42G1 - The unusual

Snapped these 42G1 (8'6") 40ft containers on a Qube job last week.  These are getting more and more uncommon in Australia, but obviously these were for a specific booking as they were all COSCO Shipping boxes.  

Interestingly there was a good collection of all the former and current liveries of Cosco Shipping include the Cosco grey, China Shipping green, OOCL grey, and the new Cosco Shipping bright blue.

Enjoy!

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New SCFU Boxes

A few new 2020 SCF containers have started showing up on the east coast.  

They look very similar to the 419 series of 40ft and 48ft boxes with the orange corner posts however tehse carry Vertical Load Bar text on the bottom sill.

SCFU 420025 on a PN MB4 service.

SCFU 420037 on a PN MB4 service.

SCFU 482083 on an SCT MB9 service.

SCFU 482083 on an SCT MB9 service.

Interestingly the 48ft boxes have gone back to a '48' prefix rather than a '420' prefix which has been the normal method for the past few years (i.e. 419 used for both 40ft and 48ft).  

The last time a '48' prefix was used on 48ft containers was the 486000 series that were initially delivered in 2016, although it seems that a second batch were delivered in 2017.  Previous to that, 4804 and 4805 prefixes were used on Northline leased containers which probably date back to 2004 and 2005.

Enjoy!

   

 

Toll 48+ Reefers

From what I can tell, these massive 48'11 reefers normally grace the rails between Adelaide and Darwin, however two turned up on a MB4 service the other day bound for Brissy.

Not sure if they have returned or may see some use in FNQ on the narrow gauge?  

Anyway, these two are TGLA 480026 and 480030.  They appear to be the same as the newer Linfox FTLD 48'11 reefers.  

Enjoy!

SCF and McColls Milk ISO Tankers

SCF have put up a cool video on their food grade ISO tanks which are used by McColls for moving milk product interstate.

Currently there are a number of these tanks running on SCT's BM9/MB9 service, some which are branded for McColls. 

Below is a selection of my shots of these 2DKA, which are in the SCFU 885 series (24,000L) and 895 series (24,500L).  For those interested, SCF have a number of light blue framed tanks used by Palmalat in the 875 series.    

SCFU 885003 in November 2020.

SCFU 885009 in October 2020 with the small McColls logo.

SCFU 895006 (with McColls logo) and CFU 885005 in June 2020.

SCFU 895006.

SCFU 895000 in June 2020 (I haven't seen this one since!).

SCFU 895010 in September 2020 with an offset logo.  

Not an SCFU tank, but an old TransAmerica Leasing tank now owned by McColls as MCTU 956080.

Enjoy!

Original Jumbo Coil Containers and Infront Models

Earlier this week I shot a PQGY with a pair of original jumbo coil containers.  These have been around for at least 15 years, but are well and truly outnumbered by the newer DMC and DMJU jumbo coil containers.  

My sighting coincided with the ordering of a few Infront Model containers available here which are really nicely cast with a lot of detail and only need a slight flash tidy up and a paint.  I'd highly recommend picking some up.  

With the recent sighting and my new models, I thought I would have a look back at some photos from my extensive collection from the period of 2004-2007 when jumbo coil cartage started to turn containerised.

The above four potos show PQGY 3136 with a recently loaded pair of older jumbo coil containers, the same as available from Infront Models.

An RQKY with two containers in 2004.  They had not been painted yellow by this time.

An NQIY or RQIY with another pair of rusty containers. 

A VQCX in 2004 passing through Broadmeadow Yard with another pair of jumbo coil containers.

By 2005 the containers had been painted yellow.  These are on RQMF 4260, and interestingly, are placed with the coil inboard which is pretty unusual.

RQMF 4260 again with a better view of the cradle end.

Another cradle in 2005 this time fitted to RQKY 2029.  

A nice view of RQKY 2029 at Junee in 2005.  This would make a nice model with an Auscision wagon and coils.  

In 2004 new DMC jumbo coil cradles were being introduced.  About 30 or so formed the first order.  This photo in 2006 shows an RQMF/RQMY with a mash up of DMC and an old container on the same deck.  This arrangement was and still is pretty rare.    

Jumping forward to 2009, they appears on an NQFF.  This would have been after Pacific National and Patrick Portlink lost a lot of the Port Botany container traffic to other operators.

Another NQFF in 2009, and this one with the cradles inboard.

And the last shot of RQMF 3059 in 2009 with a standard set up.  

Looking back, I have photoed a train with no less than 10 of these container as part of the load.  I'm not sure how many are in traffic, but I would think that it would be around 20 at most.  

Enjoy!

Royal Wolf 48ft Curtain Sider

In 2018 Royal Wolf introduced some new 48ft curtain siders in the 919 series.  

Seems like the first 10 had large logos with blue ends, and the next 10 or so (delivered in 2019) have grey end without any logos.

Below is a recent shot of RWTU 919006-2.

Enjoy!

The Rambler - RLUY 18651.

Looking very fresh, and following on from my Moniker post the other week, The Rambler has been sighted on RLUY 18651.

This now makes 4 classic moniker Sadleirs vans.

Enjoy!

  

Another Tube Skid!

Grabbed another Coregas Tube skid yesterday which is T584 and NKBU 130879-9.

Enjoy!

 

Another Coregas 40ft Tube Skid

Following on from my last sighting in June 2020  I snapped this different 40ft tube skid.  NKCU 100668-4 is marked as T580 for Coregas and carries compressed Hydrogen.  

This tank looks a bit neater in design than T583 which has an offset tube design.  

Enjoy!

Aussie Boxcar Tribute to Classic US Monikers

The railroads in the US have a long tradition of 'boxcar art' where railroad workers and hobos would chalk their name or a drawing onto the side of a boxcar.  This folk art goes back to the 19th century amd probably hit a peak in the mid to late 20th century.  

Originally chalk, and now paint crayons, are the weapon of choice for monikers (tags, nicknames, cartoons) to be applied to the side of freight wagons.  This is very much a precursor to aerosol /spray can graffiti. 

In the US, interchange rules would mean that freight cars could travel all over North America and there is some great reading available on this art form.  

The Massillon Museum did an exhibition in 2018, and this onine book is a great and interesting read; MONIKER.

There are some classic monikers around from yesteryear with some of the famous ones being Bozo Texino, Herby, Colossus of Roads, The Gambler, and The Kodak Kidd.  The list goes on....

Such mystery and folk art appear saw a move created a few years back Who is BOZO TEXINO.

Anyway, I have noticed lately that MTWO and COLA have been doing tributes to these classic monikers on Sadleir RLSY and RLUY vans.  Check them out below:

Bozo Texino on the side of a boxcar.  (Internet image)

buZ blurr, creator of Colossus of Roads.   (Internet image)

The Kodak Kidd.   (Internet image)

Herbert A Mayer (Herby).   (Internet image)

On a trip to the US a few years ago, I wasn't specifically looking out for these, but did photo a couple in my travels.

Colossus of Roads on a GACX boxcar.

The Kodak Kidd on a NS col hopper.

The tributes to these moniker classics are pretty recent.  Here are the three that I am aware of.  There might be others, and I would be surprised if The Rambler is not featured.  

RLUY 18596 with Palm Tree Herby.

RLSY 18071 with Who is Bozo Texino.

RLUY 18675 with Colossus of Roads.

A more subtle tribute to Palm Tree Herby on PBSY 0017 by Kotor back in 2017.

Enjoy!