RMTY TDG Autocare Car Carrier

Brand new RMTY 38B at South Dynon in June 1998. Norm Bray photo

Protecting cars in transit on rail has long been an issue for the railways. In 1998, A Goninan & Co were given the task to modify an existing car carrier wagon with protective coverings. 6 x RMBY (ex VR/Vline ALX car carriers) were selected and converted. The modifications included, permanently fitted vinyl skin to provide a completely sealed environment to protect cars, End doors for easy loading/unloading and roof structure to give adequate clearance for vehicles on the top level. As per the original design of the car carrier, they could carry 6 large or 8 small cars.

Date Introduced: 1998

Running Numbers: 25M, 36G, 38B, 42B. They seemed to have retained their VMBX/VMBY numbers post-conversion.

Length: 23.1m Tare: 26t Capacity: 15t Gross: 41t Equiv Length:

Bogies: VR Aligned

Coding:

- Only ever coded RMTY

Colour Scheme:

- Vinyl body wrap coloured TDG Green with a white roof above the gutter line.

- White steps, handbrake and levers.

Further Modifications: If any other changes have been made, please explain.

Similar Vehicles: modified from VR ALX/VMBX/RMBY car carrier.

Period of Service: 1998-2004

Operation:

They were usually operated in pairs from Melbourne to Brisbane on BM4/MB4 Intermodal trains. No unloading/loading was done in Sydney enroute.

Plan: RMTY Outline Drawing

Modelling: could be modeled using an Auscision Models ALX/VMBX car carrier model as the basis.

Newly converted and yet undecorated RMTY at Dynon in 1998.

Very new RMTY before entering service in 1998.

Near new RMTY 38B at Dynon in June 1998. Norm Bray photo

Well weathered RMTY 0042B on the rear of MB2 leaving Dynon in 2000. Norm Bray photo

A rare sight of 4 x RMTYs on the back of MB4 service at Waratah. Brad Coulter photo

Well faded RMTY 36G and other RMTYs in storage at Broken Hill in 2007. Norm Bray photo