JHG 40’ Freight Brake Van

JHG/UHG Guards Van

New JHG 34001 at Clyde in 1969. Note the roller-shutter platform entry door and buffers.

SRA photo.

These vans were the first type built out of a one-piece plywood bodies. They were built on reclaimed PHG underframes and the first two vans were extensively tested before a contract was let for their construction in large numbers. The 2 prototype vans were built with a roller-shutter door on the end platform wall. This feature was later removed from these vans and a sliding door was used instead. The internal layout of the van consisted of a central guards compartment with adjoining toilet cubicle. At one end of the van there is a 2.9m long goods compartment.

In 1977, 12 vans were modified with strengthened underframe and drawgear for use on some Hunter Valley coal trains. The trains operated to locations where there wasn’t a balloon loop, and therefore the locomotives had to runaround. To speed up turnaround times, a van was marshalled at each end of the train. The vans were also fitted with a main reservoir pipe to supply air from the loco’s to the pneumatic discharge doors equipment on the coal hoppers. The last 3 vans of the JHG contract, 34098-100, were built as a UHG. The remaining 9 were converted from in service JHG’s.

Builders: In total, 100 vans were built.

- Clyde Workshops built 2 vans in 1969/70 as prototype vans. They are numbered 34001 and 34002.

- 98 vans were built by Clyde Workshops between 1972-77, and were numbered 34003-34100.

UHG coded vans were – 34020, 34039, 34041, 34053-55, 34074, 34075, 34081 34098-100.

Length: 36ft / 10.97m Tare: 20t Capacity: 3t Gross: 23t

Bogies: Originally fitted with 2SA, some later received 2AT (ATA) bogies.

Coding:

- Originally coded JHG

- The 12 modified for coal working were recoded UHG.

- From 1979, vans fitted with 2SA bogies were recoded NVJA (JHG) and NVUA (UHG).

Vans fitted with 2AT bogies were recoded NVJF (JHG) and NVUF (UHG).

- UHG 34020 was recoded BTC 4108 (Brake Test Car) in the mid 1980’s.

Colour Schemes:

- As delivered, all were painted in the Tuscan livery with chrome yellow lining and silver roof. They had a rhombus NSWR on sides. Bogies and underframe were black. Both JHG and UHG vans were painted in this style.

- From 1973, PTC mk1 & 2 logos were applied and the Tuscan livery was retained.

- BTC 4108 was painted in a special yellow livery with green lining when converted.

- NVJF 34089 became NDVF 1039 for use as the ACDEP match vehicle and was painted in a yellow livery with diagonal stripes.

- They were not painted any other livery.

Modifications:

As described above, the end roller-door was replaced with a sliding door, 12 were strengthened for coal traffic and 1 was converted into a brake test car. They were originally fitted with buffers, but they were removed during the early 1980’s.

Period of Service: 1972 to Oct 1985. (The shortest lifespan of a guards van class on the NSW Railways).

Modelling:

- A kit is available in HO scale from Ian Lindsay Models.

- An unpainted RTR brass model is occasionally available from Casula Hobbies.

Remaining Examples:

- UHG 34098 at Richmond Vale Railway Museum,

- NVUA 34054 at Goulburn Roundhouse Museum,

- UHG 34053 at Dorrigo Railway Museum,

- Remains of an unidentified JHG in Harden Yd,

- BTC 4108 still in use with Pacific National.