Half Height Containers

Following on from some excellent photos posted on the Barcoola Blog, here is a selection and description of most 'half height' containers in service these day.  Most photos are taken in SA during the last 5 years.

I'll try and classify them technically for easy identification.  There are three main 'half height' container types:

1. Flat Rack.  Fitted with foldable or solid ends which can support the weight of a container double stacked.  A common Australian Flat Rack is probably 6'9'', although desgins vary, usually based on the product carried.  Don't get this confused with a transiflat which has no solid ends.
2. 'G' Type Container.  These are generally curtain sided, although FCL do have a standard 40ft steel sided version and SCF have an all side door version. These are suitable for double stacking and are very similar to the flatracks but have a roof and curtain side added.  I would love to hear from anyone who knows more about the 'G' type container term, as I have only heard it used a few times.  These containers are also commonly 6'9''.
3. Lower than normal steel container.  These containers are not actually half height, or even close to it - they are actually 8'6'' which is the standard shipping container height.  What makes it odd is that they are extremely long, and may also come in taller versions, such as the TNT/Ceva containers.   

A flatrack double stacked

 Three K&S steel flack racks.  Not the bottom flat rack has been folded down into a transiflat.

Another flat rack  

An extendable steel flat rack double stacked 

SCT owned curtain sided 'G' containers

 

An SCF side door G container

 

A Toll curtain sided G container stacked on the top.  The Pilkinton containers are 11'6'' or maybe more!

 

A Toll curtain sider and a TNT 8'6'' (51'6'' long).  Most of the TNT car-containers are 10'6''   

 A Freightlink 53ft container, measuring up at 8'6''.  These containers only come in this height. 

Not falling clearly into any category, this short steel container could be called a flat rack, but is more specialised rather than being a true 'half height'.

To finish off, a steel FCL container. 

Enjoy

Day 1 - Bomen

A few photos from Bomen (just north of Wagga)

 The redundant Caltex sidings.  14 NTAF tankes are stored - future unknown.

The container Terminal, loading a lot of 40ft container with VISY paper.  The wagons being loaded are generally RQEY two-packs and PQZY 80ft jumbos.  This train (3393) had an NR up front. 

 G530 after being damaged a few weeks back.

Bomen is home to a rather large sleeper producing facility.  Some of the wagons are the place were NDHX 14474.

 RDTF 60404

NQHX 22136

Local shunter T371 - Don't think it gets much use these days.

Enjoy

Day 1 - WP2

Some wagon shots of WP2 departing Junee.

RCSF 6 with a full load.  Note the Ride Control bogie at one end, and the Barber bogie at the other.

 Former ELX, RKJX 8 is loaded with steel plate.

 RKKY 7354 loaded with slab of different weathering!

 3-Pack slab/billet wagon RKKY 7353.

An unknown RKMX fitted with some very NSW bogies - an XLB and an XGC.

Enjoy

Day 1 - 48 Class

A few photos of the legnedary 48 class (and an 830 for good measure).  All photos were at Coota or Junee.

 Stored 833 at Coota.  This loco has run since ATN days.

 PN repaint 48144 at Coota.

Graincorp 48213 on the lead of a sleeper train at Junee.  Another 81 arrived from Bomen and attached to the front for the trip to Coota, where 48213 was detached and added to a grain train. 

 A pair of Graincorp 48s waiting refurbishment at JRW Junee.

Graincorp GPU2 at Coota.

Enjoy

Day 1 - Coota

Here are some photos from Day 1 (15/6) of my trip to Bendigo.  This series of shots was taken at Cootamundra NSW.

 

 4701/4204, leading an ARTC ballast, with an SSR T and 4716 on the rear.

 NGMA 29290.  There are about a dozen 'blacks' stored at Coota.

 NGVF 36425.  Without checking, this is probably a Graincorp wagon.  Note the XG bogie on the left, and XL bogie on the right!

Once on the BG (and coded ROZX) NOFF 70029 has returned to NSW.  Also in the yard were NOFF 70001, 70025 and I believe NOHF 5201. 

Tomorrow will be some 48 class photos and WP2 Steel train.

Enjoy

Off to Mexico

Off to Mexico (Victoria) tomorrow via Goulburn, Coota, Junee, Deni, Echuca and Bendigo.

Batteries are charges, and no piece of rollingstock is safe...

Stay tuned for some photos in the coming days!

WF

Some IPhone Photos

I started reading an article in the latest DIgest about Smart Phone photography, which has prompted me to post these shots from a few weeks back in Newcastle.

NGDX 30679 (with a WHX wheat code) still sporting the R logo in 2011.  I've posted this after reading Blair's excellent article on weathering the WHX hoppers (see AJRM 11)

 A former DOT tank, converted to a vegetable oil NTOF.  Not sure why there are about 5 sitting in the sidings at Carrington.

 WGBY 1085.  Observant viewers/readers will know that only 84 were ordered by AWB and are in service.  This is owned by CIMC (the importer).

A rather different container - Audi A1, with a large fold down side door.  Wonder waht was inside???

Don't forget to post thos interesting shots to Rollingstock Photos.  Nothing like a good Iphone grab shot!

Enjoy

Thirlmere Excursion

A few photos from Thirlmere/Trainworks, taken about 2 weeks back.

Enjoy

PS6 - May 27

An Impressive Quin NR lash up on PS6 Last Friday (Interestingly, PS6 today was a Quin NR lash up also)

 Seems former Macfield leased containers to QR are now owned by ANL.

 An FCL flat rack.

 A former FCL (now Linfox) glass container

 RQGY 34346 in what I think is faded CRT blue.

 A flat rack load of timber.

 A former Boxcar/Maybe/Linfox 48ft container now painted Toll green and marked for TSPD.

A recently repainted Sadleirs van.  Note the logo panel is now missing, showing that the van has faded a fair bit since new.

From the original build, RLSY 18629.  Auscision are doing a model of this exact wagon.

Enjoy