NQIW Container Wagon

NQIW 60332H in SRA service Steven Pracy

These short, strong, high-speed wagons were sorely needed for fast intermodal trains when they were introduced. They feature a skeletal deck with a height of 1020mm. Because of the lower than usual deck they are able to handle 9’6” (2.9m) high containers. They can be loaded with 2 x 20ft or 1 x 40ft container.

Builders:

Lansdowne Engineering built 55 during 1988 and numbered them 60285-60339.

Length: 14.6m Tare: 18t Capacity: 62t Gross: 80t

Bogies: Gloucester DCA

Coding:

- As introduced, they were coded NQIW

- When transferred to the NRC in 1994/5, they were recoded RQIW

Colour Scheme:

- As introduced, they had a SRA red body with gunmetal grey bogies

- NRC painted the wagons in a light grey with a NRC logo on the centre beam.

- When PN overhauled them in 2002/3, some were painted in a darker shade of grey.

- In late 2006, the first of perhaps many RQIW 60309E was repainted in PN blue.

Operation:

From introduction, the SRA allocated these wagons for use on interstate intermodal services. Initially captive between Sydney and Brisbane, later their field of operation expanded to include Sydney – Melbourne.

In 1994 54 of the wagons were transferred to National Rail where they were recoded RQIW; the number was unchanged. (NQIW 60289 is the wagon not transferred and may have been condemned.)

In NR (later Pacific National) service the range of the wagons expanded to include western services as well as the eastern seaboard. RQIW’s have also been noted on containerised mineral concentrate and containerised steel trains.

Modelling:

- Scaleways produce a HO scale kit, available upon request

- Hanovale produce a HO scale kit which is readily available

- Auscision Models are to release a RTR HO model in 2007.

A view of the deck

RQIW in NRC light grey Chris Jones

RQIW in NRC dark grey, being refurbished. Chris Jones

Thanks to Dougie Williams for most of the information on this page.