PRX/PRY Cement Hopper

A brand new 3^rd batch NPRF. Casula Hobbies Collection

These Aluminium hoppers feature a single cell ‘tear drop’ tank that allows the contents to be air-discharged thru 1 centrally mounted outlet.

Builders:

Mittagong Engineering built 125 wagons in two contracts,

- 1^st Contract - 100 were built in 1978-80 and are numbered 12061 - 12160

- 2^nd Contract - 25 were built during 1981 and are numbered 18201- 18225

- 3^rd Contract – 30 were built by Comeng in 1987. They are numbered 82030-82059.

Length: 12.55m Tare: 20t Capacity: 58t Gross: 78t

Bogies: PRX – 2CL, PRY – 2CM.

Coding:

- As introduced, the 1^st batch were coded PRX.

- The 2^nd batch, were later fitted with 2CM bogies and recoded PRY.

- The 3^rd batch were delivered with 2CM bogies and were originally coded NPRF, but were soon recoded NPRY.

- In the 1979 recoding scheme, PRX became NPRF and PRY became NPRY.

Colour Scheme:

- As introduced, they had unpainted bodies.

- The 1^st and 2^nd contract of wagons had the chassis ends and underfloor equipment was painted PTC teal. The bogies were painted gunmetal grey. They featured a 2-tone blue L7 logo on a white background.

- The 3^rd contract of wagons had the chassis ends and underfloor equipment was painted SRA red. Bogies were gunmetal grey and they had a red/yellow L7 logo on a white background.

- In service, the aluminum dulled off and spilt cement dust gave them and very coarse white/light grey covering.

- With the formation of FreightCorp in 1994, some hoppers were painted with a white body with FreightCorp logo. The lower edge of the body/chassis and underfloor equipment was painted FreightCorp blue. Bogies were black.

- In 2002, some hoppers were painted white with ‘Australian Cement’ logos.

Period of Service: 1979 - current

Operation:

These hoppers have been used, since introduction, on intrastate cement traffic originating from Berrima and Portland/Kandos cement works. They were for a long time, the main type of cement ‘pot’ in service in NSW and replaced the NPTF and older ex-BWH based cement hopper conversions. Whilst the wagons had been seen interstate previously, it was not until 2005 that they became regular cement traffic to Somerton in Victoria. They have since been superceded (around 2002); on the Kandos cement traffic, by the 100t NPHH type.

Modelling:

- AR Kits produce a kit and a basic RTR model in HO scale.

- Southern Rail Models produced a RTR HO model in 2016

- SDS Models produced a RTR HO model in 2016.

NPRF 82030 in original SRA red scheme. Casula Hobbies Collection.

NPRY 18203 in weathered 2-tone blue and teal livery. Alex Nandalini

NPRY 12132N in fresh white livery, with a short lived FreightRail logo. FR became FreightCorp soon after.

Phillip Clarke photo

NPRF 82045K in FreightCorp livery. Alex Nandalini