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
There were three "types":