NQJX 2 TEU Container Wagon

Prototype wagon NQJX 10101L in RSA Teal livery. Brian Michell

The NQJX wagons were converted from NOBX bogie open wagons. The conversions were carried out in 1999 at the RSA workshops at Bathurst (and possibly Goulburn). These wagons are leased out to private operators and for the most part they operate on trip trains within the Sydney area but have been known to venture further afield, including trips into Victoria.

The first wagon, NQJX 10101L, is quite different from the rest. It was converted from a louvre van underframe (actual wagon unknown) and has a mostly skeletal deck.

The 20 others have mostly a full deck with skeletal ends, however there are some differences among the 20 as well.

Date Introduced: 2000.

Running Numbers: 10101 – 10121.

Length: 15.0m Tare: 16.5t Capacity: 58t Gross: 74.5t

Bogies: The wagons have retained the bogies from their parent wagon, mostly XCL and XCG types.

Coding:

- They have only every carried the NQJX code.

Colour Scheme:

- Originally appeared in RSA teal green and yellow with grey bogies.

- All were repainted in 2005 into RIC orange with black headstocks and bogies.

- From 2010 onwards, they were removed from the leasing arrangements and allocated for use on maintenance trains.

Operation:

They were originally intended for trip train working in the Sydney metropolitan area, but they were found to be suitable for short-term use into Victoria in 2001. They have been leased primarily by LVRF but have also been used on Silverton and SSR trip trains.

Modelling:

- Hanovale Model Castings, produce a kit of both types of the NQJX. Kit N020 is of the prototype 10101L and Kit F030 is based on the majority of the fleet.

- Hawkesmoor have a kit of the more common type available in HO scale from Casula Hobbies.

- A series of detail photos of the NQJX appear on the ARDP CD Vol.4

The deck design of the majority of NQJX’s. Compare this with the top photo. Graham Baker

The two different end styles: NQJX 10101 on the right is the prototype and the wagon on the left,

is of the more common. Leightonfield in 2006 SJ Matthews

NQJX 10117E at Chullora in the RIC livery. Josh Beveridge

NQJX 10110 with spoil bins. Chullora MTS sidings.

Ex NQJX 10101 recoded as NDQF 2685H at Leightonfield.