Locomotive Sand Wagons

All types of locomotives and self-propelled vehicles require sand at aid in keeping traction in adverse conditions. The sand used, is very fine river sand. It has been filtered and dried in a kiln to ensure it is clean and very dry, as wet sand will block sand pipes.

In steam days, the sand was mined in many locations and delivered to each locomotive depot. Each depot having it’s own ‘sand drying’ and storage plant.

In diesel days, most sand was road trucked into DELEC, where a large sand drying plant was built. Once processed, the sand traveled to the various depot locations in a fleet of 5 ex-NPTF cement wagons.

4 Wheelers

Sand has been carried in several wagon types. Commonly, ‘S’ Trucks covered with a tarp were used as well as the RSH Sand Hoppers.

Bogie Wagons

The NSWR made use of former NPTF pneumatic discharge cement wagon. These wagons became redundant with the introduction of the PRX/PRY Cement wagons.

These 5 wagons are allocated to major diesel depot throughout the state and up until recently were returned to DELEC as required to be refilled.

Current use of wagons at 12/2/2006 –

L562 – In storage in DELEC – Allocated to DELEC Loco Depot

L566 – In storage in Pt Kembla wagon repair sidings – Allocated to Pt Kembla Loco Depot

L569 – In use at Kooragang Island - Allocated to Pt Waratah Loco depot

L570 – In use at DELEC fuel point – formerly allocated to Lithgow Loco Depot

L578 – In use at Werris Creek Loco Depot – Allocated to that depot

L562 in storage at DELEC.

L566 in storage at Pt Kembla wagon repair sidings.

L570 in use at DELEC. Note different arrangement of dome piping.

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