U four wheel louvre vans

ABOVE: U 442 circa 1935. Built new Jan 1900, autocoupled 1931. photo courtesy PROV

These were the first all steel U vans. U 278 was built at Newport workshops and put on register in March 1897,  it was a test and was evaluated in service. Starting in June 1898, 180 more vans of this design entered traffic numbered 281 - 460. The last being built in 1906. They were equipped with autocouplers in the early 1930s  

 The handbrake mounted directly to the body on vans numbered up to 460. The group from 461 - 560 saw the handbrake mounted to a V bracket.

This series were constructed in several batches.

# group Year/s built Total
278 1897 1
281 - 310 1898 30
311 - 460 1899 - 1900 150
461 - 560 1906 100

ABOVE: U 292. Built at Newport 1898. Williamstown, April 1978.

ABOVE: U 298 at Dandenong Feb 1978

ABOVE: U 309 circa 1957, note the wooden shunters steps and very old style spoked wheels, photo courtesy PROV

ABOVE: U 323 at Woodend. March 23 1978.

ABOVE:  U 328 was built at Newport July 1899, autocoupled in 1931, this photo is circa 1934, photo courtesy PROV

ABOVE: Like the wooden bodied U's, an undetermined number of early steel U vans were painted white when built. U 361 was built Sept 1899, this photo most likely dates from then. If anyone has a better quality scan of this image I would welcome a copy to replace this one. 

 ABOVE: U 365 was buiilt in 1899 with air brake equipment but was not equipped with auto couplers until 1931.

ABOVE: U 366 at Bendigo, May 15 1977. Photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent

 

ABOVE: U 445 at Williamstown Pier, March 1978.

ABOVE: U 488 at Williamstown, 1978

ABOVE: U 493, built at Newport 1906. Jan. 1978

ABOVE: U 510 with its non standard doors, at Oakleigh. Dec. 1976 Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: U 530 at Williamstown Pier, March 1978.

ABOVE: U 549 at Dandenong Feb 1978. 

ABOVE: End view of U 449 in 1978

BELOW: HO scale model of this series of U van by Steam Era Models.