NQSY/RQSY 3 TEU Container Wagon

 

Do you have an overhead photo of a freshly painted NQSY/RQSY? If so email it here

 

In 1989 – 92 almost all of the remaining examples of the 370 NQOY wagons of the 15000, 34000 and 35000 series had their weight reduced by removal of part of the deck, had the equipment boxes removed and had twistlocks fitted for the transport of 20 and 40’ ISO containers.  The work was carried out in Cooks River  rail yard. Most of these wagons carried the NQSY code, at least initially.

By the end of 1992 the 15000 series had been recoded to NQBY. Some of the R/NQSY were eventually recoded RQGY, either through the NQGY code or directly to RQGY following the transfer of these wagons to NRC. Some 260 wagons wore the RQSY code shortly after transfer to NRC. It has been suggested that the “S” in the code stands for Superfreighter as that was the traffic these wagons returned to after modification. Not all wagons had the same modification and there are a number of different patterns to the deck.

 

Date Introduced:           1989?

 

Running Numbers:

-           Various in the sequence 34301 – 34500, 34951 – 35050. Many in the 15001 – 15070 range carried the code briefly (and a few have been recoded more recently. Also a few in the range 14901 - 15000

 

Length: 19.2 m (over headstocks), 20.1 m (coupled length)       Tare: 21.75 t                Capacity: 54.25 t                      Gross: 76 t (80 t on some lines)

 

Bogies:             YCM

 

Coding:

-                     Coded NQSY when modified (see also NQGY and NQBY, most of which briefly carried this code)

-                     All were transferred to NRC and recoded RQSY.

 

Colour Scheme:

-                     Many were not repainted when the modifications were carried out so always appeared dirty grey. (Original NQOY wagon colour was PTC blue.)

-                     Some have been repainted pale grey following transfer to NRC

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Further Modifications:

-                     Most of the NQBY/RQBY wagons were originally recoded NQSY. The deck pattern on these wagons was different from the standard NQSY

-                     The NQGY/RQGY wagons are very similar to the NQSY/RQSY but have heavy duty twist locks. The RQGY class is growing at the expense of the RQSY as more wagons are upgraded.

-           A small number of RQSY were converted to RRSY by the installation of a generator set and cables, for powering electric refrigerated containers, on the deck of the wagon. This reduced the capacity of these wagons to 2 TEU. RRSY wagons include 34453-W, 34486-F, 15064-X, 34404-P, 34377-W, 34463-X, 35050-U, 34954-V, 34986-P, 34854-Y. The tare of these wagons is increased to 23.5 t.

Operation:

-           The NQSY/RQSY work on interstate intermodal trains although many have now been set aside following the introduction of newer, mainly articulated, wagons

 

Modelling:

No HO model is known. The NQSY could be modified from a Casula (Silvermaz) or Powerline NQOY however it would probably be just as easy to scratchbuild.

 

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The most common deck pattern is illustrated by this Tulloch 6th contract wagon. Note the double cut-out over the bogies,

the two-vaned jackpad and the boxed handle over the shunter’s step.   Parkes                          Roger Jones

 

RQSY 34495 shows an unusual deck pattern                                                    Roger Jones

 

RRSY 34486F makes up for the loss of one container slot with a 48’ container.    Roger Jones

 

RQSY 34990-P shows the double cut-out, three-vaned jackpads and shunter’s step safety handle

of the Goninan wagons.                                                             Parkes, Oct 1995. Roger Jones

 

RQSY 34447-D has the two-vaned jackpads and boxed handle above the steps of the Tulloch OCYs.

 Aug 1995. Roger Jones