BWH Wheat Hopper
BWH 28875. SRA
photo
Commonly known as ‘Black’ wheat hoppers, these wagons
were converted from BCH coal hoppers by the fitting of a roof. The roof has 6 sliding
hatches along the centre line of the wagon. These roof hatches slide underneath
the walkway during loading. As delivered the walkway consisted of 3 x 8” timber
planks laid beside each other down the length of the vehicle. Discharge is via
3 pairs of sloping bottom doors operated by hand.
Builders: These hoppers were modified from randomly from BCH coal hoppers.
Running Numbers:
Length: 11.8m Eqil Length: 1.8
BWH - Tare: 20t Capacity: 41t Gross: 61t
FWH - Tare: 22t Capacity: 52t Gross: 73t
Bogies:
- Originally fitted with plain bearing 2BP bogies and were limited to 65km/h (40m/h).
- Most were fitted with roller bearing 2CH or 2CF bogies and were able to operate at 80km/h (50m/h).
Coding:
- BWH with 2BP bogies
- FWH with 2CH bogies.
- From 1979, BWH became NGBA and FWH became NGBF.
- NGBA/NGBF became NGMA/NGMF in 1987, when modified with steel walkways.
- NGMA 29289 recoded to RHIF after conversion to a gravel wagon.
Colour Scheme:
- Originally painted in standard NSWR gunmetal grey all over with white lettering, thus their ‘Blacks’ nickname.
- Some received the PTC blue livery
- A few were painted the SRA red livery.
- Later in their lives, all colour schemes could be seen under the grime and rust.
- RHIF conversion was painted black initially, and then repainted PN blue in 2005.
Operation:
These wagons were introduced to increase the tonnages
of wheat moved in NSW. They ultimately replaced the RU 4-wheel wheat hopper in
this traffic and were still operating until the last were withdrawn in 2002. The
wagons operated in block loads as well as smaller consignments to flour mills.
Modifications:
Apart
from bogie changes, these wagons did not change until OH&S regulations
caught up with them in the 1987, when their timber plank walkways were replaced
with galvanized expanded steel mesh. The walkways were fitted around the
perimeter of the roof.
In
late 2003, Pacific National converted a prototype gravel wagon from NGMA 29289.
The roof was removed, the chassis was strengthened, air operated discharge doors
fitted and its 50t bogies replaced with 70t capacity ones. The wagon, now RHIF,
was a success and can be seen today on the ‘Boral’ train from
Other Derivatives:
-
Freight
- PN upgraded some in 2006 as the RHJY Mineral Sand hopper.
Modelling in HO:
-
Rails North produced a kit but is no longer available.
-
AR Kits have a
basic kit available in both the BWH/FWH versions and their equilivent
ROA codes.
-
Trainorama under the ‘Hi-Rail’ brand,
have available a HO RTR model of the BWH/BCH and VHBF. They will also release the
FWH and 4 letter versions of these hoppers.
A weathered gunmetal FWH.
FWH 29191 in PTC livery. SRA Photo
A stored NGMA in Bathurst Yd in 2005. Josh Beveridge
NGMA 29236 at Temora, in a faded PTC livery. 2001. Josh Beveridge
NGMF 28634 at Pt Kembla, showing its new steel roof walkways. Phil Collins
Ex
NGMA VHBF 1118A as refurbished by Freight
RHIF
29289 on the ‘Boral’ train at Enfield Yd.
Refurbished as a RHJY mineral sand wagon in 2006, 30 of these old vehicles have received
a new lease on life. Josh Beveridge photo.