I/IA open wagons

Number in Class
Number group 7671 -15869
Construction period 1908 - 1929
In service 1908 - end
Where built Newport, others
Diagram General arrangement
More photos
Modeling S.E.M. make a supurb HO model
By the late 70's this was the only style of I/IA in service, earlier I/IA's included all wood, steel and wood and all steel high sides (Tommy Bent's) construction.There was no physical difference between an I and an IA,they were all built as I and the recodings to IA took place in the early 1930's, the code difference was for billing reasons.

In their very early days many photos exist of I/IA's loaded with bagged wheat, of course firewood was a mainstay traffic for this class, after the introduction of dedicated bulk grain wagons they saw service hauling virtually any commodity on all VR lines. Common traffic late in their lives was coal

As time went by they provided underframes and/or bodies for many subsequent classes including: B's, DW's, KB, KCC's, KF's, KL's, KM, KR's, KW, HD's, HR's, IC's, IT's, IK's, HR's, WX (WA), The IY class were built as I's and recoded to IY in the early 1930's to designate their higher load carrying capacity underframes.

ABOVE: I 10097 most likely photographed to show the newly installed auto couplers, March 1929. Official VR photo, Frank Kelly collection

This is a "Tommy Bent" I/IA, although none were in service by the late 70's they are referenced a lot in VR wagon history. IA 6843 started life as I 6843 in Dec. 1902, it was autocoupled and recoded to IA in 1935. By the time this photo was taken (at Newport in 1978) it may well have been the last "Tommy Bent" to survive in original condition.

Note that the wagon number appears on the underframe, this was done so that the number could still be read when the doors were open. The practice ceased in the early to mid 70's

ABOVE: A "Tommy Bent" in "as new" condition, note the lack of vertical stiffener.

ABOVE: IA 7012 circa 1950

ABOVE: IA 4445 circa 1950

 

ABOVE: I 3375 circa 1920 official VR photo, courtesy State Library of Victoria

ABOVE: I 7007 at Wangaratta circa 1937.

ABOVE: IA 7277 photo circa 1934. photo courtesy PROV


ABOVE: I 14941 at Westall, April 25 1978.

ABOVE: I 14828 circa 1920
official VR photo, courtesy State Library of Victoria.

ABOVE: IA13711 circa 1950,    photo courtesy State Library Victoria

This is the content for Layout P Tag

IG wagons

The IG class were an interesting variation on the standard I wagon. The main difference were their doors which dropped down instaed of swinging sideways like a regular I wagon. The much wider opening allowed large farm machinery to be loaded. It is surmised that the letter G indicated Gravity.

ABOVE: Builders photo of IG 7508 circa 1905. photo courtesy PROV

From To Year Built Notes
13261 13270 1912
13271 13407 1913
13408 13809 1914
13810 14045 1915
14026 14124 1914
14125 14275 1915
14276 14299 1916
14300 14733 1915
14734 14868 1916
14869 14974 1917
14975 1920
14976 15024 1921
15025 15187 1924
15188 15219 1925
15220 15557 1926 to IY
15558 15569 1927 to IY
15570 15869 1929