BDL-BDX Open Wagon

BDL/BDX 45ft Open Wagon

COMENG built BDX 33458 freshly repainted in PTC Teal. SRA Archives

With the appearance of the BD open wagon a couple years before, a slightly lengthened version was needed to cater for larger loads and the newly introduced type of freight box – the 40ft ISO Container. They had reinforced square corrugated sides with 2 double opening doors and timber floors and internal end planking.

The primary difference between batches was that the AE Goodwin version featured individual lashing points, whereas the Commonwealth Engineering version had a continuous lashing rail along the side.

Builders: 580 wagons were built,

- 1^st contract for 300 wagons were built by AE Goodwin between 1963-1967 and have running numbers 28375-28624 and 31611-31660.

- 2^nd contract for 280 wagons were built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1968-1970 and have running numbers 33401-3360.

Other Running Numbers: if they were allocated another range of numbers (if not delete entire line)

Length: 14.1m Tare: 22t Capacity: 51t Gross: 73t Equiv Length: 2.3

Bogies: BDL fitted with 2CG clasp bogies

BDX fitted with XCG/XCL or XCF bogies.

Coding:

- As introduced, BDL

- Recoded BDX when converted for bogie exchange from 1962 onwards.

- 1980 ROA recode – BDL to NOBF, BDX to NOBX

- NRC recoded their coil steel wagons RCFX

Colour Scheme:

- As introduced, they were painted gunmetal grey with white handbrake wheels, steps and taps.

- Some examples repainted PTC Teal blue with white lettering, handbrake wheels, steps and taps.

- Most repainted SRA red post 1985 during overhauls.

Modifications:

- Around 50 COMENG wagons were converted into twin compartment CCX and UCX Coil Steel wagons.

- Many had their doors removed and fitted with timber bolsters to carry slab steel.

- Some were converted to NDCH and NDCH Spoil wagons for use on MTS (Metropolitan Track Strengthening) maintenance trains.

- CFCLA converted some COMENG wagons into CQFY Grain container wagons in 2001.

- Some were converted to NQJX Container wagons in 1999.

- were converted into NDXF Concrete Sleeper wagons in 1993.

Similar Vehicles: AE Goodwin built 28587 as NTC 5065 Experimental Coil Wagon for Lysaght Steel, but it was later renumbered BDX 28587

Period of Service: 1961-2003

Operation: As a general-purpose open wagon they could carry all manner of loading which could not be loaded into vans. Used to move hay, farm machinery, containers and some bulk commodities like spoil and coal. They spent their last years in container traffic, throughout NSW and on metropolitan trip trains.

In slab steel traffic, they saw use between Pt Kembla and Melbourne/Brisbane until around 2003.

Plan: BDL

Modelling:

Protype produced a HO kit of the AE Goodwin version in 197x.

AR Kits produced a HO kit of the AE Goodwin version in 198x and is currently available.

Auscision Models plan to produce a HO RTR model of the Commonwealth Engineering version in 2020.