WW workmens sleepers

Number in Class	171
Number group	1 - 176
Construction period
In service
Where built
Diagram

WW's were used to provide sleeping accomodation for workers. They would spend a period of time at a location and when a work project was finished they would be moved to the gang's next work project.. They were universally known as "bughuts"

They were usually converted from old passenger cars that were beyond their normal lifespan.

ABOVE: WW 2 photo, ex AB 3, which was used on the Better Farming Train, converted 1940. (courtesy Geoff Winkler.)

ABOVE: WW 3 was built as a joint stock baggage van in 1887 at the Adelaide Loco Works. In 1904 it was purchased from the SAR and fitted out as a workmens sleeper which included the installation of windows. This photo is probably circa 1927 and is curious as it was obviously in Way & Works service but it appears to be attached to a passenger train, perhaps it was still allowed to travel at passenger train speeds. (The "S&T" on the car side stood for Signal & Telegraph). It was scrapped in 1929, photo courtesy SLV.

ABOVE: WW 5 circa 1944. Built as AA 10 in 1880 was converted into a WW May 1941. In this photo it is in suprisingly good condition considering its age. photo courtesy PROV

ABOVE: WW 10

ABOVE: WW 12 was built as a 45' AA in 1889. In 1908 it was lengthened to 57' 3". It was converted into WW in 1957. photo at Woodend, March 28 1978. It was recorded as scrapped in 1981.

ABOVE: WW13 at Woodend, March 28 1978.

BELOW: WW 13 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 21 at Ballarat May 13 1978.

ABOVE: WW 22 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 26 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 40 was converted from T 3, April 1958, scrapped Oct. 1978 photo at Woodend, March 1978

ABOVE: WW 45 was converted from unknown class July 1958, scrapped May 1978 Photo at Woodend, March 1978

ABOVE & BELOW: WW 47 was converted from B 50, Aug. 1958, photos circa 1979, photo BELOW courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 50 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 52 was converted from B 167, Aug. 1958
Photo at Yarrawonga, May 11 1980
Photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

BELOW: B 167 at Spencer St circa 1955, this carriage was converted into WW 52 seen above.

ABOVE: WW 57 started life as a 45' car, O 28 built new June. 1891. in 1901 it ws recoded to ABAB 80. In 1910 it was recoded to AB 78 In Dec. 1911 it was lengthened to 57' 3" Converted to WW 57 Oct. 1958. off register July 1978 Photo at Ouyen Jan. 14 1978

ABOVE: WW 58 at Ouyen Jan 14 1978

ABOVE: WW 69 started life as a 45' car, AA 262 built new Dec. 1890
in 1898 it ws recoded to BB 37
In 1910 it was recoded to B 37
In 1912 it was lengthened to 57' 3"
Converted to WW 69 April 1959, scrapped Oct 1978
Photo at Woodend, March 1978

ABOVE: WW 70 at Echuca, Jan 1970. (photo courtesy Chris Wurr)

ABOVE: WW 71 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 72 started life as a 45' car, AA 259 built new Nov. 1890 in 1895 it ws recoded to ABAB 46. In 1912 it was lengthened to 57' 3" and recoded to AB 44. Converted to WW 72 April 1959, off register Feb. 1984, scrapped March 1984. Photo date, 1978

The diagram below shows the car WW72 was converted from

The diagram below shows this car "as built" prior to lengthening

ABOVE: WW 76 at Malmsbury circa 1972. photo courtesy David Langley.

ABOVE: WW77 at Bendigo, Oct. 10 1959 not long after it was recoded from AB 76.
Photo courtesy Doug McLean - Train Hobby Publications Archives.

WW 77 was a unique WW as it was the last remaining example of a group of 6 joint stock cars which were built in 1887 to run on the first passenger trains between Melbourne and Adelaide. It had 4 1st class and 2 2nd class compartments with a total passenger capacity of 52
O 9 built new Jan.1887
to ABAB 78 1901
to AB 76 1910
circa 1950 "stripped for W&W" sleeper to WW 77 May 1959, out of service, stored 1976

BELOW: Photo at Newport workshops May 1980 Photo courtesy Peter J. Vincent

ABOVE: Frank Kelly's 4mm scale model of AB 76. Below is a diagram for this group of cars from the 1904 diagram book.

ABOVE: WW 80, circa 1976, photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: WW 81 was renumbered from WW 18, Aug 1959
WW 18 was converted from B 151, April 1957
Photo at Ouyen, Jan. 14 1978

ABOVE: WW 82 at Newport storage yard, Feb 1978

ABOVE: WW 83 at Newport storage yard. 1978

ABOVE & BELOW: WW 84 was converted from B 6, Nov. 1959
(above and below at Ballarat 1978)

ABOVE: WW 84 started life as a 45' car, AA 262 built new Dec. 1890
in 1898 it ws recoded to BB 37
In 1910 it was recoded to B 37
In 1912 it was lengthened to 57' 3"
Converted to WW 69 April 1959, scrapped Oct 1978

ABOVE: WW 90 was converted from AB 60 April 1962, scrapped July 1978. Photo March 1978

ABOVE: WW 93 was converted from AB 50 April 1962. Photo at Sale Feb. 1980 Photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: WW 95 at Malmsbury, circa 1972, photo courtesy David Langley.

ABOVE: WW 97 was converted from AB 64 April 1962, scrapped March 1983.

ABOVE & BELOW:WW 98 at Woodend, March 1978. WW 98 was converted from BC 20 July 1962, scrapped 1980.

BELOW: WW 98 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 99 at Woodend circa 1976. Built March 1890 as AA 145. Lengthened from 45' to 57' 3" 1909. Converted to WW 99 Dec 1963. photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: WW 101 circa 1976, photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.

ABOVE: WW 108 circa 1979. photo courtesy Rob O'Regan

ABOVE: WW 111 circa 1979. Photo courtesy Peter J Vincent

ABOVE: WW 112 at Ouyen 1978. The painters applying the wagon stencil obviously disn't know the difference between a W and a WW!

ABOVE: WW 113 at Seymour, 1975. Photo courtesy David Langley

ABOVE: WW 119, photographed 1978.

ABOVE: WW 125 circa 1976. Built 1883 as 6 wheel A 120. Converted to WW 125 Nov 1959, at which time it recieved its bogie underframe. photo courtesy Peter J Vincent.