SDS/CGL – PCO/PCUY Wagons.

Last week my two packs of SDS/CGL PCO wagons arrived in the mail. I ordered PCO wagons as they entered service fitted with buffers and ran on the QR network with them on for a number of years.

PCO, PCOP, PCOY, PCUY wagons were one of the most versatile container wagons on the QR network. They could be found in all corners of the state, in all types of traffic.  Many were allowed to specific traffic, sugar, bitumen, gypsum, coal, fuel, pipes, steel, spoil, cattle, to name a few. The wagons could be found on trains in one or twos, and anything up to a full train. The first test train for 100 km/h running on the NCL used PCOY wagons. As part of the NCL 100 km/h project all contracts and classes were grouped into one, the PCUY class. The class entered service as container traffic was exploding in both overseas and domestic markets. Gross mass of containers was increasing as well their overall height. Most of QR container fleet at the time were converted flat/platform wagons and were very limited in what they could carry.  

The PCO wagons were designed around carrying two (2) 20 ft. containers with a gross mass of 24 tonnes or one 40 ft container with a lower floor profile. Other length containers with 20 ft mounts could also be carried if required. SDS and the CGL website cover the prototype information in more detail. 

SDS_Models (sdsmodels.com.au).

http://www.cglmodels.com.au/pco-pcuy.aspx.

The website also shows the main characteristic that went into the construction of the models. Being a medium length wagon, they will look at home on any layout.  After the usual inspections, buffers were added along with a few containers, and then to the layout for a run. 

Up until the mid-1990’s, only one bogie on a wagon was fitted with VTA brake change over valve (loaded/empty detection). Instructions were issued that when wagons were loaded with one container, the container was to be loaded over the hand brake wheel. This avoided heavy braking of the wagon and flat wheels. With the 100km/h NCL project and newer wagons, loading sensing devices were fitted to both bogies. 

 

One bogie on the model as per the prototype is fitted with a VTA brake change over valve. The bogie side frames carries the same markings as the prototype QR 38 bogies. Brake blocks and shoes are also part of the bogie. On the track they run freely, if the layout has any ups or downs, the wagon simply roll away. 

The wagons are fitted with adjustable coupler boxes. The wagon comes with the coupler set for H0, that is, the coupler centre is 9.92 mm above the rail. QR plans for more modern wagons show coupling height around 787/9 when loaded. In some cases, on container wagons, it is lower. Empty wagons are shown around 830 mm. In H0 terms that is 9.04 mm loaded and 9.5 mm when empty. Us modellers who model older timber wagons, the drawhook is centred at 2ft. 8ins above the rail, or for H0 modellers that is 9.33 mm. The coupler box on the PCO wagons have a plate within the coupler box that can be changed to the top of the coupling shaft, reducing the coupler down to 9.32 mm above track level. If the .6 of a millimeter effect your operations, changing the coupler height is quick and easy. I did one to see what the difference was, the rest was left alone. 

Changing the coupler height, the coupling trip pin will also require adjustment so it will not foul the top of the rail. On the prototype anything up to half a couple jaw was acceptable for traffic. Plus, on the prototype there are differences with in the class, there is loaded and empty wagons fitted with new wheels and last turning wheels. It can add up to quite a bit resulting with various coupling heights across the entire train.

Marking on the wagon is what dreams are made of, it all there to the correct size and readable. Builder’s plates, axle test dates, brake service information, reflector, handbrake on/off with arrows, drawgrear class, length, tare and carry loads for all lines.  

The detail under the wagon is spot on, brake and branch pipes, various pipes connecting brake cylinder, WF triple valve and auxiliary reservoir are included, even pipes to and from the VAT valve are on the model. The brake cylinder piston foundation lever has chain connected to the hand brake. Pull rods run from foundation levers towards the bogies. On the ends there is bifurcated hose bags and coupler release levers. 

Mounting Containers. Over the years there has been various manufactures of H0 containers, each have their own method of securing the container to the wagon.  

Walthers Tank Container (kits) has pins mounted to the bottom frame to secure the container to the wagon. I guess this requires holes in the floor of the wagon. (I assembled five of these kits, only the last one was done correctly ???) 

Lima Container.

SDS Container. Recess slots in the corner for mounting container on wagons fitted with twistlocks. (I think twistlocks on the floor of an empty wagon looks much better than holes in the floor).

 

Not all 20 ft. model containers are the same size. Some scale out as 19 ft long.

The prototype PCO wagon has spigots on the ends and retractable twistlocks in the centre of the wagon. The wagon has been modelled with uniform container mounting heads of the twistlock type to make it easy for us modellers. A plus for modelling container wagons is the containers can be changed and swapped around with various loading figurations. No two running sessions need to be the same. Over the years I have collected containers from buy & sells, purchased them on sale, scratch built a few etc. etc. Yes, my container fleet is a box of all sorts as is my container wagon fleet for both QR and NSWR networks.

I have found the wagon fixing points plays a big part in what container goes where. At the end of the day, we do need to match the prototype, or it will not look right. On a PCO/PCUY wagons, the containers are mounted in the centre of the wagon, the two containers butt up together in the centre of the wagon, there is no gap between them. Older under scale in length containers on this type of wagon are not going to cut it.    

SDS containers have recess slots in the container corner casting that fit straight on. The Walthers containers I cut the pin off the bottom of the container and was able to drill one (1) mm mounting holes in the corners. Other containers I used a motor tool, (Dremel) with a small engraving burr on a low speed to make slots in the corner, likewise for longer containers that protrude beyond the centre of the wagon. Slots was cut out to allow the centre twistlock to fit under the container frame. Cutting the twistlocks off the wagon floor will restrict what one does down the track. 

This SDS 40 ft container fits over the centre twistlocks without the need to make any modifications. 

I have skipped over quite a few things, there is much more that could be added. In summing up, an awesome wagon with detail that was just a pipe dream for many of us. The wagon will be at home on any layout where the modeller is wanting container trains and a must for modellers who model the mid 1980’s onwards. Well done guys, I take my hat off, an awesome model. 

They say a picture is a thousand words and I’m not much good at either, I guess the proof is in the pudding. So, I have attempted to do a YouTube video of the wagons on the layout where you can see them in action as they are put to the Westgate SWR test. 

The only issue for me is what I do with the ten I added to the layout in January 2019.

http://westgateswr.blogspot.com/2019/01/pcuy-wagons.html. I guess they will make one more trip, and that’s to the rubbish bin. More prototype information on the class is available on the site as well.    

Sunday afternoon I’m on roster to be at the Pine Rivers Model Train and Hobby Show, Cribb Rd, Brendale on the NMRA stand doing some scratch building. Be sure to drop by and have a chat. 

Happy modelling, stay safe and well to next time.

Arthur H.

More 4 Wheelers.

For some time, I have been tossing about ways to use some of the many bits I have in the cupboard, some goes back 30 odd years. Over the years the hobby has changed and much of the stuff is not available today. On other hand what’s available today is much better and the standard is much higher. 

Four-wheeler look great and a few years back they were just about on every train, but on the layout, they are not the best vehicle to shunt with. Pulling a string on a train around the layout is OK, as soon as you want to push the four wheelers go haywire taking the fun out of the session. Eight wheelers (bogie wagons) behave much better and shunting with long strings of wagons is possible. For some time, I have been playing around to see if anything can be done to improve the performance of the four wheelers on the layout. The track system is not going to change any time soon, hand-built points with a larger turnout with smaller gaps at the vee could give better results, but the whole layout would need to be changed. 

Many of my early wagons are on the light side when on the weighbridge, many had plastic wheels. All now have been fitted with metal wheels with most having bearings to improve their running with less friction. All wheels have RP 25 flanges, there is some differences in the tyre width, most are 110 with a few 88. Some extra weight has been added to some where it could be out of sight when the wagon is on the track. There are various standards around the world on what the weight of a wagon should be and there is quite a bit of difference between them all. Looking at the NMRA RP-20.1 for H0 scale the standard for a 20 ft. wagon should be 68 grams. Most of my eight wheeled wagon are not that heavy and operate OK for what I do. AMRA Freight car standard is 38.5 grams and 28 grams for Passenger car. NEM standard suggests 28 grams. Coming back to H0n3 or TT scales the weight comes down. NMRA – 51 grams, AMRA 28 grams of freight and 21 grams for passenger cars, NEM run in at 17.5 grams. TrainSpotted.com has a calculator for all three standards taking the guess work out of it. Reading US modelling magazines some modellers into operations use twice NMRA standards. That’s makes one very heavy car. 

Reading other material, they suggest free running wagons can be lighter. I guess it come back to your layout (track system/standard) and what you want to do. Is shunting of wagons a requirement, or do you like seeing trains round through the scenery on the layout. For me it’s both. To have the best of both worlds I decided to run my own tests and see what works for me on my layout.  The track system on the layout is Peco H0m (I don’t think it meets NMRA Standards), making the turnout on the points around two (2) ft radius, the main line was built with 2ft 6 in radius. Westgate yard where I pull long strings of wagons the sidings hold around 35 four-wheelers. The wagon you need for a train is also down on the other end of the siding.    

The only RTR wagons on the layout are Southern Rail ALY steel louvered wagons, the website shows the wagon is fitted with RP25-88 wheels. There is a small amount of side play in the axles between axle boxes, some side way movement within the axle box, the wheels rotate freely. I would not call the wagon a free runner, by that I mean the wagon does not roll away on a section of track with a slight grade. On the scales the wagon weights 36 grams. That’s about AMRA freight car recommended weight for a wagon of that length in H0. On the track the wagon can be anywhere on a train and it stays on the track for my type of operations.

Do you like the weathering? PK did it as a demo for the Tuesday Nighters using Tamiya “Panel Line Accent Color”. There was also a plus for him, having owned a number of these wagons for a few years, he didn’t realise the doors work, and they can be opened. Helping others always has a plus and you generally came away learning something new for yourself. 

Prior to having the ALY wagons some testing was being carried out, mainly with box/louvered wagons as extra weight can be hidden inside out of sight. Loads could be added to open wagons, for some wagons lead sheet could be added to the floor and the load built up from that. But this only works for some load types like wagons with sawn timber, sleepers, tarpaulins etc. I guess the down side is the load is fixed to the wagon and the wagon cannot be used for other traffic.

For some time, I settled on 25 grams for all four wheeled wagons, as built many were under 10 grams. During the upgrade most wagons were also fitted with Kadee # 158 couplers. That’s a long story, many were fitted with Kadee H0n3 couplers to characterise D4 draw gear of a lesser strength as per the prototype. Yes, it did work as per the prototype with longer strings, they would let go and uncouple. Most of the time not in a convenient location.   I found wagons were still going bush setting back during shunting, it was OK with small strings of wagons on straight track. 

Some experiments were carried out, mainly with box wagons where the extra weight could be hidden inside. One ABG wagon was built up to 56 grams, it tracked well, but was this adding to much weight to the axles. A second ABG wagon was 31 grams, not a lot of difference between the two wagons during push pull tests across the layout. A couple of smaller A class wagons (Prototype wheel base of 8 ft.) were built up to 42 grams, these also operated without any issues. All of these are Caintode Flats kits and are box wagons, the extra weight added inside during construction.   

Of late I have been trying to add some empty open wagons to the layout. Also, some wagons with loads where the floor is visible would be nice too. The “Grovers” bogie are available from Caintode Flats, being white metal, they provide some weight under floor. Centre of gravity plays a big part in railway operations, the lower the better. The FG body was scratch built using styrene, additional lead sheet was added under the floor to keep the loading area as per the prototype. The wagon was weighted to 28 grams, more can be added if needed. A couple of ZGR flat wagons were built from Chivers fine scale styrene underframe kits with lead sheet under the floor. These wagons came in at 31 grams and run well on the layout. Having the lead under the floor appeared to be the answer.  A Road Ragers EH Holden was added to the FG wagon bring the weight up to 46 grams. Timber chocks stop the car moving around in the wagon when on the track, the car can be removed if required.  

Adding lead to under the floor may limit the underframe detail, generally I only show what can be seen when the wagon is on the track. Most of my models are for operations on the layout, if entering contests is your game a different approach would be required. Some manufactures like to add various bits of underfloor detail making adding additional weight under the floor out of the question. 

The Road Ragers vehicles are made of metal and weight around 19 grams, vehicles manufacture from plastic etc., are much lighter. The Brekina Toyota in this wagon weights 4 grams making the wagon 33 grams. 

During the 1960s/70s, motor cars were big business for QR. Most western roads still had sections of dirt, most new cars to country agents were conveyed by rail. The driving skills of the guys loading and unloading these vehicles was something to see. Most loading/unloading was done on side banks with the door being the ramp into the wagon. If modelling an era, remember all vehicles need to fit the era.    

Having the Caintode Flats “Grovers” Bogies available other wagons can be built. This AG wagon painted grey was scratch built using their bogies. Wooden box wagons painted grey in the early/mid 1960’s were “stores” wagons. They carried stores to divisional workshops. At some stage this wagon will be decaled “Ipswich – Toowoomba Loco Stores”. The wagon will carry loco parts between Ipswich Workshops and Toowoomba and onto other SWD locations as required. 

The next batch of smaller four-wheelers I use Peco TT underframes. To make them look more QR, the underframes were cut in half and mounted back to front placing the brake blocks out. The frames are quite thick and need to mounted on a floor higher than prototype. Additional weight can only be added inside.   

The extra weight was added inside the tank, both these water wagons are 35 grams each.

These wagons are shorter than the usual FGW wagons, but due to the higher tank they had a higher capacity. Plans suggest only five were built, I recall one being use on the Rockhampton – Mackay local goods/shunt to water gangs. Queensland Railway Miniatures and Caintode Flats parts were used to detail the models. 

Open wagons using these underframes will need to have loads.

Most of these wagons can be viewed on trains at work on the layout in my latest YouTube attempt.  

Guard Vans are back on the workshop bench for the next posting. 

Trust, you find the information helpful and assist you with your railway. 

Arthur.

Brisbane Model Train Show 2022.