HW - Weedex Crew Van

For the new "Weedex" weed spray train of 1955, two six wheel horse boxes were converted to crew cars, numbered HW 1 and 2.

To convert these vans from screw couplings to auto couplers in the late 1950's, the bodies were lifted off and placed onto a bogie horsebox underframe. The new vehicle became HW 1.

The "Weedex" train comprised of tank wagons, crew cars and a weed spray van. It toured the entire system every 2 - 3 years and sprayed all main tracks.

In 1971, HW 1 was replaced by an old express passenger car, _AE_ 37. Main feature of the car was flywire screens over all the windows.

The "old" HW 1 remained in storage until 1978 when it was scrapped.

As at 11/1997, the current HW 1 is operated by Steamrail and is located at Newport in the Steamrail compound.

 Vehicle............     #  Date...... Loc History...........    Notes

 F                61     -  17/ 4/1914 NWS Built new             6 whls, WHB
                            16/ 5/1955 -   To    HW         1    (Crew car for Weedex train)
*HW                1    1st   / 4/1963 -   Ex..  HW         2    [rec] Body joined
                              / 4/1963 -   Ex..  FH        16    [rec] underframe
                            24/ 6/1978 -   Scrapped              -
                             1/ 7/1978 SMB Sighting              [FXJ]
>>>       
 AE               37     -  19/12/1910 NWS Built new             -
                            29/ 5/1931 NWS Into Workshops        -
                            10/ 7/1931 NWS Out of Workshops      (43 days)
                             1/10/1935 NWS Into Workshops        -
                            18/10/1935 NWS Out of Workshops      (18 days)
                              /10/1935 -   Modified              Trans hook
                              / 6/1970 NWS Stored                R104
                            28/ 8/1970 NWS Off Register          (To be HW 1, 4/71)
                              /  /1971 -   Note                  to BOW, conversion to WZ
                            15/ 6/1971 BOW To    HW         1    -
*HW                1    2nd   /  /1974 -   Photograph            #258
                             7/12/1995 -   Note                  [ROSCO] Transferred to Echuca

 F                46     -  24/ 6/1911 NWS Built new             6 whls, WHB
                            27/11/1931 NWS Into Workshops        -
                            31/ 7/1932 NWS Out of Workshops      (247 days)
                            20/ 5/1937 NWS Into Workshops        -
                            20/10/1937 NWS Out of Workshops      (154 days)
                            26/ 5/1939 NWS Into Workshops        -
                             4/ 8/1939 NWS Out of Workshops      (71 days)
                            16/ 5/1955 -   To    HW         2    (Crew car for Weedex)
*HW                2     -    / 4/1963 -   Off Register          [v]
                              / 4/1963 -   To..  HW         1    [org] Body joined



Code   SV   Date   Sys  Description                     Type

AE     VA   1907 - VR   Bogie First Class Express       Passenger           
F      VA   1910 - VR   F/Whl Horsebox                  Freight             
HW     VA   1955 - VR   Weedex Train Crew Support       Service             

Code  Location / Builder

-     -                             
BOW   Bendigo Workshops             
NWS   Newport Workshops             
SMB   Simsmetal, Brooklyn           


References...

[FXJ]  : Frank Jones, Geelong                          
[ROSCO]: V/line or NRC ROSCO information               
[org]  : Vehicle originated cross reference data       
[rec]  : History supplied from other vehicle           
[v]    : History generated by PJV/Not official record  

Types

There were three "types":

• HW ex six wheel horsebox
• HW ex two vans on bogie frame
• HW ex AE car