Friday 23 December 2022

Index Update 2022.

 Index.

Not being a Blogger expert and still learning with every post, I’m losing track of my posts being titled in month of posting. We spend far to much time on this device looking for stuff we can’t find and know it there somewhere. Maybe, growing older each year has something to do with it  Thus a list of what has been posted. 

 



2022

Date

Subject

December

Blog Index Update

“WR” Wagons

November

NMRA AR – Division 1 Bus Trip Southern Downs

New England Model Railway Convention

Tenterfield Museum

October

GV 18 Guard’s Van

September

CB Guard’s Van

August

CLV Guard’s Van (32’ # 1392 – 1411)

July

SDS/CGL Models – PCO/PCUY Wagons

June

More 4 Wheelers

May

Brisbane Model Train Show 2022

April

Steel Guard’s Van  (TGV)

March

Tarpaulins

February

Grover’s Bogies

January

VIP Cars

 

2021

Date

Subject

December

More “H” Wagons

“GV” Guard’s Van - 2 compartments type.

November

“GV” Guard’s Van - 1 compartments type

October

More “S” Wagons

September

CLC Wagons

August

New Bridge for Six Mile Creek

Index of Posts (Maternal and Child Welfare Car No. 7)

July

UR Wagon

June

OFO Bitumen Tank Wagons.

May

Train 101

April

Steam Breakdown Crane

March

Bundaberg Model Train & Hobby Expo

HSA/HWA Wagons

February

SM & M Car Wagons

January

YK Cattle Wagons

 

 

 

2020

Date

Subject

December

Breakdown Vans & Wagons

November

Beaudesert Goods  (Train 594)

October

Composite Van CV 286

B class Container Wagons

September

Western Bridges

August

New Station for Wyandra    (Weather board stations)

July

Dinning Cars

June

Wheels   (wheel wagons)

May

Dream Operations

April

SBC Cement Wagon (Queensland Railway Miniatures Kit)

March

QFX / QFC Platform and Container Wagon

February

Bulk Apples on QR

January

QGX Grain Wagons

 

2019

Date

Subject

December

Prototype Operations for a Small Layout

Fruit Bins

November

Train 632    (Pinkenba –Toowoomba)

October

Sydney Model Railway Exhibition

September

Mosquito Creek – September Update.

PJW 30700 Well Wagon

August

6 Up & 19 Down

(Toowoomba – Roma – Toowoomba ) Passenger Train

 July

P / PJ / PH Platform Wagons

June

Train 275 (North Coast Parcels Trains)

May

Water Wagons

April

Paw Paw Loco (1500/1170 Class Locomotives)

March

What’s on our Trains?

PE Wagons

Kadee Coupling on Narrow Gauge Wagons

February

Mosquito Creek  (Bob Harding Layout)

Branch Goods

Train Spotting Wyandra

January

PCO/PCOP/ PCUY Container Wagons

 

2018

Date

Subject

December

MTW Wagons

2300 Class Diesel Electric Locomotives (Southern Rail)

November

Train 209 / 309 North Coast Goods Train

Paper Paper

October

OV Mobil Tank Wagon

Mutton Birds nesting season

September

WHE Gran Wagons

Hey Boss  (How not to load Containers)

August

Mini – Multies – Weathering Locos.

 July

Night Shift   (Collection of Layout photos at night)

June

Weed Spray (Poison) Train

May

 

April

Train 6678  (Contracts Train Rocklea – Toowoomba)

March

Shunting

Loads  (For HWO Wagons)

February

Sunshine BL Sitting Carriages

HWO Wagons

January

MG Sheep Vans

H /HJ Open Wagons

 2017

Date

Subject

December

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Wako Station

8 Wheeled Timber frames Wagons

November

Static Grass

Wyandra Station

October

 

September

Looking Back ( Link to Gerry Hopkins MMR video in 2014)

August

Jumbo HJ Wagons

“U” Wagons

Westgate

GM Fan Club

S Wagons

 July

CC Camp Wagons




Monday 19 December 2022

WR Wagons

WR wagons were converted from the W / MTW / NW family of wagons. Wagon Plan P 245 dated 2001 shows six (6) alterations has been made to the class. Not a lot of help for someone wanting to model of the wagon back in the 1960’s to fit in with my era.

I have photos of them in that period as single wagons, very much the same as an “S” wagon, a little longer in length and painted red oxide.

But I wanted a rail set for welded rail, I recall they had a yellow band on the side. I was planning on building a five wagon set and one for general traffic. With some digging, I found welded rail in that era was 200 ft. long and conveyed on 5 WR wagons doubled coupled using “D” Links. That’s great, I was thinking they were 8 wagon sets. When I working as an acting Number Taker/Shunter at Whinstanes in 1968/9, rail (40 ft. long) arrived by ship and was unloaded at the BHP wharf. Just about any wagon that could carry rail was used to convey the rail from the wharf to Banyo. I recall there was four (4) water side cranes on the wharf and a number of sidings.

In later years (1982), rail (27.5 mts) was conveyed to Brisbane on the standard gauge wagons and transhipped at Acacia Ridge onto WRB wagons (5 wagon set), for the trip to Banyo, yet another modification for the class. Around 1993, IROA/IROB (modified HO wagons) replaced the WRB wagons. IROA/IROB wagons are still in service today conveying shorts/seconds from Yeerongpilly Rail Welding Plant. Standard gauge wagons deliver the rail to the plant.  

IROA/IROB set.

If I recall correctly, welded rail on WR wagons was secured at one end with cables. Plates between the stanchions were greased/oiled were placed between each layer of rail. From 1969 onwards, the wagons were painted grey. 

In the early 1970’s, rail was welded into 110 metre (360 ft. approx.) lengths and conveyed to work sites on special wagons. QR sets were converted from QFX/QFC wagons with 7 wagons making the set. All up three (3) set were made, later one set was converted for part worm rail and reclassed QRG, later others wagons were built/modified for this work and were classed IRG.   Ipswich Workshops built three (3) RY eight (8) wagon set, 1974, 1976, 1978. In 1977 the first set was fitted with fold down ramps on the ends and was classified RYS. Since I retired, a couple of other sets have been observed in service. 

QR set at Banyo.

There was some differences between the two current QR sets.

RY set being loaded at Yeerongpilly.

Ramps on RYS set. 

When loading long lengths of welded rail (ribbon rail) on rail sets, the rail is loaded on its feet, in other words, as we see it in the track and is secured to plates near the centre with special bolts. 


A crane located at the securing point remove the securing plates at Banyo for loading. After a number of incidents of the cranes hitting passing trains, (mainly when the sets were returning to Brisbane empty), the cranes were removed around 2002.    

Due to limited room at Banyo, the RY/RYS set had a north/south end for loading. If the set arrived back in Brisbane the wrong way round, they were turned before going to Banyo. A trip around the big circle, Normanby to Corinda, Yeerongpilly back to Normanby.   

Other rail sets have been set up for recovery of part worn rail, rail would be picked up after being replaced and moved to another location. In the 1990’s the CQ coal lines were relayed with heaver rail, the lighter rail taken out was recovered and sent to the SWD.    

QRG set.

QRGE rail wagon

QPS power van used with QRG sets.

QRI set

As time progress, the WR wagons bar frame bogies were replaced with cast iron bogies and they were reclassed as WRA wagons.


This did increase their carrying capacity by a couple of tonnes. With the newer wagons doing the heavy lifting in rail traffic, many WR were again modified replacing timber “S” wagons being withdrawn from service, the wagon looked much the same as the original WR’s, but were given “WS” classification.  By the early 1990’s, most were out of traffic.   


Floors were not always clean, a nice modelling project ??.

A summary of history cards below will provide some idea of the class alterations/modifications over the years. 

Queensland State Archives has QR wagon history cards online. Not every trip to the workshop or the work done on the wagon is recorded. Information on the cards are hand written and some are hard to read. Some of the information has no application to modellers building a wagon. In reading a number of cards you do grab an understanding of what happen over the years the wagons were in service. In short, for a platform wagon, they did receive a number of modifications. For me in reading cards does generate more questions.   

Some modifications made to the W / NW /MTW family of wagons included -

Replacement of King Pins

Buffing transoms strengthened

Bogie chains removed

Hand brake rack altered.

Bogie spring planks strengthened and additional springs fitted.

Modification to truss rods.

Carrying capacity reduced from 26 T to 25 T

Headstock modified.

Fitted with Waughmat draft gear, late 1960’s onwards. When entering service, the drawgear was not continuous.

Fitted C.S.S. C. (Cast Steel Self Contained) Buffers. Late 1960’s onwards. 

Extra drawhook slides fitted.

Fitted with securing lugs.

Fitted with C. D. Collectors (Dust collector brake system)

 

A few wagon histories are shown below highlighting time frames for work and modifications. .

WR 2

Date

Work

Remarks

Dec 1943

In Service as a NW Sheep Van

(Carry 225 sheep)

Evans Deakins (Frame)

Ipswich W/s (Body)

Sep 1950

Converted to W wagon

Toowoomba

Sep 53

Standard type king pins fitted. Provision made for continuous drawgear when available.

Com Eng

Aug 1956

Converted to MTW. Continuous drawgear fitted. Modified for sugar boxes.  Safety chains on bogies removed.

Com Eng Rocklea

Oct 1958

CD stencilled on Sole bars

Maryborough

Jan 1960

Converted to WR (Painted Red)

Ipswich Workshop

Aug 1965

Modified as Rail Set of 5 units.

Draft gear & extra bolsters added.

Yellow line painted on both sides

Ipswich W/s

Aug 1983

Modified 6 Bolsters to 8 Bolsters

Ipswich W/s

Dec 1992

Condemned

Ipswich W/s

A white CD in a white outlined square on its side showed the wagon was fitted with continuous drawgear. In some locations, MTW’s in Sugar Traffic etc., these wagons could be used on the front of a train to increased train loads for larger engines. In the Mackay area, C 17 engines could haul a train load of 650 tons on the main line, this was the maximin load for draw hook rollingstock. On local shunt trains, i.e., Mackay to Mackay Harbour the load was 700 tons for a C17. If you stopped short going up into the bulk terminal roads, it was all over. To clear the rear of the train, the train was cut into two, placing the front half into another road. The usual plan was to take a runup, if you stop short you would never live in down.       

 

WR 12

Date

Work

Remarks

July 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

6” x 1½” hardwood decking

Waddington NSW

Ipswich W/s.

May 1951

Converted to WR

4 bolsters, stanchions & chains.

Ipswich W/s

Jan 1967

Modified for long welded rail

Ipswich W/s

Aug 1969

Manganese plates fitted to stanchions

Ipswich W/s

May 1992

Condemned

 

 

WR 15

Date

Work

Remarks

28 May 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

Waddington NSW

Mar 1958

Converted to MTW

Com Eng Co

Mar 1960

Converted to WR (50 ‘W’ wagons converted A/c Mt Isa Railway Trust

Ipswich W/s

(Painted Red)

Apr 1969

Fitted with C.S.S.C. Buffers.

 

Nov 1971

Bolsters reinforced

 

 

WR 17

Date

Work

Remarks

2nd June 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

Waddington NSW

Jan 1960

Converted to MTW

Ipswich W/s

Feb 1960

Converted to WR (50 ‘W’ wagons converted A/c Mt Isa Railway Trust

Ipswich W/s

(Painted Red)

Feb 1969

Fitted with C.S.S.C. Buffers.

 

Jan 1985

Converted to WS

 

July 1992

Condemned

 

 

WR 30

Date

Work

Remarks

14th July 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

Waddington NSW

Apr 1951

Converted to WR

Ipswich W/s

Jun1967

Modified to carry long welded rails

Ipswich W/s

May 1992

Condemned

 

 

WR 49

Date

Work

Remarks

6th Dec 1943

Entered service as “NW” wagon

Waddington NSW

Sep 1950

Converted to W wagon

Toowoomba

Oct 1956

Converted to MTW

Com Eng Co

Nov 1956

Converted to WR

Com Eng Co

Jan 1959

Stencilled CD 

Wacol

Mar 1967

Modified for long welded rails

Ipswich W/s

July 1970

C.S.S.C. Buffers fitted

 

Feb 1971

Spring loaded bolster fitted

 

Mar 1975

Derailed Isis

 

Nov 1986

Converted to WRA (ASF Ridge control bogies)

Ipswich W/s

Oct 1986

Modified Centre Casting

 

 

 

 

 

WR 55

Date

Work

Remarks

31st May 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

Waddington NSW

Mar 1951

Converted to WR

 

May 1967

Condemned

 

 

WR 62

Date

Work

Remarks

11th Dec 1943

Entered service as “NW” wagon

Evans Deakins

Mar 1951

Converted to NWB

Ipswich W/s

Feb 1972

Headstock Modification and C.S.S.C. Buffers

Rockhampton

Mar 1983

Converted to WR

Ipswich W/s

Oct 1983

Converted to WS

Ipswich W/s.

Jan  1992

Condemned

 

 WR 108

Date

Work

Remarks

15th June 1943

Entered service as “W” wagon

Buffers & drawgear fitted at Evans Deakin Rocklea.

Timber deck fitted Ipswich W/s.

Waddington NSW

 

Cost £ 670.00.00

Sep 1958

Converted to MTW

Maryborough

Feb 1959

Buffing transoms strengthened. Standard king points & additional bogie springs fitted, Bogie safety chains removed,

Drilled for sugar boxes.

Com Eng Coy

 

Feb 1970

C.S.S.C. Buffers fitted, Truss rod modification

Townsville

Oct 1982

Converted to WRB

Ipswich W/s

Feb 1993

Condemned

Ipswich W/s

 

Model:-

All six wagons were all made from styrene, floors being Evergreen “V” grove and strip of various sizes were used for other parts and underframe.

  



Couplings (Kadee 158) were built into the underframe.

 General traffic WR Wagons.


Under the wagon was kept simple, only detail the can be observed with the wagon on the track was added.

Rail Set (yellow band) WR wagons. 




Vallejo (acrylic - water) Paints was used on the floors. I tried to vary the weathering between to rail set wagons to that of the general traffic wagon. The rail set wagons have plates between each layer of rail, these plates were oiled to assist with rail move along the wagons on curves. The wagons were painted with red oxide including the floors. Thinking the floor would be hardwood, the floor was painted brown, then various shades of grey were dry brushed for aging. The rail set wagons had a black wash applied for the oil. I made my own wash using Vallejo Paints, a drop of paint in some water, it was a weak mix. The wash was applied to various sections along the floor. Let the wash dry to see effect, various coats to various different areas were applied. My guess, no two wagons would be the same, thus you can’t stuff it up.   

Rail set WR wagons on the layout.

DH 56 returning to the depot after carrying out watering duties, and unloading rails etc The train consists of a SW water wagon for watering duties, general traffic WR for shorts (40 ft rails), or crossing parts (vee, check rails, switch blades etc.) or bridge timbers and five rail set WR wagons (welded rail). Plus a suitable Guards Van, maintenance workers may be required to travel between unloading locations.

 

Commercial Parts.

Bogies:- Far North Hobbies lost wax brass.

Buffers:-  Caintode Flats Production - CFD 1.

Queen Posts:-  Queensland Railway Miniatures.

Turnbuckles:- Tichy Train Group.

Couplers:- Kadee:- 158 Whisker couplings. (Bulk Pack – box built into underframe during construction).

Brass wire:-  Keiran Ryan Models:-– Trust rods, (0.3 mm), Stanchion (1mm filed flat on 3 sides). 

Paint:- PGC Scale Models Red Oxide. (Acrylic Lacquer paints that require airbrushing).

Decals:- Turntable.

Floor and Weathering:- Vallejo acrylic (water) Paints. 

 

Acknowledgements.

Iron and Steel Wagons of the Queensland Railways steam Era by John Armstrong.

QR Plans.

Loading & Securing of Freight Manual.

Queensland State Archives.

Australian Model Railway Association Queensland Library.

 

Trust, you find the information helpful for your modelling endeavours.

 

Many thanks for your feedback and comments during the year, it was very much appreciated.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and trust you have a very blessed New Year.

 

Arthur H.