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.