7BM7 @ Mittagong

I wanted to try a new shot near the old Mittagong Maltings. A little bit of gardening certainly help the shot, although I was caught out and didn't get into position quick enough!


LDP009 and LDP002 on 7BM7


Freshly overhauled QQAY 47808


QQGY 521 with 30ft CRT containers


CQBY 2072 with a 'Bears' 40ft container and QR side door container.

Enjoy

Clinka

Photoed 'Clinka BT26' train 2233 at Mittagong today.

These wagons are now all blue and have ground operated pneumatic hatches on the roof.

This service ran loaded from Berrima to Maldon, hauling clinker for the cement works. Clinker is used in the cement making process, and is produced from limestone.


NPEF 82026 showing the access to the roof if required. Not the XGC bogie on the next wagon. Most NPEF wagons are fitte with XLA type bogies.


NPEF 82020 showing the ram end that opens the three roof hatches.

Enjoy

PN Easter Saturday

A few PN jobs around MIttagong on Easter Saturday.


RKMX 434 with two CIMC RV coil containers on NY3.


Sadleirs container RCS2141 on PS6. This was a former Vline container.


RKJX 50 with plate steel ex Port Kembla on NY3


Two lone NGDX hoppers were noted in the middle of 2833 mill wheat service to Allied Mills at Maldon. The rest of the train was NGPF and NGKF hoppers.

Enjoy

Polar Pak

Following some discussion on a news group, I thought I would do a Blog on Polar Paks with NRC, and PN.

'Polar Paks' were introduced by National Rail to allow them to carry Reefer Container that required constant power between terminals/capital cities. The Polar Pac was a genset and fuel tank (supplied by Cummins Onan) and was like to be around 6-8kva, enough to powere about 3 x 20ft containers. The fuel tank looks to be about 100L.

Polar Paks have been installed on 3 main types of wagons, although none are in service as of 2010 and have been removed from the wagon.

5-pack well RQZY - No change to the code
60ft RQTY/RRDY - Converted to RRTY
60ft RQSY - Converted to RRSY

RQZY

Taken in 2002 at Islington SA, an RQZY 5-pack well wagon has a Polar Pak fitted to the end platform section near the bar coupling. In this configuration, the Polar Pak could supply power to a container in the well which it is attached to, as well as the container to the left (over the bar coupling). As the wells were bar coupled, there was no need for plugs as the wagon could not be uncoupled. These RQZY wagons would have supplied power on the Melbourne to Perth corridor. Polar Paks on RQZY wells become quite uncommon by the mid 2005, as other methods were employed (RREY - see below).

RRTY



Taken in 2006, an RRTY wagon is seen at Port Botany with a reefer container fitted on the deck. The close up photo shows the jumper connections on the end of the Polar Pak, allowing 3 reefer containers to be fitted on the deck of the wagon. THe RRTY wagons were common on the SeaTrain services between Port Botany NSW and Fishermans Island QLD. When this service ceased a few years ago, the RRTY wagons were placed into the general pool on Intermodal wagons. All Polar Paks have now been removed from these wagons as seen in an early Blog https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnCJVDg37-XcldEGzvF_pguRJwQtYh5RIII0mzJ5SgfKXYFji4teqyD5o1rTPQR9k5RfvsAkdzQvGXgfE4CI5lbNdDRb5hE44pMYKQe4PGPwNpos3Lr56ZlUnDAQc5e4dqVBUOztm3Tk/s1600-h/PS6y+(Large).jpg

RRSY



Both photos were taken during 2007, when the RRSY wagons were not seeing as much use as in previous years. They were fitted with a Polar Pak at one end of an RQSY wagon in the early 2000s. The Polar Pak was secured to two steel beams across the wagon deck. Below the beams, the deck cut outs had been meshed in obviously so staff could start up the generators. With the Polar Pak on the deck, the wagon could only carry 2TEU, rather than the normal 3TEU, however, occasionally a reefer container would be placed on an adjacent wagon and the power cord safely run over the couplers.

The RRSY wagons were almost always captive on the Melbourne Brisbane services, and often ran as a pair, coupled together or close to each other in the train consist. Having read some NRC publicity material, it is believed that these wagons were set up to carry potato products originating in Ulverstone TAS, from Melbourne to Brisbane.

RREY

A newer concept to NRC was the Chiller Service, where 3 to 4 permanently coupled RQTY type wagons were recoded to RREY. The concept involved a large Generator (possibly 80kva) placed inside a 20ft container (see the grey container about 4 back in the photo) to act as the power source for all 4 wagons. The generator supplied power to a main line running through all wagons in the set. Each wagon had a 'jumper' cable to connect power between wagons. Each wagon then had a set of power outlets where containers could be plugged into.

The wagon sets were often used between Melbourne and Adelaide on the 'LandBridge' Patrick service, and also on the SeaTrain service (See RRTY). The photo above is actually a Brisbane to Melbourne service. Patrick marked containers were originally used on the Landbraige trains, however, grey NRC containers started to appear as the norm on all services.

This style of reefer connection (not using Polar Paks) has been used by PN/Freight Australia (in VIC on VExx type wagons), ARG (AEQY) and CFCLA (CQBY). QR probably do something similar also.

Enjoy

Botany Line Update

The photo below did raise some interest on various newsgroups, and as a result of kind people sharing their knowledge, I can advise that the lump of steel is called a 'Capstan' as was indeed used to assist in the unloading of wagons on side (although they may not have been used much at all at Kelloggs).

A wealth of information, RK, has advised that Kelloggs had 3 capstans installed in 1972/73.

Cheers

Botany Line

I grew up around Botany, and managed to get some official photos last week while inspecting wagons. Here are a few photos from the Gelco end of Botany.

The location of the Ampol turnout, and gates just before Ocean St. The turnout is now removed, and the track has been removed on the branch with buildings now over the old formation. As a kid, I was lucky enought to get a cab rid in a 48 from Ocean St, to the Ampol depot and back.

View of Kelloggs and the turnout off 1 Road.

Frame for Kelloggs and the derails

Derails. No3 siding spurs off to the right and into the shed with the roller door. No1 siding continues left.

No1 siding, with a turnout to the right for No2 siding. No2 siding goes off to an undercover area, where it splits into a second siding. No2 siding was used for bottom dischage.

Probably rail related. Was this used to shunt wagons in the sidings using a tractor?

No1 siding continuing up a steep grade. The main line is on the left

The dead end for No1 road. It previously terminated inside the building, behind the roller door.

Kelloggs has not seen a delivery by rail for some years now. The last wagons to deliver rice or grain were the Freight Australia VHLY wagons which were loaded in the Riverina of NSW. Here is VHLY 296 on the empty Bomen Oil train at Illabo in April 2006, being routed to Botany.

The track was in such poor condition at Kelloggs that they needed to push the loaded wagons up the siding using a rake of around 20 empty container flats, so the locos did not traverse the track.

Prior to VHLY wagons being used, Frieghtcorp delivered rice in NGRX hoppers, often with Sunrice logos on the side.

Enjoy.

VHGF Type Hoppers in NSW

A question was asked about yellow VHGF type hoppers running in NSW. Well, here are some photos. Mind you, not all are yellow, but there was also some confusion about the suffix in the code and the ability for them to run in NSW. The top photo was taken in 11/2003, and the bottom three were taken in 01/2003. All were when Freight Australia started running grain in NSW. All photos are at Rozelle (now closed).


VHGF 526, most likely set up as a VHAF with grade control, but not yet restencilled. If the wagon was marked correctly it would be a VHAX to denote that is was suitable for bogie exchange.



VHHF 805 with SG bogies. Again, this should be a VHHX code.



Yellow VHGY (in the 200 series I beleive) with 70t SG bogies. In the V/Line days, the Y would denote high speed 50t bogies, but I believe Freight Australia modified some of these to 70t bogies and made them a Y wagon for the SG. As no 70t BG bogies exist, this wagon would have always operated on the SG once the 70t bogies were fitted. The wagon is now stored out near Ararat in Victoria after being stored in Portland for many years. It is probably now green or blue.

A partial repaint of VHGY 218. This view clearly shows the 70t bogies. No doubt an Ausicison hopper could be modified with 70t bogies from Exactrail to match this prototype photo.

Enjoy

Blast from the Past - PQWY

Nothing much to report today, so I dug up an old photo taken at Bluebird Adelaide in March 2006. The photo shows PQWY 0053, at the time, one of three well wagons owned by CIMC (0051-0053) and leased to various operators.

The wells came into Australia in 2001 from QRRS China, and were owned by Macfield. These then passed into the ownership of CIMC Australia.

When this photo was taken, all three wagons had just been through the workshops for repaint into this sky blue livery. Previously they were a dark blue with Macfield logos and were leased by ASR, regularly running on the Adelaide to Sydney service.

It is believed that all 3 are now owned by QR, and have been recoded QQWY, with at least 0052 being painted all light grey. The wagons had previously been on lease to QR since 2006.

Enjoy

Goulburn Tuesday

As I was leaving Goulburn yard, I was stopped at the level crossing with NY3 passing. It slowed right down for a possible crew change, so a quick dart around the back way to Mundy St bridge for a few wagon shots.


An RQIY with steel rod loading onto a pair of stacked flat rack containers.


RKRF 3262 headed back to Whyalla for more 27m lengths of rail. This paired railset had problem delivered rail to Acacia Ridge where it is transloaded onto QR narrow gauge wagons.

Enjoy

Monday's Steelink Photos

Managed to get XW4 and NP3 today in sun - a bit of a miracle with the clouds that were around. In no particular order are some of the shots from today.


On NP3, RKWY 12 loaded with small steel pipes. This wagon was recoded from the AOOX/GOX number series when it was converted for steel traffic by AN.


An unidentified RKYY tilt bed wagon with sheet steel for Forrestfield. These were refurbished and repainted in full PN colours over the last couple of years.


On XW4, VOFX 426 in Freight Australia green. I haven't seen this wagon before on Steelink services, so can only assume it is fresh from the BG. Note it has a black backed PN logo, unlike ROBX 1073 with a white backed PN logo.


An RKCX with quite an orange tarp. Most are 2/3rds grey, but lately the PN tarps have been a real mixed bag. I haven't seen one with so much orange on it.


RRKY 2712 with scrap containers loaded for Port Kembla. Observant viewers will note the Aligned bogies which are original to this wagon. Not many aligned bogies remain operating on the East Coast.

Enjoy!