This week CGL Models (www.cglmodels.com.au)
HWO wagons arrived in the mail. The wagons come in a pack of three, with
four different packs for you to choose from. Pack 1, general traffic wagons
(1980’s), Pack 2, one general traffic, one Q-Link, one QRX (1990’s), Pack 3 is
three HWOS steel wagons (2000’s), Pack 4 is one general traffic, one QRX and
one HWOS (2000’s). The prototype wagons entered service in 1974, in the mid
80’s the class was modified by placing the inside stanchions outside to give a
uniform loading area between the doors. The wagon size and carrying capacity made
it a popular choice for Transport Companies. Many of them were captive to various
companies across the state. The wagon modelled is the modified version with the
uniform loading area. As freight moved towards containers, the wagons were
given a new life in BHP steel traffic as HWOS wagons. Plus a number were
allocated to Q-Link Traffic for cranky/ruff loading to western and north coast centres.
Other were reclassed WHOI for infrastructure
service.
HWOS and other HWO’s.
The wagons come in packs
similar to other wagons made in China. The outer cardboard packaging leaves no
doubt to what prototype is inside, a company logo similar to a 1200 DEL chevron,
with blue, white and orange on the box. Inside the pack is a plastic sleeve of fine
detailing parts (Air hoses, uncoupling rods, and door stops) and a two page instruction
sheet. The sheet details model features, Safety Notes, Important information regarding
delicate parts, warranty, spare parts,
adjustable coupling pockets 16.5 & 12 mm track standards), fitting brake
pipe hoses, uncoupling levers and door stops. I found the fine detailing parts
were easy to fit, plus it allowed me to position parts how I wanted them. The
model can be purchased to run on both 12 mm and 16.5 mm track systems.
The detail on the wagons is
awesome, having worked with the prototype for many years, nothing is missing. The
manufactures have done there homework, plus have considered how the model will
look and run on the layout and handle by the modeller. The brake gear looks
that good you would think it works. The bogies have brake beams and blocks, and
a SAV value (Load/empty device) on one bogie. The bogie class, manufacture and
other marking are all there. The wagon end has bifurcated brake pipe hoses, one
has the tap open and the other is closed, just like the real thing on a train. Stencilling on the wagons is spot on, all correct
size an information for the era.
Underfloor detail.
On the track straight out
of the box the wagon rolls very freely, leave them on a slight grade, and they take
off. Across rail joints the wagon sounds
just like the real thing. On my Peco track and points the wagons operated
faultlessly and pass the requirements I use as a standard for rollingstock
going on the layout for operations sessions. After this I gave them the “flick”
test, most times this end up in a mess all over the layout. This time with six
coupled wagons, I had to go down at the other end of the layout to find them.
The bogies are strong and there is no side play in the wheelsets. In trying to
derail the wagons, I pushed the six wagons on the front of a loco at speed
through a double crossover. They were like glue and stuck to the track without
incident.
Pushing through a double crossover (Peco
Points)
Note the different shades of grey, the 1980 wagons are darker than the later 2000 era wagons.
Fly shunting was
something I enjoyed watching, after the 90’s it was outlawed by management.
This move saved time, to get of the other of a wagon, if often required the
shunt engine to run around via the loop, not to many short loops in most yards.
Fly shunting the engine would push the wagon up the head shunt or main line. In
the steam days the shunter would ride on the cow catcher. The engine would come
back and the shunter would drop the coupling, the driver in hearing the
coupling drop onto the cow catcher would increase speed to clear the points.
Once the engine was clear of the points, the shunter at the points would
reverse the points and the wagon would go running down another road until it
hit another wagon or the shunters applied the handbrake. The shunt engine would
come back to the points and run back onto the wagon. This is one thing I have
not been able to do on the yard until today. At first I tried one HWO off the
shunt straight. The trick was reversing the tortoise point motor between the
two. After a bit of practice, I could fly shunt six HWO wagons from the front
of the shunt engine (Paw Paw) to the back of the engine without running
around.
For the modeller who
likes to add his own stamp to his rollingstock, what a canvas you have to work
with, endless opportunities for loads and weathering. Wooden floor inserts and
bullhead all have wood grain. That gives you both inside and out to weather. One
could write a book highlighting the detailing on these wagons.
Wood grain on the timber floor inserts
If this manufacture
produces anymore wagons I will need to rethink my QR modelling era/eras in much
the same way I did with my NSWR rollingstock. I have had a FNH 2170 from day
one, I guess it’s about time it did some real work.
Bogie Detail and markings
Congratulation Carl,
Graham and Lincoln (CGL Models) on an awesome model and for making a popular
uneek prototype general freight wagon available to modellers.
