NCWF/RCWF
Coil Wire Wagon
New NCWF 85009L as built in
single tier format.
The NCWF were the wagons that
finally sounded the end of the age of 4-wheel wagons. Two years after the rest
of the 4-wheel fleet was withdrawn from revenue service there were still 235 S
trucks dedicated to the transport of coil rod from
The NCWF coil rod wagons were
introduced in 1984 to take over that traffic. The 100 wagons are converted
NOGF/NOGX type open wagons. Lansdowne Engineering (a Goninan subsidiary)
undertook the conversions at Taree. The sides and ends were removed and a new,
low-sided frame installed. Within a few years the frame had been extended
upwards to carry a second layer of coils. With the formation of National Rail,
the 93 remaining wagons were transferred to NRC. Although it appears that most
were later returned to FreightCorp and only 20 were retained by NRC.
The wire coil rolls are
between 1.10m and 1.25m in diameter.
The NCOF/RCOF is a similar, 2 m longer wagon, converted from a NODY underframe.
Builders:
- Lansdowne Engineering converted 100 NOGF/NOGX type open wagons. The modified wagons were given new numbers from 85000 to 85099.
Length: 13.1 m (over coupling faces) As introduced - Tare: 20 t Capacity: 51.5 t Gross: 71.5 t Height: 2.06m
As modified - Tare: 21t Capacity: 55t Gross: 76t Height: 3.18m
Bogies: have been seen with XCL and XCG bogies.
Coding:
- Introduced as NCWF 85000 to 85099.
- Recoded to RCWF when transferred to NRC.
Colour Scheme:
- Originally painted in SRA red.
- After the addition of extended framing, some were repainted into a special livery of BHP dark blue with ‘BHP STEEL Rod and Bar Products Division’ signage.
- NRC painted some wagons in mid grey when they recoded them.
Further Modifications:
In 1988, a wagon was
fitted with extensions by BHP, to hold a second tier of wire coils. This proved
successful and wagons were modified by both BHP and the SRA. The code was
unchanged.
Similar Vehicles: NCOF
Period of Service: 1985 – current.
Operation:
Initially the wagons
were used to transport coils from Newcastle to Rozelle in Sydney. Following the
increase in capacity the wagons were used to transport coils to all mainland
capitals.
Modelling:
A kit of the early version is available from Hanovale Model Castings. Conversion to the later version is relatively simple, requiring only styrene shapes. Article in preparation – Modelling the high-side NCWF
A photo of half an original condition NCWF at Scholey St in Newcastle.
NCWF 85090C in BHP Livery. Steve Pracy
