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Fit for purpose


There was this cute little pay van, quite different from the nearby carriage used for carting sheep.  There were lots of others too like the mail carriage, coal carriage, prison carriage, shipping container carriages, even one for transporting coffins.



I've added Ophir at 100 Towns pop over to visit the first paying goldfield in Australia. 

Comments

  1. MartinaMarch 5, 2012 at 7:22 AM

    Since you already said "cute" ... (was my first thought, really). I have never seen such a "pay van" and I am not quite sure what it is. But it is cute.

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    Replies
    1. Joan ElizabethMarch 5, 2012 at 9:05 PM

      The pay van ran along the railway lines to the various stations and issued the railway employees with their pay packets. In those days they actually received dollar bills in their pay, rather than an electronic transfer to a bank.

      Delete
    2. MartinaMarch 6, 2012 at 9:10 AM

      Joan Elizabeth, oh, thanks very much for that! I would have never imagined this. The only thing I learned from google was that "Pay Van" might be a Asian name and surname, ;-).

      Delete
    3. JulieMarch 10, 2012 at 8:54 PM

      *chuckle* ... so much for google ...

      Delete
  2. WinamMarch 5, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    The first caravan has such a mid-century look in shape and colour, like something out of the Jetsons.

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  3. Joan ElizabethMarch 5, 2012 at 9:07 PM

    I'd say very 1930s.

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  4. diane bMarch 5, 2012 at 9:31 PM

    Interesting exhibits. I haven't seen a pay van like that before.

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  5. SusanMarch 6, 2012 at 3:31 AM

    That pay van is just gorgeous - love the colours!

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  6. freefallingMarch 6, 2012 at 8:22 AM

    OMG - I'm in love with that pay van!

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  7. UnknownMarch 7, 2012 at 8:55 AM

    The van is absolutely cute! Love it:

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  8. JulieMarch 10, 2012 at 8:53 PM

    That cute little pay van was on the main concourse at Central for much of last year. It was a good display. The Railways Historical society (which does much of Thirlmere) has a shop on the main concourse. So many fascinating books ... too many to be able to afford.

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  9. ABMarch 12, 2012 at 7:13 AM

    So much style and elegance in a pay van? Incredible!

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