"Guards van" and the pipe trains

[johnnigh]

There must be a reason: of the freights that doddle past Corinda at a stately 25kph, the only ones that are concluded by a mid-20th Century general freight van, gaily painted in distressed cream and dirt, are the pipe trains. It can't really be a Guards Van, as there is no verandah on the back, nor a chimney for the coal-fired stove to keep the guard reasonably warmed. Nor can I imagine QRN wasting money on an extra crew member.

By the way, I've never observed, from my eyrie above the line, an empty returning to the port. Do they return the flat cars (not to mention the general freight vans) with containers bound north?

[ozbob]

There must be a reason: of the freights that doddle past Corinda at a stately 25kph, the only ones that are concluded by a mid-20th Century general freight van, gaily painted in distressed cream and dirt, are the pipe trains. It can't really be a Guards Van, as there is no verandah on the back, nor a chimney for the coal-fired stove to keep the guard reasonably warmed. Nor can I imagine QRN wasting money on an extra crew member.

By the way, I've never observed, from my eyrie above the line, an empty returning to the port. Do they return the flat cars (not to mention the general freight vans) with containers bound north?

It is a general goods wagon John.  I think ( a guess ) it carries spares for the pipe wagons (chains and whatnot) if needed enroute.  Another guess would be it is acting as some sort of terminal wagon in the brake line.

Yes, I have seen UP pipe trains (loaded trains) often but have not yet seen the returning empty (they do) but I think they are coming back very early morning hence not seeing them.

[ozbob]

Pipe train on the move through Goodna, at the end you can note the wagon John is referring too ..

10th June 2011

[tomato]

OzBob is pretty well on the money.  ....Those who should know tell me that the straps & strap winches etc holding the pipes on as they head from Fisherman Islands thro Toowoomba & out west ride in the van on the way back to the coast.

Sometimes I have seen the straps rolled up on each wagon & cable tied secure, (if the train is headed straight back)

Lots of classy pics & explanation....http://www.wheelsonsteel.com.au/showthread.php?tid=5131&page=2

[Golliwog]

OzBob is pretty well on the money.  ....Those who should know tell me that the straps & strap winches etc holding the pipes on as they head from Fisherman Islands thro Toowoomba & out west ride in the van on the way back to the coast.

Sometimes I have seen the straps rolled up on each wagon & cable tied secure, (if the train is headed straight back)

Lots of classy pics & explanation....http://www.wheelsonsteel.com.au/showthread.php?tid=5131&page=2

Lol, looking at those pictures of pipes makes me think how I can now work out the head loss thorugh those pipes. Damn you fluid dynamics!