Westgate - South Western Rail: December 2018

The first wagon behind the engine (DEL 1208) on train 209 (previous Blog) is an “MTW’ class wagon. W/MTW wagons entered service between 1943 and 1945. The class had its own set of numbers like privately own wagons. W wagons were for conveying bag wheat and were much the same as MTW’s, except to assist in keeping the bags of wheat on the wagons, a 4” rail was fitted around the out edge of the floor. The wagons had a Tare of 10.5 tons and carried 26 tons. The wagons were supplied by two manufactures, Waddingtons, Granville, NSW (Numbers 1 – 500), and Evans Deakin, Brisbane (Numbers 744 – 800). Plan P 244 redrawn in 1984 (metric) and revised in 2001 shows the wagons as 12.2 m Flat Top Wagon, Commonwealth Land Transport Board. One writer indicated the “MT” was for Military Transport, while another indicated it was for Motor Transport.

Weekly Notice 47/43 (25/11/43) advised that 55 “W” wagons would be converted to sheep wagons, 50 NW double deck sheep wagons and 5 NWB sheep drover/guards vans. 1944 annual reported showed there were 356 “W”, 89 “MTW, 50 NW, 5 NWB’s were in traffic. 1948 more wagons were converted to NW wagons, in 1950, 50 were converted to WR rail wagons, more followed in 1957. In 1957, 272 wagons were fitted with “Draft Gear” increasing drawhook capacity, some were marked with CD in a side-on square on the sole bar. Other just had the words “Draft Gear fitted. This made them “Select” or D3 drawgear, which allowed for increased train loads.

Photo Late Dr. Stephen Suggit (AMRA Qld Collection).

By the mid 1950’s, wheat was being transported in new ‘WH” wagons in bulk. At about the same time, sugar was to be transported in bulk. Boxes were placed on MTW wagons and carried bulk sugar to port terminals at Mackay, Townsville and Cairns. This continued to the mid 70’s when new PYC wagons were built for this traffic to increase loads etc. June 1960 Annual report showed 12 W wagons, as to 24 in 59, 436 MTW’s as to 398 in 59, this included 9 carrying bulk cement. 9 NW and 9 NWB’s in service. 120 WR as to 70 wagons in 1959. Some WR were made up into sets which were doubled coupled for conveying welded rail, these wagons had a yellow band painted along the side and four extra bolsters. In the late 60’s rail would arrive by ship docking at the BHP wharf at Hamilton. Rail at the time was in 40 foot lengths, special trains would run from Whinstanes to Banyo where the rail was welded into longer lengths.

NWB Drover/Guards Van

WR Coopers Plains.

MTW’s had a long record of service and over time were converted to carry various traffic. 1981 CME report showed all but 15 of the original numbers were still in service.

Some other conversion where:-

WBC:- bulk cement (21). WM:- molasses (5 in 74 ND Tfc). MTWG :- bulk grain (17 in 79, two types of containers), WRA:- (WR with ridge control bogies). WRB:- (in sets of 5 to carry 24 m rail), KWA:- cattle wagon (100 in 77, ND Tfc), MTWC:- Containers (1976), MTS:- steel floor (1989), MTSC:- steel floor- containers, MTSF:- steel floor fast freight, these wagons were also fitted with bars for carrying vehicles. WS timber, MMTW:- maintenance wagons, some with mobile homes fitted. They were also used as skeletal wagons for concrete bridge girders, 442 was fitted with cable drums for electrification work.

MTW with sugar bins. Cairns. 1979

MTWC for Containers

WM molasses Townsville

WRA

MTSF Bundaberg

MTSF 231 Clapham Jan 2000

KWA Partington Jul 99. (Ipswich Conversion)

KWA Garbutt Jul 99. (Townsville Conversion, QR 4 Bogies from HJSF Wagons)

“W/MTW’s’ wagons were painted red oxide (QR goods wagon red) to 1969, and grey after that.

By 2000 only 3 remained in service.

MTW’s were used for everything, vehicles, pipes, pineapple bins, circus trains, steel, timber to name a few, all you had to do was work out how you were going to keep the load on the wagon during travel.

On my 209 train where are two MTW s, both were scratch build from styrene in about 1975, most likely my first wagons build with this new material. Buffers:- 00 ERG (Bit oversize, all that was available at the time), Bogies:- Turntable, one with K & M disc wheels, the other with Steam Era spoke wheels. If construction today I would use Wuiske QRB009 or Caintode Flats CFB 3 which are close to the mark if you have a few in the draw. Queen posts for the trust rod are small fish hooks cut down. Before attaching the load, you may consider weathering the floor. The grader load is a Woodland kit (D234 - white metal), when attaching the plough blade, make sure it along the grader so it fits on the wagon floor. The grader is secured by placing old sleepers under the wheels both ends, pine chocks prevent the sleepers from moving. Chain is added both ends. Various sizes of scale chains is available, I make hooks from brass rod/wire to secure the chain to both the wagon and the vehicle. The chain and hooks are secured with super glue and painted once the glue sets. If glue gets on anything like the floor, it will dry shiny, dullcote will fix that for you. This helps to keep the chain secured to the wagon when handling. In most cases, the cab was removed from the grader and secured to the floor, or placed in another suitable wagon.

The second (grey) wagon is loaded with 2 ploughs, (Life-Like, Scene Master disc plows) these are not available today. Keep your eyes open at “Buy and Sell” may find a couple at the right price. Woodlands have two tractor and plough sets with different type ploughs which would be still suitable (D207/AS 5564/AS 5565/D 208). The ploughs are secured with old sleepers and wire. The wire is cotton from the CEO’s sewing cabinet.

Since I have made a third wagon, the bogies are Caintode Flats CFB 3, likewise the buffers. The load is a Classic Metal Works HO 30412 1960 Ford Flatbed Truck. Holly Green