PCX Cement Hopper
NPCF 12056G in
These aluminum hoppers were an enlarged version
of the CSR PCC crushed limestone hopper which featured the same integrated
bogie bolster/bulkhead with single cell tank design. They are fitted with 4
pneumatic bottom discharge doors with 3 gravity loading hatches.
Builders:
Tulloch Ltd of Rhodes built 10 tankers in 1973
and was numbered 12051 – 12060.
Length:
14.12m Tare: 18t Capacity: 56t Gross:
76t Equivalent
Length: 2.3
Bogies:
XGA, XCL, XCF
Coding:
-
Originally
coded PCC.
-
They
were recoded PCX in 1975.
-
Recoded
NPCF in 1979.
Colour
Scheme:
-
Wagons
were unpainted aluminum with black lettering.
-
They
gradually weathered with cement dust.
-
Fielder’s
Flour added signage to NPCF 12057 when employed in their corn flour haulage.
-
FreightCorp
repainted 12051, 12054 and 12060 in their livery of white body, blue
underframe, grey bogies with a large FC logo on the tank sides.
Period of
Service: 1973 – 1999.
Similar
Wagons: PCC/NPSF 3491
Operation:
Originally intended for cement
traffic from Kandos, these hoppers were relegated to other powdered products
traffic when superceded by the PRX hopper. In mid-1989 the entire class, were
leased to WAGR to cover a shortage of cement tankers. It is unsure when the
wagons returned, but most members ended their days hauling flyash
(a by-product of coal powered power stations) which is mixed to make special
grades of cement, from Murwillumbah to Wyee.
Little is known at this stage about
the use of NPCF 12057 for Fielder’s flour traffic. As pictured below. If anyone
can shed any light on the subject, please let me know here.
Modelling: Plan Here - A collection of detail photos are
available on Keiran Ryan’s ARDP CD2.
-
Casula Hobbies
produced a RTR HO model in 2016.
NPCF 12057 with its unique ‘Fielder’s Bulk Corn
Flour’ signage. Peter
MacKerme