ARH Cement Hopper

(Experimental)

 

 

Brand new ARH 5066.                                                                                                    SRA Archives photo.

 

A.E.Goodwin built this wagon in 1966 as a prototype to test the application of an aluminium grain hopper design for cement traffic. The parentage of the WH wheat hopper is very apparent. This hopper was later used as a basis for the design of the ARX cement hopper. The wagon is of aluminium construction, has 3 round ‘cement type’ roof hatches along its centreline and 4 hand-operated discharge doors.

 

Length: 11.43m            Tare:  16t         Gross:  75t       Capacity:  59t               Equiv Length: 1.9

 

Bogies: 2CG, later fitted with XCH and XCF bogies.

 

Coding:

-                     Originally coded ARH, but recoded NPAF after 1979.

-                     In 1983, it was pooled into the grain fleet and recoded NGCF.

-                     Last recoding was in 1989 when it became NGEF, to vacate the NGCF code for the ex ARX hoppers.

 

Similar Vehicles: WH wheat hopper, ARX cement hopper.

 

Colour Scheme:

            -           Unpainted aluminum with black bogies and lettering.

 

Period of Service: 1966 – Written off in 1992.

 

Operation:

It spent its last years marshaled with ARX hoppers working the Manildra grain shuttles in the north-west.

 

Modelling: No model is available and would have to be scratchbuilt from an AR Kits CH coal hopper kit.

 

 

           

 

A’ end and roof hatches of ARH 5066.

 

 

NGCF 5066 as a grain hopper, later in life at Bathurst.                                      Phil Collins