oPJV]B3446 ZB 12, Tottenham Yard, 18/3/1979, [oPJV]B3448 ZB 12 - ceXp, Tottenham Yard, 18/3/1979, [oPJV]B3447 ZB 12 - ceXq, Tottenham Yard, 18/3/1979, [oPJV]BE808 ZB 12 - no cuploa roof, Newport Workshops, 1/10/1984, [oPJV]BG256 ZB 12 - scrapping, cupola roof removed, Newport Workshops, c1984, [oPJV]BA260 ZB 13 - lettering/number only, Newport, 18/7/1984, [oPJV]BA259 ZB 13 - Metro traffic only, Newport, 18/7/1984, [oPJV]BC832 ZB 14, Port Melbourne, 19/10/1976, [oRXO]CY966 ZB 18 - dogbox door broken, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 2/7/1976, [oPJV]CY965 ZB 18 - dogbox interior detail/door broken, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 2/7/1976, [oPJV]CY967 ZB 18 - false door step: van to goods area, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 2/7/1976, [oPJV]CY968 ZB 18 - false floor in goodsvan area, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 2/7/1976, [oPJV]AO269 ZB 18 - part view, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 23/4/1979, [oPJV]BC833 ZB 20 - at platform, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 17/10/1976, [oRXO]
No diagrams found for ZB
File c050m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 3/4/2007
