U892

ID/Name: U892
Type: Goods Wagon
Description: Louver Van
Built: 1917
Status: Available for traffic

History

U vans were one of the most numerous vehicles on the Victorian Railways. First built in 1897, they eventually numbered over 1,500 and were used for transporting perishable goods all over the State. When originally built, U892 was a 6 wheel vehicle (see 544ZL) but was converted to 4 wheel in 1935 when fitted with automatic couplers.

The U vans were the most colourful vehicles on the Victorian network, with approximately 100 having both sides painted as advertising for various companies, from beer to tea, paint to chainsaws and Peters Ice Cream.

They lasted in service all the way through to the 1980s, eventually replaced by road transport and bogie louver vans.

U892 was allocated to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre and became surplus to their needs in 2015 at which time it was transferred to Daylesford Railway by road.