BLH Limestone Hopper

BLH 32584 in new condition. SRA Archives.

As the cement industry grew, so did the need for a high capacity limestone hopper. The 65 hoppers were built from components of the very functional BCH coal hopper. Due to the density of limestone vs. coal, the height of the BCH sides were reduced by about 2ft and welded back together. They were intended for use on the Medway to Berrima Yo – Yo limestone trains, but were also sent to other cement plants.

Builders:

65 wagons were built by Waggonfabrik Talbot, Aachen Germany and supplied in kit form as part of the BCH order. The kit sides were modified and assembled by Commonwealth Engineering between 1957-58. They were numbered 32567 – 32636.

Length: 36ft / 10.9m Tare: 19t Capacity: 43t Gross: 62t Equiv Length: 1.8

Height of side (bottom of side to top) – 5’1½” (from railhead to top of side) – 8’5½”.

Bogies: Originally fitted with 2BQ (similar to 2BP). Most fitted with 2CO (CFB) at a later date (c.1984).

Coding:

- BLH – Bogie Limestone Hopper, as introduced

- Recoded FLH, as it is possible that some were fitted with roller bearing before the 1979 ROA recoding program.

- Recoded NHLA after 1979.

- Recoded NHLF when fitted with roller bearing bogies.

- 20 were sold to Pasminco in 1990 and recoded SHQA by Silverton Rail.

Colour Scheme:

- As introduced, they were painted all over black with white lettering.

- A few were painted PTC blue with white lettering. They weathered over time to a very light grey color.

- After 1980, some were painted SRA red with white lettering and these weathered to a dusty terracotta color.

- The wagons sold to Pasminco, were repainted a light grey with black lettering before entering service.

Modifications:

Apart from bogie upgrades, these hoppers appear not to have been modified. The wagons sold to Pasminco, were fitted with a roof hatch in the late 1990’s to help contain ore dust inside the wagon.

Similar Vehicles: BCH.

Period of Service: Government service 1958 – 1987/88. Silverton Rail have used the wagons since about 1991.

Operation:

Most of their lives were spent on Medway Quarry to Berrima cement works traffic in the southern highlands. They were noted, operating to other cement plants in NSW, such as Maldon and Portland. For a short time they were running between Medway and Pt Kembla Steelworks. Late in their government service period, they were used on sand and gravel traffic from Emu Plains and St Marys. They were also used on Bombo Quarry ballast trains.

Wagons sold to Pasminco in 1990, were taken to Broken Hill. They are operated by Silverton Rail on crushed ore shuttle trains from North Mine in the north east to Zinc Corp Mine, in the west of town, for further processing and concentrating.

Modelling: Plan available

- An N scale kit is available from N-Trains.

- No kit is available in HO, but could be kitbashed from an AR Kits BCH kit.

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Remaining Examples:

- BLH 32608 is preserved at Dorrigo Rail museum.

A service battered, possibly faded PTC blue, NHLF 32612 in Lithgow Yd. Phil Collins

A battered, SRA red NHLF 32615. Phil Collins

An early 1990’s shot of newly acquired Pasminco NHLF hoppers on a Silverton ore train.

Phil Collins

A rake of SHQA (ex NHLF’s) wagons with roof hatches, in service with Silverton at Broken Hill.

Photographer Unknown

The A-end and B-end of a BLH/NHLF. Phil Collins.