Standard Composite Goods Brakevans

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Class  
Vehicle type Bogie composite goods brakevan
First introduced 1905
To Port Lincoln 1911
Ex Port Lincoln 1983
Load capacity 6 tons, 20 passengers
Number on Eyre Peninsula 10
Vehicle numbers 223, 1943, 3403, 3997, 4879, 4882, 4890, 4894, 5585 and 5587

The standard 'GB' (composite goods brake) was the ubiquitous brakevan on the SAR narrow gauge for decades. When built, they had a single passenger compartment at each end. Lavatories were added later to provide some form of passenger 'convenience'. Forty GBs entered service between 1905 and 1921.

Ten of these vehicles were transferred to Port Lincoln at irregular intervals between 1914 and 1964. Most (if not all) of the Port Lincoln vehicles were eventually rebuilt with only one compartment, the vangoods compartment being extended into the passenger space at the other end. All of the vehicles at Port Lincoln were eventually painted in a plain green livery with cream window frames.

Goods brake 4879 at Rudall in 1964, prior to rebuilding with a single passenger compartment. Photo: Bill Lewis

223. Built 1905. To Port Lincoln 9 Mar 1914. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed Mar 1966. Condemned 19 Aug 1982. To Pichi Richi 12 Jan 1983.

1943. Built 1911. To Port Lincoln Jun/Jul 1953. Condemned 10 Jul 1973.

3403. Built 1911. To Port Lincoln Aug 1927. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed Jul 1964. Condemned 27 Nov 1979. To Pichi Richi 28 Nov 1979.

3997. Built 1911. To Port Lincoln 8 Dec 1964. Condemned 13 Aug 1970.

4879. Built 1911. To Port Lincoln Aug 1927. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed in 1960s. Condemned 19 Aug 1982. To Pichi Richi 10 Jan 1983.

4882. New to Port Lincoln 16 Dec 1911. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed in 1960s. Condemned 19 Aug 1982.

4890. Built 1921. To Port Lincoln Aug 1927. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed in 1960s. Condemned 19 Aug 1982. To Pichi Richi 11 Jan 1983.

4984. Built 1921. To Port Lincoln Aug 1927. Rebuilt, one passenger compartment removed Oct 1966. Reported as condemned 10 Jun 1978 after accident, but probably repaired. Condemned 19 Aug 1982. To Pichi Richi 12 Jan 1983.

5585. Built 1916. Ex South-East to Port Lincoln Aug 1953. Condemned 10 Jul 1973.

5587. Built 1916. Ex South-East to Port Lincoln Jun/Jul 1953. Condemned 10 Jul 1973.

GB 223 as rebuilt with one passenger compartment removed. Port Lincoln, 1973. Photo: Noel Potter