NTOF Cotton Seed Oil Tanker

A freshly painted NTOF, complete with oil spillage. Graham Baker

These 13 tankers were converted from stored DOT departmental tankers to move Cotton Seed vegetable oil. The oil comes from ‘North-West Vegetable Oil’ at West Narrabri and is taken to the ‘Cargill’ plant on Kooragang Island, Newcastle. The DOT wagons were stored in Canberra Yd and were taken to Bathurst Workshops in April 2000. After internal cleaning and modifications, they emerged from the workshops painted in FreightCorp blue in June. They received their FreightCorp logo and data panels, and left for Sydney in July. The ‘Cargill’ logo was added upon arrival in the Newcastle area.

Modified By: RSA Bathurst Workshops on behalf of FreightCorp.

Modified From: DOT 1280 series tank wagons.

Running Numbers: They retained their L-series number when converted, DOT L1292 became NTOF 1292 etc. Numbers are – 1280A, 1281J, 1282S, 1283E, 1284N, 1285W, 1286X, 1287R, 1290X, 1292D, 1294V, 1297C and 1298L.

Length: 14.7m Tare: 22.6t Capacity: 53.4t (45,460lts) Gross: 76t Equiv Length:

Bogies: Various types, commonly XCG, XCF and XCL.

Coding:

- They have only ever been coded NTOF.

Colour Scheme:

- They are painted FreightCorp blue all over with large ‘Cargill’ and ‘FreightCorp’ logos attached. Handrails, handbrakes are white and bogies are grey.

Similar Vehicles: Before the NTOF was introduced; the oil was moved in a dedicated rake of AMPOL NTAF tankers.

Period of Service: 2000 to current.

Operation:

They are only used to move vegetable oil from Narrabri to Kooragang Island as pickup traffic when required.

Modelling:

- Not specifically available as a kit, but could be modified from general tank wagon parts from AM Models and Stephen Johnson Models.

- Decals for the NTOF are available from Bakers SRM.

NTOF 1282S in Enfield Yd, 28/2/03. Graham Baker

A pair of NTOF’s as they appear today. Werris Creek Yd, 26/6/05. Josh Beveridge