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 They had a very short service life, as they were all withdrawn by 1991/92.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 NLBF’s.

 

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