NLBX Banana Van
NLBX 31375 Phil
Collins
These vans were converted from GLV/GLX and TLV/TLX type louvre vans, with their interiors lined with plywood. They were placed into captive service with the Banana Growers Federation (BGF) for the transport of fruit from the north coast to major markets such as Flemington in Sydney.
The vans were decorated with BGF lettering, logo and the main public advertising campaign slogan sign Unzip a Banana.
Date Introduced: From 1987/90. They had a very short service life, as they were all withdrawn by 1991/92.
Running Numbers: The following table list known numbers as sourced from Railway Digest magazine. It is not complete and could have errors. If evidence turns up it will be updated. The Conv/RD refers to when the conversion was listed in RD, so the wagons could have been converted 4-6 months earlier. Any corrections please email - Page Author
Code |
Number |
Conv/RD |
|
Code |
No. |
Conv/RD |
|
Code |
No. |
Conv/RD |
NLBF |
5962 |
? |
|
NLBF |
11376 |
06/89 |
|
NLBX |
31372 |
01/89 |
|
9962 |
03/89 |
|
|
11410 |
06/89 |
|
|
31375 |
12/88 |
|
9964 |
06/89 |
|
|
11423 |
06/89 |
|
|
31376 |
12/88 |
|
10002 |
10/90 |
|
|
11449 |
06/89 |
|
|
31393 |
12/88 |
|
10027 |
04/89 |
|
|
11450 |
06/89 |
|
|
31418 |
12/88 |
|
10044 |
04/89 |
|
|
11485 |
06/89 |
|
|
31470 |
12/88 |
NLBX |
10049 |
10/90 |
|
|
11537 |
11/90 |
|
|
31476 |
12/88 |
NLBF |
10696 |
04/89 |
|
|
11538 |
06/89 |
|
|
31477 |
10/90 |
|
11029 |
10/90 |
|
|
17599 |
11/89 |
|
|
31478 |
12/88 |
|
11032 |
40/89 |
|
NLBX |
29428 |
12/88 |
|
|
31484 |
? |
|
11094 |
06/89 |
|
|
29441 |
? |
|
|
34201 |
01/89 |
|
11126 |
06/89 |
|
|
29444 |
? |
|
|
34211 |
01/89 |
|
11129 |
06/89 |
|
|
29452 |
01/89 |
|
|
34214 |
01/89 |
|
11177 |
04/89 |
|
|
29460 |
12/88 |
|
|
34223 |
01/89 |
|
11185 |
06/89 |
|
|
29462 |
12/88 |
|
|
34232 |
01/89 |
|
11191 |
04/89 |
|
|
29478 |
12/88 |
|
|
34235 |
01/89 |
|
11218 |
10/90 |
|
|
29488 |
11/90 |
|
|
34239 |
01/89 |
|
11231 |
11/88 |
|
|
29491 |
12/88 |
|
|
34243 |
01/89 |
|
11248 |
06/89 |
|
|
31362 |
11/90 |
|
|
|
|
|
11307 |
11/90 |
|
|
31363 |
12/88 |
|
|
|
|
|
11313 |
11/90 |
|
|
31364 |
12/88 |
|
|
|
|
|
11355 |
11/90 |
|
|
31369 |
12/88 |
|
|
|
|
|
11372 |
03/89 |
|
|
31370 |
03/89 |
|
|
|
|
|
11376 |
06/89 |
|
|
31371 |
? |
|
|
|
|
Almost all conversions above 29000 were of ex-Tinplate wagons (TLX) and were NLBX.
Most (not all) below 29000 were NLBFs.
Length: 13.72m Tare: 26t Capacity: 43t Gross: 69t
Bogies: Any type of 70t bogie
Coding:
- Bogie exchange vans were coded NLBX
- Non bogie exchange vans were coded NLBF
Colour Scheme:
- Dating from their days as general louvred vans, they continued to carry the body colour they had been painted at the time of conversion, Red/Gunmetal/PTC Blue. They were however painted with varying designs of yellow lining and as mentioned above, they also had BGF signage applied. It seemed that no two vans were painted the same way!
Operation:
These vans were primarily captive to fruit traffic generated from the north coast line. They were loaded from the numerous packing sheds on the line and sent on faster goods trains to Sydney and other southern markets.
Modelling:
AR Kits produce a kit for the NLBX, based on their GLX van kit. It includes BGF signage as well as painting diagrams for 6 of the many livery versions.
Further reading:
- AMRM Issue 160, February 1990, has a few photographs of the vans.
NLBF 17599 Phil Collins
NLBX 10049 Phil Collins