The CHS was the first large capacity coal hopper built for the Newcastle coalfields. They have 6 bottom discharge doors with 3 pairs of doors opening towards each other. They are fitted with a pneumatic bottom door opening system.

As lighter and stronger hoppers superceded them, they were used in other traffic such as limestone ‘yo-yo’ trains and gravel trains.

Builders:

500 wagons were built in 3 contracts

- 200 ‘Medtens’ Steel hoppers were built by Vickers Scotts of Ipswich, QLD in 1976-77, numbered 35101-35300

- 200 Stainless Steel hoppers were built by COMENG in 1976-77, numbered 35401-35600

- 100 ‘Aus-ten’ Steel hoppers were built by A.Goninan & Co in 1976-77 and are numbered 35601-35700.

Length - 16.23m (COMENG) Tare: – 22t Gross - 99t

- 15.95m (Vickers) - 22t - 97t

- 16m (A.Goninan) - 27t - 100t

Bogies: Originally 2CL, but some of the 100t CHS/NHVF has been fitted with Gloucester DCA’s

Colour Schemes:

- As delivered, they were painted PTC blue overall with a 2-tone blue L7 logo. Bogies are PTC blue as well.

- This colour scheme is still visible on most CHS, the only change has been the various corporate logos applied to the sides of the hopper.

- NHVF vehicles were painted a brownish red and have since been painted in PN blue with matching logo.

- Some NHGF’s were repainted in Freight Rail blue for working the Dunmore gravel train in late 2004.

Codings:

- Stainless steel CHS were recoded NHCF in 1981.

- Medtens CHS’s were recoded NHVF in 1981.

- Austen’s CHS’s were recoded NHGF in 1981.

- Some NHCF’s were recoded NPJH when modified for Marulan to Pt Kembla limestone traffic.

- NHGF’s used for ‘Boral’ gravel traffic were recoded NPZH in mid 2004.

Modifications:

Not many changes have been made to these hoppers and most retain their original appearance with the following exceptions,

- Some NHVF’s were converted to NGVF wheat hoppers and had their end canopies removed and a roof cover fitted.

- Some NHCF’s were recoded NPJH, when fitted with pneumatic opening discharge doors and locomotive independent braking for operation on the steeply graded Moss Vale to Unanderra line in limestone traffic.

- NHGF’s converted for gravel traffic also had pneumatic opening discharge doors fitted and were recoded NPZH.

Operation:

As stated above, these hoppers were designed to be used in the Hunter Valley coalfields. Their scope soon expanded to Western and Southern fields in due course, as the NHFF type gradually replaced them in this traffic. The NHVF type is still used, in a limited capacity, in the Newcastle area on coal traffic.

Members of the NHCF and NHGF can be seen today on the limestone ‘yo-yo’ trains from Marulan to Berrima cement works.

Some ex-NHGF now NPZH’s, are used to carry gravel from Dunmore Quarry on the Illawarra to the ‘Boral’ sidings at Enfield and Cooks River in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Modelling in HO:

- AMRI have produced a model kit of the ‘Austen’ CHS/NHGF hopper which is still available from Casula Hobbies.

‘Medtens’ version of the CHS as NHVF’s before and after refurbishment in 2005.

A fairly new ‘COMENG’ CHS 35481

NPJH Limestone hopper variant in Goulburn 2001 and in Albury in 2004

Two examples of ‘Austen’s’ version in service today on the Boral train in 2004.

Boral train NPZH’s after overhaul in 2005. Josh Beveridge