Tarpaulins

This paper is based on Queensland Railway operations, the information within could be helpful to modellers of all prototypes in both research and modelling methods for their railway/railroad.

Prototype Information; 

Most rail operators over time used tarpaulins in some form to keep goods/freight/things dry during wet weather. 

Tarpaulins have been keeping goods and freight dry from wet weather over many eras of railway operations.  The early year’s tarps were made of canvas. From the early 1970’s after some trials, poly tarps became the norm. 

One historian indicate that tarps were used as a save weight method of transporting goods. Tarps on open wagons were lighter than using a covered wagon.  I feel tarps were used to protect goods that could not be placed or loaded in a covered wagons or where it was easier to place the load in an open wagon. Just think of loading wool into a box wagon by hand or trying to feed a 30 feet length of pipe through the door of a covered box wagon.  

Going back a year or two, each railway operator had their own colour for tarps, Queensland Railway canvas tarps were green. After the trials in the late 60’s with orange poly traps, yellow became the standard colour for new poly tarps from the early 1970’s onwards.  Today, tarpaulins are still in use on our rail networks mainly on containerized freight. Bright coloured company tarpaulins cover flat rack containers and some containers have side curtains and tops made from PVC type material so freight is quickly loaded and unloaded.  

Various railway documents provide instructions for the use and care of tarpaulins on their networks. To keep things in context, some extracts are provided across various time frames. Some you will find as general knowledge and most likely will never read again. Yet, others you will hang onto to assist you to make that fair dinkum model. 

Goods & Livestock Rate Book. 1973 

The Goods Rate Book provides some information on the business side of things. This section most likely falls into general information.   

Tarpaulins will not be provided to cover goods which from their nature are not considered to require such protection (refer Clause 567 of the General Appendix to the Book of Rules and to the Working Time Tables for all Divisions). Where tarpaulins are supplied for covering goods in transit, no charge will be made for one tarpaulin in the case of a four-wheeled wagon, two tarpaulins for an eight-wheeled wagon having an inside length up to 9750 mm, or three tarpaulins for an eight-wheeled wagon having an inside length in excess of 9750 mm, but a charge of $ 2.00 will be made for additional tarpaulin required in excess of these limitations. When wagons are fully loaded with straw, hay and chaff one additional tarpaulin may be provided without charge. 

A charge of $ 2.00 per tarpaulin will be made for the use of any tarpaulin ordered for the covering of dressed sawn timber, “ready-to-erect” houses including the necessary timber for the building, i.e., moulding, dressed, tenoned, mortised, etc., timber shooks for making cases, firebricks, and fireclay, but where timber is concerned such tarpaulins must not be used nor be permitted to be used for the covering of the ends of timber. Tarpaulins will however be provided for consignments of seasoned pine case timber cut to box lengths and ready to assemble in accordance with the basis outlined in the preceding paragraph. 

The aforementioned charge will be applied on each tarpaulin used to cover the undermentioned commodities when conveyed Interstate, viz: - 

Ashes	Asphalt	Bark (other than ground bark)	Bricks (common fire clay)
Boilers	Bones	Bottles	Boats
Clay	Coal	Coke	Circus material
Contractor’s plant	Ferns	Firewood	Fowl manure
Gravel	Gypsum	Hardwood (unseasoned)	Hardwood (unseasoned), cut to approved sizes for case making
Iron or ironwork	Limestone	Livestock	Mallee roots
Mining timber	Ores	Pipes	Potatoes (old)
Pyrites	Roof slates	Sand	Scrap metals
Stable manure	Stones	Terra cotta	Tiles (other than ornamental or tessellated)
Wagons	Wheelbarrows

Tarpaulins for these commodities will be supplied only at the request of the consignor and the Commissioner reserves the right to refuse to cover any of these commodities, which are likely to damage tarpaulins. Separate charges will be made in each State and the charge in New South Wales and on the Uniform Gauge Railway from South Brisbane to Border Tunnel will be in accordance with the New South Wales’ By-laws in force for the time being. 

When it is necessary to calculate the freight on a railway wagon weighbridge weight (mass), the weight (mass) of railway tarpaulins covering the goods will not be charged for. The allowance made for tarpaulins shall be 28kg per small tarpaulin, 37 kg per large tarpaulin with the exception that the allowance for tarpaulins in respect of WH and WHE class grain wagons shall be 46 kg for canvas tarpaulins and 38 kg for green and yellow PVC coated nylon tarpaulins. In making allowances for tarpaulins where wagons are overloaded the weight (mass) of the tarpaulin will be deducted from the total weight (mass) of the consignment including tarpaulin, and the overload then calculated in accordance with clause 23.   

Instructions found in the General Appendix 

Below, is an extract from the 1962 General Appendix. On the instruction part, not much changed over the years. Information that would assist you to model a set era has been shown separately.  

The greatest care must be exercised in the use of tarpaulins. In covering loading in wagons care must be taken to see that the tarpaulin is so placed as to reduce liability to damage from friction on the corners of cases or projection loading. Sharp portions of loading must be covered in such a manner as to avoid damage to the tarpaulin. All tarpaulins must be placed over loading with the running number outwards. 

Tarpaulins must be carefully examined before being used. On receipt of inwards loading, the tarpaulin covering the loading must be inspected before removal from the wagon, also when tarpaulins are received spare from other stations or depots they are to be unfolded and inspected. In all instances, the employee examining the tarpaulins must keep a record of any defect or damage to each tarpaulin, together with number of and year of manufacture. 

Defective tarpaulins must be forwarded without delay to the Tarpaulin Shops, Ipswich, for repairs. 

When tarpaulins are taken off wagons they must, if dry, be carefully folded and immediately placed under cover for protection from the sun and rain; they must not be folded up when wet, but spread out in such a position that they are well clear of a running set of rails or roadway. In Station Yards frequented by vehicular traffic; care should be taken to see that they are not folded when they are damp as this causes mildew and consequent rot.

Tarpaulins must not be allowed to remain loose and unfolded in wagons and under no circumstances must be left in empty wagons marked off for repairs, or wagons being allotted to Collieries or supplied to stations from which it is intended to load rough loading not required to be covered.     

Tarpaulins received at depots and stations from other places when off-loaded from trains, must be removed from the platform or yard and placed in a neat stack under cover. They must not be allowed to remain out in the open. 

At isolated sidings and at places where a woman only is in charge, guards must see tarpaulins not required for immediate use are taken to the depot station. Inspectors, gangers and fettlers when running the road, should see that any tarpaulins at isolated sidings are folded up and placed in conspicuous positions for lifting by the first train. 

Tarpaulin ropes must not be tied to the bogie frame of a wagon, but to the proper hooks or bars provided for the purpose. In the event of a wagon not being fully equipped, the number should be taken and the District Officer advised. The staff cannot be too strongly impressed with the necessity for securing all ropes and lashings. Guards must report instances of neglect on their time and occurrence sheet.

In some instances, tarpaulins are tied very loosely, and during transit become unfastened and have to be retied, with the result that the train is delayed; also, that frequently when wagons are covered with two tarpaulins the top tarpaulin is placed on the trailing end instead of the leading end and insufficient overlap at the centre. 

The placing and securing of tarpaulins on “WH” and “WHX” grain wagons must have particular attention to avoid the tarpaulins sagging between supports of wagons. The correct method for securing of tarpaulins on this class of wagons is to be tie the four inside ropes at one end of the tarpaulin to bar and rings provided at end of the wagon, then pull tarpaulin tight over the supports at the opposite end of the wagon and tie. The side and corner ropes can then be tightened securely.

Should it rain during the journey, the freight would surely be damaged by water. 

Special care must be taken by all employees to ensure that tarpaulins are not removed from “WH” and “WHX” grain wagons. 

Tarpaulins are not to be provided to cover goods, which from their nature are not considered as requiring such protection. Goods which are not to be covered include: - 

Agricultural or farming implements and machinery	Bottles – loose or bagged	Boxes and cases – empty, of wood or iron	Clay, except where otherwise specially authorised
Bitumen	Bones	Bricks	Charcoal in bags
Coke, bulk or bagged	Earthenware articles packed in straw	Empty cases, casks, drums, gas cylinders	Fencing wire and wire netting
Firebricks, except where otherwise specially authorised	Gravel, stone, screening, sand, ashes, ore marble, gypsum	Livestock loading in cattle wagons or sheep vans	Log timber
Lump rock salt not in bags	Machinery for outdoor use	Melons and pumpkins, loose or bagged	Motor cars and other motor vehicles
Motor chassis	Motor spirit, oil etc in drums	Pipes of all descriptions	Sawdust, loose or bagged
Sawn timber and shooks (bundles of timber) except as approved	Tallow	Tractors

Sawn timber generally is not to be covered and on no account must new or comparatively new tarpaulins be used for this purpose.  Other classes of tarpaulins may be supplied for the consignment consisting of the following descriptions: -

1. Dressed sawn timber
2. Consignment for “ready-to-erect” houses.     
3. Timber shooks for making cases. 

Special tarpaulins are provided for covering trucks of dressed sawn timber and these are branded “Timber only” on both sides and “Timber” on one side only, in the centre of the sheet. When not in use they must be folded at the receiving station and advice sent to the District Officer. 

Station Master and others should not wait until inwards wagons are completely unloaded to dispose of the tarpaulins; providing the weather is fine the tarpaulin should be folded up immediately unloading commences and placed at the disposal of the District Officer without delay. 

Tarpaulins should be forwarded from one station to another or from one district to another by passenger trains when this possible, to avoid delays enroute. 

1950 General Appendix 

The standard size of tarpaulins are as follows 

Small (distinguished by letter “A” before the number)  20’ 5” by 14 ‘

Large 23’ 3” by 17’ (eight canvases) 

Special Tarps 26’ 2” by 17’   (nine canvases) (branded and numbered in red paint to distinguish them from other tarpaulins) in use in the Maryborough & Mackay sugar traffic. 

Numbering of Tarpaulins

Tarpaulins are numbered consecutively and a record is kept of each. In addition to letter distinctions shown in paragraph under heading “Standard size of  tarpaulins” the index letter “C” before the number will indicate those manufactured in the year 1950, “D” those made in 1951, “E” in 1952, with the alphabetical progression continuing to show those issued in years thereafter. The branding will appear on each side of the tarpaulin. 

Q  ^  G  

      C

 A1448

1962 General Appendix 

1967 tarpaulins were green. 

The standard size of tarpaulins are as follows 

Small (distinguished by letter “A” before the number  20’ 5” by 14 ‘

Large 23’ 3” by 17’ (eight canvases) 

Tarpaulins are numbered consecutively and a record is kept of each. In addition to letter distinctions shown in paragraph under heading “Standard size of tarpaulins” the index letter “M” before the number will indicate those manufactured in the year 1960, “N” those made in 1961, “O” for tarpaulins manufactured up to and including March 1962. As from April 1962, newly manufactured tarpaulins will have the serial number prefixed by the year of manufacture. The branding will appear on each side of the tarpaulin. 

Q  ^  G                    

     C

 A1448 

    Q  ^  G  

 62 - 25561 

Barcaldine Sep 1964. Note the flaps just above the QR., If the side ropes are passed up through these eyelets the width of the tarpaulin came be reduced. 

Bulk Wheat Wagons (WH, WHX) are fitted with one tarpaulin 48’ by 14’

Branded as 

Q  ^  G  

62 WH 29512   

In about 1963, WHX wagons were reclassed to WHE. 

1982 General Appendix 

PVC Tarps   (Yellow in Colour) These came onto the network in the early 1970's (1974?) following orange test tarpaulins last 1960's early 1970's. 

Standard size tarp for general purpose 6 700 mm x 5 200 mm

Bulk Grain GVJM 5 490 mm x 3 660 mm

Bulk Grain HSAG 11 280 mm x 4 000 mm

Bulk Grain WH, WHA, WHE   13 700 mm x 4 000 mm

Fertilizer in HOF wagons 16 500 mm x 4 000 mm

Numbering                                      QR Logo

                                                          82-112      

1989 General Appendix

Standard size tarp for general purpose - 6 700 mm x 5 200 mm

Bulk Grain VAOS wagons - 10 000 mm x 1 200 mm

Bulk Grain WHA, WHE - 13 700 mm x 4 000 mm

Ryneboard for use on PB wagons - 15 000 mm x 5 950 mm and

                                                          15 000 x 6 550 mm.

During the mid 1990’s Wool Tarps was made up by joining two tarps and used to cover wool consignments from western centres. These were short lived due to the use of flat rack containers and then later wool was loaded into QLX box wagons.    

As a general rule, tarpaulins were not to be used to secure a load, except wool and hay. 

The 1950 and 1972 General Appendix’s provide the same loading diagram for wool bales. For some reason, the 1972 General Appendix did not show a FJS wagon? 

The diagrams were based on a wool bale being 4 feet long, 2 feet 6 inches wide and 2 feet 4 inches high.   

HWA wagon with a full load of wool.

Not all loads were full loads as per the diagrams. 

When loading “W” wagons or wagons without sides, the bales in all three tiers must be hooked as shown in diagram. 

“W” wagons or any wagon without sides should not be sent specially to load wool, but when returning from wool-loading centres may be used for such loading. 

The tarpaulin ropes must be securely tied, and after wagons have travelled some miles and the load has settled down, the ropes must be retightened at the first opportunity.  

 

QFC carrying wool. 

In later years, the material used for wool bales changed from hemp to a poly type product. The surface of the poly bales being smooth made the bales prone to moving in transit. Some changes to loading diagram was made to accommodate this added movement during transit.   

In December 1999, the Loading and Securing of Freight Manual shows the size of wool bales being 1370 mm long, 760 mm wide and 760 mm high with a weight of 175 kilograms. The load for a HWA, HSA and 9.7 m wagons has 21 on the bottom, 26 middle layer with 150 mm overhang on the headstock and 100 mm overhang on the sides. 12 bales on the top layer making a total load of 59 bales. 

Wool loads late 1990’s. 

Some types of loads were lower than the side of the wagon too. QR tarpaulins had a flap with an eyelet about 2 foot up from the side edge. By passing the ratline (rope) through the eyelet you could shorten the sides of the tarp on both sides. Tarpaulin support frames were available to place on top of the wagon door/side. This made the tarp look like a tent on top of the wagon. This allowed the rain to run off the wagon. 

Wool Traffic:-General Appendix’s issued over the years provided guidance to employees on the requirement in consignment of wool to ensure timely arrival at its destination. 

1962 General Appendix.  (Goods Traffic)

Full truckloads of wool for any of the undermentioned consignees must be invoiced and labelled to Bulimba, viz:-

Australian Estates Coy. Ltd. 

A.  M. L. and F Coy. Ltd.

Dalgety & Coy. Ltd.

Elder Smith

Fenwick & Co.

Goldsborough, Mort, & Co. Ltd

Mactaggarts P. P. Co-op. Assen. Ltd.

N. Z. L. & M. Agency Co. Ltd.

Q. P. P. Co-op. Assen. Ltd.

Winchcombe Carson Ltd.

Wills, Gilchrist & Sanderson Ltd. 

Consignments of wool consisting of thirteen (13) bales and over for the one consignee must be invoiced to Bulimba, but consignments of lesser number of bales must be invoiced to Newstead. 

Where a wagon has consignments of less than thirteen (13) bales of wool for any one consignee, loaded along with consignments of thirteen (13) bales or over for another consignee, each consignment must be invoiced as directed in the preceding paragraph, and the wagon labelled for Bulimba and Newstead. 

When wagons contain wool for more than one consignee the wagon label must also show in blue pencil in the order commencing the top of the load to the bottom, the consignee’s name, the number of bales of wool and the brands on the bales for each consignee. 

When it can be avoid, wool must not be loaded in mixed wagons, “Roma Street to Forward” as such wool is subject to delay, and the Department is put to extra expense transhipping. 

Wagon containing wool should be fully loaded wherever possible, and to assist the staff in making best use of wagons, diagrams, showing the correct method of loading are included in Clause No. 564. (as above). 

General Appendix 1982.   (Goods Traffic)

Conveyance and Sheeting of Wool, Etc. Good tarpaulins only shall be used for the protection of wool and where it is necessary for more than one tarpaulin to be used in the sheeting of the wagons the tarpaulins shall be laced together at the overlap by use of the lugs which have been provided 600 mm from the edge of tarpaulins to prevent wind lifting the outer of the overlap tarpaulins. 

Rear tarp goes on first, followed by the front tarp.

Great care shall be taken to avoid damage by water to wool loaded in open wagons. Consignments of wool shall be fully covered and protected. 

As wagons loaded with wool may be despatched from Toowoomba, Rockhampton or Townsville in the reverse way to which the wagon are received, employees shall be careful to see wagons are sheeted below the gunnel at both ends.

Wool was being consigned to Newstead and Corinda.

General Appendix 1989.   (Freight Traffic)

Instructions were much the same as the 1982 appendix.

At this point in time, wool was being sent to Corinda and Acacia Ridge.

 In later years, QR had a wool tarp, one tarp covered the whole load

Early 2000’s the loading of wool was transferred to flat rack containers. Later on wool was loaded into box containers to reduce handling on the coast. 

FJS wagon loaded with cotton seed. Whinstanes.

Wagon fitted with tarpaulin support and tarp length shorten. 

If the frame was not used, the weight /mass of the water would push the tarp down allowing a large pool of water to form on top of the tarp between the wagon sides. In draw hook days, this was a hazard to the Shunter, during shunting as the wagons came together, a large volume of water would spill over the ends, drowning the poor shunter as he was trying to throw the coupling. It was much the same for unloading staff, with the fold in the tarp about floor level. During rain, the fold would fill with water. On undoing the tarp ropes, the water would be released. If one were not careful, one’s boot would be filled with water.  

Coal wagons fitted with tarpaulins could be used to carry other bulk products.  

VAO coal wagon in grain traffic.

VAO coal wagon in grain traffic late 1970’s.

Lime was carried in bulk from the mid 1960's onwards.

Ridge pole across the top and tie down points on the sides and ends. 

VJLS Bulk Lime, VJM Coal wagon with tarp roof. 

Later, some wagons were fitted with steel tops. 

WHO bulk lime Woolloongabba 1967. 

GVJD fixed body coal wagon in Central Division grain traffic. The wagon is fitted with grade control. 

Tarpaulins are still being used in the container world of todays railways. Some containers have side curtains, other have tarpaulin roof (soft tops), some containers used for transporting glass have tarpaulin sides and roof.  Flat Rack containers often have their loads covered by a tarp. 

 

Wagon Report

DEMO was the Telegraph code used in the daily 8 AM wagon report given by stations to the General Manager advising of the number of tarps on hand.  Surplus tarpaulins were send back to district head quarters on the first available train in box wagons, at time this could ever in baggage cars on passenger trains. Tarpaulins were not to left in empty open wagons. 

Folding 

Tarpaulins were folded in a set manner, this allowed porters/loading employees to place the tarp over the centre of the loading without guess work.

Modelling a Tarpaulins 

First, consideration must be given into the load to be covered by the tarpaulin. A good picture/photo will help no end. Parts of high loads could be visible between the top of the wagon sides and the bottom of tarp. For example, wool or bales of hay. If this is the case, the lower part of load needs to be modelled also as you will be able to see it. 

If the tarp covers the load and the bottom comes down over the sides/ends of the wagon, a simple frame will fill the bill as the load itself will not be visible.   

Generally, expanded poly foam (coolite) makes a good foundation for a wool/hay load. At times, I made a load using styrene. If a wagon is fitted with tarpaulin supports, you have a choice of using wire or styrene cut to shape. Blocks of wood or a paint roller cut down can give you a good representation for a load. 

                        NSW “S” truck. Polystyrene being used to form wool load

Styrene sheet being used to make tarp supports. Should wire support bend, they cannot be straighten  after the tarp is added. 

Styrene sheet used to form loads.

 Modelling the Tarpaulin 

You have two choices, some manufactures provide a selection of tarpaulins for some prototypes.  If not, making a tarpaulin to cover a load is quite easy. 

Commercial 

If you model British Rail in OO/N scales there is a range of tarpaulins available from Roger Smith. They introduced a very useful range of pre-printed paper tarpaulins. These are very easy to use, simply cut them out, crumple them up to give a more used appearance and glue them in place.

B.G.B Pre printed tarpaulins available a few years ago.

Commercial manufactured tarpaulins can be all similar, making your your can be a lot of fun and each wagon can be different.  

DIY Tarpaulins

Templates made from styrene are a great way to cut your tarps to the correct size. It save going back to reference material each time a tarpaulin is required. 

Fold the material across the load, tucking in the ends. 

Previously I used Aquadhere (white glue, PVA ) to fix the material to the load and wagon sides. Of late I have using Canopy glue. 

Add the second tarp if needed. 

Paint to Tarp with your choice of paint, care to not paint the side of the wagon as well. 

Cloth

Many years ago, I used cloth to make tarpaulins. The best was old handkerchief, thin cotton cut to size. I used PVA glue to stick it into place, and then dry applied Humbrol Paint. 30 years on, some are still in service.    

Paper Tissues

I have used “Kleenex” tissues to form a tarpaulin. Cut to size, stick into place using PVA glue. To get a fall into the tarp, diluted PVA glue in an eyedropper was carefully placed on the tissue. Don’t overdo it, as it can get messy. Again, once dry, paint was used to colour the tarp.    

Tissue Wrapping paper.

For a dollar, about 5 sheets in a packet can be purchased from the cheap shops or newsagents. Most likely it will last a life time. Process is the same as the previous paper. Over time paint started lifting off.

Paper

Given the various drawing programs available on our computers, we could produce at home much the same as our British mates buy. My computer skills are not that good, this is a cut and paste job ??? But, it does highlight the position of markings for the railway network I model. 

Tea Bag.

Save your tea bag and wash it out after a cuppa. Once dry, the bag can be opened out. You may find some better than others. I used Lipton’s, which are OK. Toss the tea, although, I heard of some using it for their scenery. The bag can be washed again for a cleaner material, some stain makes good weathering effects. Follow the same process as for the other materials.  OK for the smaller scale and small size tarpaulins.  

 

If by chance you rip the tea bag, a patch from off cuts can be glued over it and painted a different colour. 

Aluminium Foil

A few years back, BGB Models produced NSW and Victoria Railway tarpaulins in foil. I do not see them listed on their website today. The foil was painted and branded with numbers etc. It was easy to fold into place. Sometimes, in the folding process, the underside came into view.  Much the same could be made at home. Some paints may not stick to the gloss surface.  Once folded, the tarp can be removed to make the wagon empty, could be helpful if using a card system on your railway.    

Aluminium Can.

I have heard of the humble aluminium can being cut up and used much the same as the foil. 

Plastic bags

Check the bag before starting out, some are biodegradable, you may find in a few years time your tarp is falling apart.      

This tarp was made from a doggie bag supplied by the park owners, after a couple of years the tarp started falling apart. 

Plastic bag can be cut to size and glued to the wagon much the same as paper. Once again, some paints work better than others. I tried spraying the bag before cutting it to size. I found Humbrol gloss works the best. Other paints come off when cutting to size and applying.

Paint brush bristles were used for the tie down ropes. The decal was a homemade print failure but looks the part giving the bottom tarp some age. The yellow tarp was a JB HI-FI bag with brown strip painted on to give the appearance of different canvas being used. The red tarp was a shopping bag from the local hobby shop.  

.

Medical Dressing Mats

Some treatment pads used by hospitals contain both a plastic sheet and tissue paper. These pads can be separated and material of your choice can be used. The pads come in a couple of sizes, the smaller one are 400 mm x 270 mm, thus can be used longer tarpaulins or by large scale modellers.

 

The last few years I have been adding signage, numbers and ownership brands to enhance realism.  

Of late I have been painting the tea bag before placing it over the load. Previously, I been painting the tarp on the wagon, care is required not to overrun the paint onto the wagon sides. 

The Model Color paint has a flat finish. To add decals the area is painted with Vallejo “Gloss Varnish” when dry the decals are added. After the decals have set and dry, Vallejo “Matt Varnish” is applied over the decal and area where the gloss has been applied. Some silvering is still evident, to help hide it a bit some weathering powers have been applied. 

Folded tarps on the side loading ramp add realism and finishes the scene. The wool bales on the truck are also tea bags.  

Different era, different colour tarp.

I was thinking a wagon load of full drums would look great on the layout. Drums filled with fuel were loaded upright and were usually not covered with tarpaulins. A check of drums I had would not fill the wagon. The drums are Tichy Train Group and are available in two pack sizes, 96 (# 8212) and 12 (# 8211). The wagon was scratch built and did not require inside detail. I recall 44-gallon drums of “Super” was conveyed from Brisbane to Landsborough for the Maleny fuel depot in the early 1970’s. I needed a reason to use a tarp on a drum load to hide the area where there were no drums. Coastal terminals also supplied country depots with tins of oil and grease in cartons. Styrene forma was made to the same size as the missing drum, additional styrene blocks was added on one end for cartons of oil/grease, all was covered with a tarpaulin. The end result was just magic.         

Wagons covered with tarpaulins down to floor don’t need side detail, making scratch building much easier.  

CGL Models “HWO” wagon with a load of general freight, three tarpaulins are required to cover the load. Various degree of weathering on each tarpaulin further enhances the effect.  

Various wagon classes load with wool loads using various types of materials for the tarpaulins

Returning empty flat rack retuning to sending depot, folded tarp and dunnage used on the forward journey.

Open container covered with tarpaulin.

Other uses for Tarps.

Back in the good old days, railway tarpaulins were used for covering house roofs following a storm. If a roof was ripped off during a storm, the Police would rock up to the local railway station looking for spare tarpaulins. Numbers were recorded and the General Manager advised.

 I made a gravel truck into a bulk wheat truck by adding a tarpaulin.   

Likewise for this fettlers work site, some cover for lunch and rest in smoko breaks.  The figures were remove from tractors used for loads in wagons. 

Drover with camp fire looking after cattle waiting for the wagons to be loaded. 

Where to next.

Wagons with tarpaulin loads are one way traffic, the load in the outward direction will be different to the return journey. For example, wool traffic run in one direction only. For operations, wagons with tarpaulin should be different for each direction. 

I need to come up with a method of changing load types or having removable tarps. 

I trust you found the information helpful and will assist you added real purpose that is realistic and uniquely yours. 

Sorry about the delay in posting this month, storms in the area just as I was going post this blog killed the provider’s network leaving us without the internet. One on one various bits were fixed taking three weeks to make it back on line. They were very generous, they are not going to bill us for the period of the outage. No suggestion of providing any other service to keep one on the air. 

Until next time, stay safe and well.  

 Other Reading

Narrow Gauge Downunder Oct 2011 Quick & Easy wagon Tarpaulins

Branchline Modeller No 1. Tea-bag Tarpaulins

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 100 Jan/Feb1980. Tarpaulins  

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 156 June1989. Tarpaulins  

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 283 August 2010 Tarp your Load. 

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 302 October 2013. Improving Auscision Tarpaulins. 

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 327 Tarpaulins on the Cheap

Australian Model Railway Magazine # 344 Tarpaulins and Wagon sheets using Cartridge Paper