NQBY/RQBY 3 TEU Container Wagon

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The NQBYs were converted (via a brief period as NQSYs) from the 15001 – 15070 series of OCY (NQOY) wagons. The modifications involved the removal of some deck plates to lighten the weight of the wagon, removal of equipment boxes and the installation of container locks to handle the Smorgon reinforcing steel containers as well as the normal 20 and 40’ ISO containers. The deck plate arrangement on these wagons is not the same as on the RQSY/RQGY wagons. The number of wagons in this class is decreasing as wagons are recoded to RQSY and RQGY (following changes to the container locks?) The 15000 series wagons can be distinguished from the higher numbered ones by the cutout in the side sill over the bogies. On the 15000 there is a single cutout the length of the bogies; on the other wagons there is a double cutout.

Date Introduced: 1992

Running Numbers: Various in the range 15001 - 15070

Length: 19.2 m (over headstocks), 20.1 m (coupled length) Tare: 22 t Capacity: 54 t Gross: 76 t (80 t on some lines)

Bogies: YCM

Coding:

- Since the class was formed there have been no major changes to the class however some wagons have been recoded RQSY or RQGY following relatively minor changes. There were 47 of the NQBYs transferred to NRC in 1994 – 95, there appear to be fewer than 40 now.

Colour Scheme:

- The OCYs were introduced in PTC blue; some were repainted SRA red prior to the transfer to NRC. Some were repainted NRC grey

Operation:

- The NQBYs were modified for the transport of Smorgon containerised reinforcing steel but were used in normal interstate intermodal traffic when not required for that service

Modelling:

No HO model is known. The wagon could be modified from a Silvermaz or Powerline OCY but it would be a relatively simple model to scratch build.

RQBY 15007 shows the normal deck pattern on an RQBY, Goobang Junction Roger Jones

RQBY 15022-U, June 1997, Goobang Junction

An NQBY, still with chain boxes, showing the single cut-out over the bogie indicative of a COMENG wagon.

September 1993. Roger Jones