NDTF Turnout Transport Wagon

NDTF 40021N doing what it does best! Josh Beveridge

In an increasingly safety conscious work environment, the need to transport prefabricated turnouts with relative safety and ease was developed. With the introduction of the NDTF, a finished turnout could be moved from the factory to the worksite. Previously a turnout was built on-site from smaller components and slid into place by cranes.

The NDTF is adapted from the american ‘Plasser’ WTW Switch Transport Wagon, the ‘out-of-gauge’ load is hydraulically tilted to bring it within loading clearances for movement. The deck is divided up into 4 individual tilting deck sections. The wagon is self-contained; it is fitted with a 171hp diesel engine to power all electrical and hydraulic systems.

The finished turnout (in pieces if necessary) is clamped to the tilting deck for transport. Clamps are made up of a stretcher bar and turnbuckles, which are stored on the chassis beam when not in use. Once at the worksite, the turnout piece is slid off the wagon and into position from an adjacent track. If the turnout has to be moved to another location on the worksite, Plasser has also designed an all-terrain LHX ‘crawler’ vehicle that lifts the piece up and moves it where needed.

The LHX is moved to a worksite by it’s own purpose built wagon - NDDF 40040.

Builder: ‘Plasser Australia’ built 2 wagons at their St Marys plant in 2004. They are numbered 40021N and 40022.

Length: 26m Tare: 41.4t Capacity: 44t Gross: 85.4t

Bogies: XCL

Coding:

- Only been coded NDTF.

Colour Scheme:

- Painted in the standard ‘Plasser Australia’ livery of chrome yellow with black logos and bogies. Clamps are painted red.

Period of Service: 2004 to current

Operation:

Prefab turnouts are loaded onto the wagons at Chullora and conveyed to their desired location by the NDTF.

Similar Vehicles: NDUF 40050X is of a similar design, but transports straight sections of track to worksites.

Modelling:

The wagon has to be scratchbuilt.