BWH Wheat Hopper

BWH 28875. SRA photo

Commonly known as ‘Black’ wheat hoppers, these wagons were converted from BCH coal hoppers by the fitting of a roof. The roof has 6 sliding hatches along the centre line of the wagon. These roof hatches slide underneath the walkway during loading. As delivered the walkway consisted of 3 x 8” timber planks laid beside each other down the length of the vehicle. Discharge is via 3 pairs of sloping bottom doors operated by hand.

Builders: These hoppers were modified from randomly from BCH coal hoppers.

Running Numbers:

Length: 11.8m Eqil Length: 1.8

BWH - Tare: 20t Capacity: 41t Gross: 61t

FWH - Tare: 22t Capacity: 52t Gross: 73t

Bogies:

- Originally fitted with plain bearing 2BP bogies and were limited to 65km/h (40m/h).

- Some were fitted with roller bearing 2CH bogies and were able to operate at 80km/h (50m/h).

Coding:

- BWH with 2BP bogies

- FWH with 2CH bogies.

- From 1979, BWH became NGBA and FWH became NGBF.

- NGBA/NGBF became NGMA/NGMF when modified with steel walkways.

- NGMA 29289 recoded to RHIF after conversion to a gravel wagon.

Colour Scheme:

- Originally painted in standard NSWR gunmetal grey all over with white lettering, thus their ‘Blacks’ nickname.

- Some received the PTC blue livery

- A few were painted the SRA red livery.

- Later in their lives, all colour schemes could be seen under the grime and rust.

- RHIF conversion was painted black initially, and then repainted PN blue in 2005.

Operation:

These wagons were introduced to increase the tonnages of wheat moved in NSW. They ultimately replaced the RU 4-wheel wheat hopper in this traffic and were still operating until the last were withdrawn in 2002. The wagons operated in block loads as well as smaller consignments to flour mills.

Modifications:

Apart from bogie changes, these wagons did not change until OH&S regulations caught up with them in the mid 1990’s; their timber plank walkways were replaced with galvanized expanded steel mesh walkways around the perimeter of the roof.

In late 2003, Pacific National converted a prototype gravel wagon from NGMA 29289. The roof was removed, the chassis was strengthened, air operated discharge doors fitted and its 50t bogies replaced with 70t capacity ones. The wagon, now RHIF, was a success and can be seen today on the ‘Boral’ train from Dunmore to Enfield/Cooks River. No other gravel wagon conversions have taken place.

Other Derivatives:

- Freight Australia purchased some and refurbished them as the VHBF hopper.

- PN upgraded some in 2006 as the RHJY Mineral Sand hopper.

Modelling in HO:

- Rails North produced a kit but is no longer available.

- AR Kits have a basic kit available in both the BWH/FWH versions and their equilivent ROA codes.

- No ready to run model is available at this time