E open wagon with pressed sides and ends

 

In 1925 the Victorian Railways ordered two open wagons in kit form from the American Car and Foundry Company. These wagons numbered E1 and E2 featured pressed sides and ends and were assembled at Newport Workshops. The VR constructed another 200 indentical wagons between 1925 and 1928. 

By the late 1970's most of the remaining E wagons had been rebuild with HY sides and ends, or had there underframes reused for tank wagons or had been converted for Departmental use. Two of the wagons that were still around with their original pressed sides, were E146 and E57. 

These are Phoenix Models E wagons with minor modifications. E57 had its bar frame bogies removed and replaced with Steam Era Models XC bogies. These bogies needed to have the hole enlarged to fit on the bogie bolster. 

E 57 at Korumburra, Jan 1977, showing one of the very last E's to run in original condition. (Photo courtesy Rob O'Regan Victorianrailways.net) 

E146 had its pressed ends removed and replaced with scratchbuilt HY ends out of styrene sheet. This wagon had its shunters steps missing and these were replaced with Steam Era Models ones. 

E 146 at Nth Geelong yard. Dec. 7 1978 (Photo Geoff Winkler, Victorianrailways.net)

Both E wagons had there paintwork touched up and were then weathered with powders. These E wagons will be used in general goods service and will add a bit of variety to the open wagon fleet.