W workmens sleepers

Number in Class	247 (1976 total)
Number group	1 - 468
Construction period
In service	1910 - late 1970's
Where built	various
PJV vehicle History List	General arrangement

By the late 1970's there were three distinct types of 4 wheel workmens sleepers.
W 1, shown above, was a purpose built sleeper type that started appearing in 1910.
W 235, shown below, was a redundant 4 wheel passenger car that was cascaded into Way & Works service when its revenue days were over
W 442, shown bottom, was a bogie passenger car that was chopped up and placed onto a 4 wheel underframe.

In service they were a 4 wheel version of the WW workmens sleeper. They were used to house railway employees at wherever they were working. Railway employees usually called them "Bughuts"

From 1958 W's were fitted with electric lighting, the small box high up on the ends is where mains power was connected.

From about 1966 most W's were equipped LP gas powered refriderators, a locker for LP gas cylinders was installed at this time which can be identified by the two small louvered doors.

A W undergoes conversion from an unknown passenger carriage at Newport workshops, 1960
Official VR photo, M 7030

ABOVE: W 7 at Geelong 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

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ABOVE: W 30 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 39 circa 1944, W 39 sterted life as a 6 wheel second class pass car, B278 in 1886, it went into W&W traffic in Jan 1945. It was fitted with bogies in 1959 when it was recoded to WW 123 and was scrapped in 1977. photo courtesy PROV

ABOVE: W 54 circa 1978, photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: W 61 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 70 at Geelong, Sept 17 1978

ABOVE: W 72 at Sunbury 1974
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 72 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978.

ABOVE & BELOW: W 90 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 91 at Echuca July 8 1978

ABOVE: W 92 circa 1925, photo courtesy PROV, BELOW: The same W approx 50 years later

ABOVE: W 92 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 96 at Wallan 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 99 in 1976
photos courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 103 at Ararat 1978

ABOVE: W 107 at Ararat 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 108 circa 1978 photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 110, built as WS 112, 4/1909, recoded/numbered 1910 when this photo was probably taken.

BELOW: W 110 in 1978.

ABOVE: W 110 at Bendigo July 8 1978. built new (as WS 112) 1919, new underframe ex IA 12068, autocoupled 1957

ABOVE: W 116 dates from 1885, built as an E it became W 116 in 1917
Photo Courtesy Geoff Winkler at Ararat April 1979

ABOVE: W 116 at Ararat July 29 1978.

ABOVE: W 144 in 1979, photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 152 circa 1978

BELOW: W 152 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

W 171 photographed circa 1920, built as B 258 circa 1884, it went to a BH, YH and finally to W 171 in 191, scrapped 1936.
PRO photo.

ABOVE: W 175 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 179 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 182 at Ararat July 29 1978
Built new 1914 circa 1957 it was placed on the underframe from IA 12344 and autocoupled.
This would make a good modelling project with the replacement boards.

ABOVE: W 183 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 184 built new 1914, new underframe from an I, and autocoupled 1957
Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler 1978.

ABOVE: W 186 at Melb. yard June 3 1978

ABOVE: W 190 at Wallan 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 194 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 196. Photo at Ararat July 29 1978
built new 1914, 1957 it recieved the underframe from IA 14453 and autocoupled.

ABOVE: W 200 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 201 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 202 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 203 at Ararat July 2 1978
built new Sept. 1914, new underframe autocoupled and wired for electricity March 1958

ABOVE: W 215 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 230 at Bacchus Marsh 1976 Rollingstock branch plans show that W 230 was attached to the underframe from U 277 (short wooden U van) and that the underframe was extended by inserting a 7' 4" section from a scrap IB underfame in May 1945. In 1958 it recieved a "new" undeframe shown here.
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 235 at Geelong Sept. 17 1978. Built new 1883 as a AB, the B, then YH and finally to W 235 in 1937 New underframe and autocoupled 1958. BELOW, photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE: W 238 was built as an AB 107 in 1883, to B then Y then to W 238 in 1924 photo 1979. BELOW: W 238 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 251 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 256 at Ouyen Jan 14 1978

W 256 started life as a 6 wheel first class passenger coach A 99, built new in 1883. It entered Way & Works traffic in 1926. In 1958 it got a new underframe to allow it to be equipped with aut couplers.

BELOW: W 256 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 257 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 257 in 1976
photos courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 272 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 274 circa 1978 photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 298 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978

ABOVE: W 299 at Ararat Aug. 27 1978

ABOVE: W 300 at Sale Nov. 1980 In the 1970's a few W's emerged from overhaul with a few creature comforts: aluminium sliding windows, new doors and new roofs that didn't have any ventilators, the storage boxes that had hung under the underframe were also removed. It was also fitted with an operating Air brake during the rebuild. photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent

ABOVE W 301Aug 1981, photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: W 303 at Melb. yard June 3 1978

ABOVE: W 304 in 1976 photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 309 at Ararat July 29 1978

BELOW: W 309 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 312 stencilled for weighbridge fitters use, Tottenham, July 1979, Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

W 312 was built new April 1928, note the strengthened ends

BELOW: W 312 at Benalla Feb. 21 1978 Photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

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ABOVE: W 315 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978
BELOW: W 315 late 1970's
Photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent.

ABOVE: W 317 in 1976
BELOW: W 317 in 1979
photos courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 321 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 324 late 1970's
Photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent.

ABOVE: W 327 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 330, 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 331 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978

ABOVE: W 335 at Woodend, 1978

ABOVE: W 341, circa 1979
Photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 345 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 349 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 355 at Seymour Nov. 25 1978

ABOVE: W 358 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 360 circa 1978
photos courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 363 at Seymour Nov. 25 1978

ABOVE: W 364 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 365 at Woodend March 28 1978.

ABOVE: W 365 late 1970's,
photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent.

ABOVE: W 367 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978.
built April 1937

ABOVE: W 370 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 371 after its late in life rebuild. The rebuild saw buffers removed and shunters steps fitted, Air brake fitted, New (aluminium) dors and window frames Roof ventilators removed Full length gutters with downpipes, Electrical connections were moved from the end to above the doorway End windows blanked Note the smooth panels above the windows photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 372 at Jolimont workshops June 1982
photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent.

ABOVE: W 373 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 375 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 377 circa 1979, photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: W 381 at Ballarat May 13 1978.

ABOVE: W 385 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 387 in 1979
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 389 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 390 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE W 391 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 394 at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978

ABOVE: W 397 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE W 398 at Benalla April 1979
photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

BELOW: W 398 was one a few W's to get a rebuild late in life, In addition to the new roof (minus air vents) windows, doors and end window blanked, W 398 had its lever handbrake replaced with a transverse wheel handbrake and had an air brake fitted. Photo at Benalla Sept. 1979 photo courtesy Geoff Winkler

ABOVE: W 403 at Ballarat May 13 1978 built new Oct. 1943. Photographed in 1978. Note the wood jammed through the spoke of the wheel The white square to the left of 403 indicated the vehicle had a through brake pipe but no operating air brake.

BELOW: W 403 in 1979 after its late in life rebuild
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

The group 404 - 418 were built in 1945 after a pause in construction from the group ending at 403.
They differ from earlier W's having two end windows instead of one.

ABOVE: W 405 at Wallan 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 406 at Castlemaine March 23 1978

ABOVE: W 410 circa 1978

ABOVE: W 411 at Ararat Aug. 27 1978, built new June 1945.

BELOW: W 411 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 414 at Lang Lang March 1980
photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent

ABOVE: W 416 was built new in 1945

ABOVE: W 417 at Wodonga Feb 1978
photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: interior view of a W.

The following W's are shown as "built new" in the 1950's. In actuality they were bogie vehicles chopped into shorter sections and placed on reclaimed underframes. At this stage the best evidence suggests they were converted from B country cars and T suburban cars. In 1956 the introduction of Harris suburban cars saw the "scrapping" of suburban swing door cars and this is where the T cars would have come from.

The following info is quoted directly from a 1958 VR Newsletter

Workmen's sleepers with screw couplers are being converted for auto coupling. This is being achieved by transferring bodies to I wagon underframes, which are already fitted with automatic couplers. Condemed bodies of I wagons are being removed, and the underframes suitably altered for the workmen's sleepers.

To provide 80 smaller 2-man workmen's sleepers, the bodies of condemned A, B, M and T swing door cars are to be cut in half and the structures utilized for the conversion

ABOVE: W 419 circa 1978
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 420 in 1976
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE & BELOW: W 421 looks like it has just been "built" it was issued to service Aug. 1958
Official VR photo

BELOW: W 421 after 20 years of service
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: W 422 in 1979 photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: W 2146 at Seymour, 1978.

ABOVE: W 427 at Dandenong Feb. 1978 converted April 1959.

ABOVE: W 429 in 1976 before modification
photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: In 1978 W 429 was fitted with "alumclad" probably in an effort to save on maintaining the wooden planks. By this stage the W's days were numbered and no further vehicles recieved this modification. photo courtesy Geoff Winkler, 1978.