Australian screenshots

[Raichase]

Matt,

Sorry I missed your original request. Flour is most certainly still moved by rail in NSW, most (all) of it on behalf of the Manildra Group. PN currently have the contract to run two flour trains a week from Manildra Group processing plants at Narranderra, Manildra and Gunnedah to their processing plant at Bomaderry. This bulk flour is transported in MGFH wagons (thebigman made a very nice model of one of these a while back, and it is industry friendly, allowing you to transport wheat or flour). Manildra Group also own a number of older MHGX (ex AHGX from SA I am told) hoppers to move flour too. Additionally, since PN has gotten the contract, I have seen NGXH hoppers on the flour services (CWS has released some nice models of these wagons), as well as the occasional NGPY (?), although any "PN" owned hopper could be used at a pinch.

Some photos of Manildra Group rolling stock:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/raichase/sets/72157606756500372/

PN also have a contract to rail haul grain from various subterminals to the plants at Manildra, Gunnedah and Narranderra (using their own wagons, iirc).

Finally, PN also move flour and flour products in container form, again on behalf of Manildra Group. They run two trains, one from Manildra to Port Botany, and the other from Bomaderry to Port Botany. I seem to recall these trains are a mix of Manildra Group container wagons and CFCLA wagons - so again, thebigman made some CQBY wagons that could be used.

All of the Manildra Group trains are usually hauled by two or thee 81 class, although 48, X, 80 and G class have also been used on occasion.

It is interesting to note that, prior to the departure of ARG from NSW in late 2008, their only contract in NSW was the Manildra Group contract. They had long since given up the wheat hauling, and they only hauled the flour and processed flour products. A good use for the 22 class model that Davido made a while back...

 

[ad602000]

Matt the gilgandra mill burnt down in the 70's, I would think that rail transport to and from a mill would have to consist of wheat and flour. The flour product could be in both bulk and bags. I will send my niece an email as she is some finance big wig in Goodman Fielders.

 

[mattm]

Raichase,

Thanks for the info. Will file it away for future reference, as well as making note of the hoppers used so i can check that i have the rolling stock required to institute flour service on my route. Also, possibly a stupid question, but when you say two trains per week, do you mean two trains per week, per facility?

Pete, i appreciate the effort. Going by what Raichase says, i would say that wheat and flour would be the main traffic from a mill. However, if you can uncover additional info for me, that would be much appreciated, also.

Cheers,

Matt.

 

[mattm]

Hey all,

A few WIP shots tonight, showing a cement plant and the reason for all my PITA questions, a flour mill. It's not much, but it's something. And it gets this thread back on track, too.:hehe:

Matt.

 

[Raichase]

Matt - looking good mate! If you wanted to transport limestone, you're looking for an NPZH, iirc. Same model as a coal hopper, just with a couple of minor modifications (you could probably use the coal hoppers already in Trainz if you wanted).

And yes, two trains from each mill a week. Sundays and Wednesdays it's from Narranderra, M/Th/Sa from Manildra, and Tu/Fri from Gunnedah, I think.

 

[mattm]

Matt - looking good mate! If you wanted to transport limestone, you're looking for an NPZH, iirc. Same model as a coal hopper, just with a couple of minor modifications (you could probably use the coal hoppers already in Trainz if you wanted).

And yes, two trains from each mill a week. Sundays and Wednesdays it's from Narranderra, M/Th/Sa from Manildra, and Tu/Fri from Gunnedah, I think.

Raichase,

Cheers for the compliment. Having a look through my fleet today, i stumbled upon Pete's NPBF hopper, which is configured to load cement. I may add the relevant lines to the config to enable it to load limestone, and use his Freightcorp tankers for cement.

Matt.

 

[Raichase]

Raichase,

Cheers for the compliment. Having a look through my fleet today, i stumbled upon Pete's NPBF hopper, which is configured to load cement. I may add the relevant lines to the config to enable it to load limestone, and use his Freightcorp tankers for cement.

Matt.

I'm not familiar with that wagon, could you please post a screenshot?

Cheers!

 

[mattm]

Raichase,

Here's a shot of the wagons:


According to NSWrollingstock.com, they are recoded FRH limestone/HRH cement hoppers.

Matt.

 

[Raichase]

Raichase,

Here's a shot of the wagons:

According to NSWrollingstock.com, they are recoded FRH limestone/HRH cement hoppers.

Matt.

Ah, thanks for that! I forgot that Pete had made the old BWH (?) and variants.

 

[axe1970]

more...........

Regards

 

[H222]

Jeez a luigi Axe! Bella! (Beautiful)
How did you make the cuttings??
Chow
Jamie

 

[Raichase]

Very impressive landscaping as usual mate.

 

[mattm]

See, what did i tell you, Axe? A little color and it looks brilliant. Better than brilliant, even. Please show us more!

Stupid question, I'm full of 'em today, Cement tankers are loaded when stationary, yes? What is the normal loading time for them?

 

[H222]

Matt
YES!
The people these days:hehe:
This forum is like a family, or something not so strong
THey'd take about the same as a container train
A few hours for a long train
Jamie

 

[mattm]

Matt
YES!
The people these days:hehe:
This forum is like a family, or something not so strong
THey'd take about the same as a container train
A few hours for a long train
Jamie

Hey, i said it was a stupid question! I was only asking, because i can't find the info anywhere on the net. I may be using the wrong search terms, or it may not be available. I don't know, and am unable to find out, so thought i would ask here, where stupid questions are tolerated somewhat.

We're Aussies aren't we? The very definition of stupidity.:hehe::hehe:

Matt.

 

[Raichase]

AFAIK, cement hoppers are gravity loaded, although when unloading, don't they push air in the top of the wagon to push the cement out through the bottom?

 

[D9007_Pinza]

I think what it is the air blown in from the top aerates the cement powder and allows it to flow more freely, meaning less cement stuck in the bottom of the hopper. Open to correction.
Evan.

 

[Railwayz]

Loading cement

AFAIK, cement hoppers are gravity loaded, although when unloading, don't they push air in the top of the wagon to push the cement out through the bottom?

Cement hoppers are indeed loaded through the top which is why they have several hatches and how they get a cement coating all over the outside rather than remaining shiny and silver like when they're delivered.

When it comes time to unload well, that banana shape causes all of the dust to slide toward the bottom centre of the vehicle. Under the centre of the frame you'll see a couple of pipe fittings. Part of the code for cement wagons is P for Pneumatic as in Pneumatic Dsicharge! As Raichase said, they pump air in the top and the cement dust slides out through the other pipe.

And yep, They are stationary and loaded one at a time. On the note of stupid questions, a wise man once said that "the only stupid question was one you don't ask".

Railwayz.

 

[ad602000]

ab earlier type of pneumatic discharge cement wagon

I have also done of a particular wagon used by Fielders flour

cheers
pete

 

[Raichase]

Bloody oath, you're a machine Pete!