EHG Power Van

EHG 11567 freshly converted at Clyde Wagon Workshop in 1967. John Miller photo

The needs of a railway are always changing. In the mid 1960’s, the advent of refrigerated shipping containers saw a need for power vans for good train use. The first two were converted for use on a reefer container train shipping perishable food from Tasmania. Two rakes of ICX type container wagons were fitted with 415v wiring and a GM Detroit 671 genset with 75w out put was fitted to the former perishables compartment of the MHG guards vans. The former passenger end compartment was modified for an end door to be fitted to permit crew to walk through when the van is used on passenger trains.

Date Introduced: 1965

Running Numbers:

From MHG	To EHG	To NVEF	To PHG
11567	1965		2407
11643	1966		2405
11694	1967		2406
11705	1971		2408
11800	1967		2409

Length: 11.58m Tare: 27t Capacity: 3t Gross: 30t Equiv Length:

Bogies: 2AT

Coding:

- Coded EHG when converted,

- Recoded NVEF, after 1979.

- 11643 and 11694, were recoded PHG 2405 and 2406 in 1981.

Colour Scheme:

As converted, the vans were painted in special colour schemes for each intended use:

- 11567 and 11643 were painted overall silver with yellow and black striped ends for use on reefer trains.

- 11800 was painted yellow for use with the DCC Dental Clinic Cars.

- 11694 was painted passenger carriage Tuscan with yellow lining for use on the Kosciuszko Express to Cooma.

Later, as use changed:

- 11705, after rebuild in 1971 is painted silver.

- 11643 and 11694, after rebuild in 1981, was repainted silver with orange bands for use with de-motored Budd and Tulloch railcars.

Further Modifications: 11643 and 11694 received large pothole windows in the generator end during their 1981 rebuild.

Similar Vehicles: ARHS-ACT PHG 12720 was converted to an equivalent of a EHG in the mid-90s for use on heritage passenger trains.

Period of Service: 1965 til 1985.

Operation:

- 3 were used in refrigerated container trains from 1967 until ??

- 1 was used on the DCC Dental Clinic Cars service from 1968 until ??

- 1 was used on the Kosciuszko Snow Express from Sydney to Cooma.

- 2 later used to power air-conditioning systems on de-motored Budd and Tulloch railcars from 1981 until 1993.

Modelling:

- An EHG can be modified from a MHG model. AM Models have a HO conversion kit (KT 01), available from Casula Hobbies.

Surviving Examples:

- 2409 (11567) - East Coast Heritage Limited (ex 3801 Ltd), Eveleigh

- 2406 – West Wyalong

- 2407 - Wyalong

EHG 11643 at Cooks River in 1968. SRA photo

EHG 11800 at Macksville in Jan’77 in use as the DCC Dental Clinic power van.

EHG 11705 at Dynon in July ’79. Rob O’Regan photo.

EHG 2407 with PTC logos.

EHG 2406 at Sydney Terminal in the silver and orange livery in 1983.

EHG 2409 at Wallan, VIC in 1988.

EHG 2409 at Sydney Terminal with a 3801 Ltd tour train, in 2005.

EHG 2407 in use as service station shop at Wyalong, NSW.