403W

ID/Name: 403W
Type:  Departmental vehicle
Description: Workmens Sleeper
Built: 1943
Status: Available for use

HISTORY

Workmen's sleeper vans were a mixture of old downgraded surplus carriages and new purpose built vehicles.  The first new purpose built workmens van was constructed in 1901, and after a few slight modifications all new vans were of similar design.  New W class vans were constructed in 1911, 1914, 1928/29, 1934, 1936/37, 1943, 1945, 1958 to 1960.  In addition some surplus fixed wheel wagons were converted to W class vans.

There were many uses for W vans. They were used by roving painters, bridge gangs, weighbridge fitters and track gangs to move from site to site as the work demanded. In later years track gangs camped at stations in districts. The train would be moved as required to a new district. Some men lived in these for most of their railway life, 15 to 20 years or more.

403W was built new in 1937 and allocated to the track gangs. It was one of the last in use and was purchased by Daylesford Railway in 1988. In 2025 it underwent a full rebuild to ensure it continues to provides comfortable accommodation for our volunteers.