DOT ‘1280’ series Diesel Fuel Tanker

DOT L1292 at Clyde on 5/10/1973. John Miller

These 10,000gal (45,460 litre) tankers were used to transport diesel fuel to the various loco depots and other fuel points on the rail system.

Builder: NSWR Chullora Workshops built the tankers in 1973-4.

Wagon	Built	Withdrawn	Converted
L 1280	05/1973	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1280 A
L 1281	08/1973	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1281 J
L 1282	10/1973	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1282 S
L 1283	11/1973	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1283 E
L 1284	12/1973	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1284 N
L 1285	02/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1285 W
L 1286	03/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1286 X
L 1287	04/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1287 R
L 1288	04/1974	1997	?
L 1289	04/1974	1997	?
L 1290	04/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1290 X
L 1291	05/1974	2015	Continued use as DOT
L 1292	06/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1292 D
L 1293	06/1974	2015	Continued use as DOT
L 1294	06/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1294 V
L 1295	06/1974	1997	?
L 1296	06/1974	1997	?
L 1297	06/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1297 C
L 1298	07/1974	1997	07/2000 To NTOF 1298 L
L 1304	07/1974	1997	Continued use as DOT

Length: 14.7M (45ft) Tare: 22t Capacity: 51t Gross: 73t

Bogies: 2CD as introduced, XCG and XCF used later.

Coding: They have only ever been coded DOT with L series numbering.

Colour Scheme:

- Painted PTC blue all over with 2-tone blue L7’s

- Repainted silver by FreightRail in 1997

Operation:

Diesel fuel tankers were normally filled at DELEC and attached to through goods trains to regional loco depots but could been seen on any train. Around the mid-00’s, those still in use were allocated and permanently stabled at regional fuel points. Refilling was done by road tanker. As of 2019, Cootamundra and Werris Creek still use their DOTs.

Modifications: Most were converted to NTOF Cotton Seed Oil tankers in 2000.

Modelling:

No kit is available at this time but could be kitbashed from available tanker components from AM Models and Stephen Johnson Models.

DOT L1281 at DELEC in 1974. Rob O’Regan

DOT L1285 in 1997. D Bass

DOT L1283 in storage at Canberra in 1999. D Bass

DOT L1291 in Canberra in 1999. D Bass

DOT L1304 in 1997. D Bass

DOT L1304 at Inner Harbour during the 2000’s. Sten Parker