SAR Goods Rolling Stock

Prior to 1960, the rolling stock on the Port Lincoln Division consisted almost entirely of small vehicles, predominantly four-wheelers. In the decade to 1970, a major transformation occurred, with large numbers of more modern bogie vehicles arriving, bulk grain handling replacing bagged grain, and diesel power hauling heavier trains on rebuilt tracks. Then in 1971/72, a start was made also towards replacing the old 'chopper' couplings with automatics.

The following tabulation includes the vehicle classes which are known to have run on the Port Lincoln Division. Where road numbers are shown, they are for the vehicles known to have been there at some stage (not necessarily concurrently). Vehicle totals, where given, may have varied considerably, and indicate the maximum known numbers of each type to have been on the Division.

OPENS VANS FLATS HOPPERS INSULATED LIVESTOCK TANKS

Colour Schemes

The colour schemes applied to these vehicles varied considerably over the 1960-1970 decade. Initially all vehicles were painted in the then-standard dark grey, with white lettering and black undergear. When bulk grain handling was introduced, the doors of vehicles which were grain-proofed were painted yellow. From 1963, a lighter shade of grey was adopted by the SAR as its standard wagon colour, together with a black panel behind the white lettering. In the early 1960s, red was adopted for grain-proof wagon doors which offered a tighter seal, and this colour was also used on the Port Lincoln Division. By the late 1960s, grain-proof and other bulk commodity wagons on the Port Lincoln Division were appearing in an all-over yellow colour scheme. Then in 1969, the HAN grain hoppers appeared in unpainted aluminium.

A unique detail item appeared also during this period. For many years (since early in the Webb era on the SAR, around 1922) it had been permissible to exceed the published loads for SAR wagons by 10%. Beginning in 1964, the load ratings were revised to include the 10% overload, and to differentiate such markings the load figure was stencilled in yellow on the wagons where the rating had been revised. The conversion to metric markings a few years later rendered this system redundant, and the yellow markings then disappeared.

Open wagons

Class Year
intro		 Comments
C   4-wheel wooden open (6-1/2 ton)
65, 120, 134, 158, 229, 279, 552, 563, 605, 640, 876, 1065, 1070, 1120, 1139
CC   4-wheel wooden open (8 ton)
339, 341, 346, 359, 597, 670, 1026, 1127, 1185, 1516, 1587, 1592, 1600, 2013, 2191, 2212, 2217, 2220, 2239, 2246, 2247, 2454, 2508, 2517
CX   4-wheel wooden open (8 ton)
76, 431, 444, 457, 458, 466, 467, 476, 481, 483, 497, 517, 660, 669, 673, 824, 950, 966, 977, 1030, 2373, 2496, 2509, 2522, 2568, 2589, 2800, 2813, 2814, 2860, 2875, 2881, 2882, 2994, 3011, 3116, 3126, 3135, 3196, 3217, 3246, 4123, 4239, 4242, 4305, 4308, 4640, 4643, 4655, 4658, 4666
CX 2582, CX 3011 (ex Port Lincoln) at Quorn, 9 Sep 1998
Photo: Peter Knife
D 1911
6-wheel (Cleminson) wooden open wagon.
12 vehicles: 681-692
Transferred to Port Lincoln 1911-12. Used as temporary water tanks in 1922, 1926 and 1930. Cut down to flat wagons, probably after use as tank wagons. Condemned from 1936 on, although one vehicle (most likely 689) still present at Port Lincoln in 1964.
Builder's photo of a D wagon, Birmingham, UK, 1878.
Photo: Rod Parker collection
OCN 1947 40' bogie wooden open. Ex Commonwealth Railways (Commonwealth Land Transport Board) NRF flat wagons, converted to open wagons (no doors) by SAR for Leigh Creek coal traffic. Most transferred to Port Lincoln Division 1956-57. All rebuilt as OGN (new steel bodies) at Port Lincoln, 1962-64.
54 vehicles: OCN 13950-13959, 13961-13987, 13989-14005
ODN 1943 40' bogie wooden open. Ex Commonwealth Railways (Commonwealth Land Transport Board) NGC open wagons. 30 vehicles transferred to Port Lincoln Division, 1956. One vehicle (ODN 14018) condemned 1959. 8 vehicles converted to FNC flat wagons, 1959 (later reclassified FRN). 10 more converted to FRN flats in 1965, and the remaining 11 were also converted to FRN in 1967.
30 vehicles, including: ODN 14011, 14013-14017, 14019, 14021, 14022, 14024, 14027, 14028, 14030, 14031, 14033-14037, 14039 (these are ODN numbers known after FNC conversions)
OGN 1962 40' bogie open
54 vehicles: OGN 1-54.
Rebuilt from OCN open wagons between Nov 1962 and Aug 1964, with new steel bodies on the original CLTB underframes and bogies. Re-equipped with Bettendorf-style bogies, probably in 1973.
OGN at Cockaleechie, mid-1970s
Photo: Denis Edlington
OSN 1964 36' bogie open
20 vehicles: OSN 100-119
Rebuilt from SN sheep vans between Dec 1964 and Dec 1965, with new steel bodies on the original underframes and bogies
OSN 118, Port Lincoln, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife
Q 1908 Bogie wooden open
1 vehicle: Q 3316.
To Port Lincoln in Aug 1908. By 1963 it was in use (with sides removed) behind railcars, carrying departmental furniture containers. Designated for accident train use (sleepers and rails) in Mar 1966. Condemned Nov 1968.
X 1920 4-wheel wooden open
84 or more vehicles, scattered within number ranges 3400-3995 and 4700-4855. Some transferred to Port Lincoln 1920-1924, most transferred 1963 and 1964 (when most of the earlier transfers were condemned).
X wagons, Tooligie, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife
XX 1924 4-wheel high-side open
30 vehicles: XX 5923-5935, 5937-5940, 5942-5954.
Rebuilt from broad gauge X wagons in 1924 and 1925. 10 vehicles converted to XF flat wagons, 1936-1937. 8 vehicles transferred to Peterborough Division in mid-1960s.
XX 5944 (ex Port Lincoln) at Quorn, 12 Sep 1999
Photo: Peter Knife
Y 1924 4-wheel wooden open
105 vehicles, including 1060, 5121, 5132, 5137, 5167, 5280, 5297, 5323, 5349, 5421, 5422, 5443, 5449, 5452, 5472, 5475, 5514, 5649, 5662, 5678, 5692, 5705, 5707, 5741, 5750, 5755, 5760, 5767, 5769, 5770, 5780, 5783, 5786, 5787, 5336 and 5693. 20 vehicles transferred to Port Lincoln from 1924 on, but most arrived between 1960 and 1964. 19 vehicles to YP flats in 1946, others condemned between 1964 and 1981.
Y 5336, Port Lincoln, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife
YX 1925 4-wheel open
440 vehicles: YX 6019-6458.
Rebuilt from broad gauge Y class wagons between 1925 and 1930. 4 vehicles converted to YF flat wagons in 1930 (1) and 1953 (3). 13 received new bodies as YY class in 1969-1970.
Yx 6107, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
YY 1923 4-wheel open
133+ vehicles: YY 5805-5904 (1923-1924), 33 other scattered numbers including 4905, 4915, 4922, 4926, 4930, 4931, 4934, 4936, 4939, 4940, 4942, 4948, 4950, 4951, 4955, 4964, 4968 and 4969 (1926).
The 5805-5904 group were originally ordered from Perry Engineering as broad gauge wagons, but were altered to narrow gauge and diverted to Port Lincoln by the new Webb administration. The 1926 group were rebuilt from existing broad gauge Y wagons. 42 vehicles transferred from Port Lincoln to the Peterborough Division in 1959.
1968 4-wheel open
45 vehicles: 1-20 (1968), 21-25 (1969), 26-45 (1970). All equipped with newer style bodies. Some rebuilt from broad gauge Y wagons (1-20 and some of the 26-45 group) or from narrow gauge YX and early YY wagons (21-25 and the remainder of the 26-45 group).
YYP   4-wheel open (pipe traffic)
Known vehicles: 5805, 5809, 5811, 5812, 5818, 5832, 5836, 5844, 5851, 5861, 5862, 5873, 5874, 5884, 5885, 5888, 5894, 5896

Vans

V 1916 4-wheel louvre van
19 vehicles: V 1914, 1985-1989, 3395, 3397, 3398, 3401, 4867, 4868, 4870, 4871, 4878, 5719, 5721, 5722, 5728
Nine vehicles were at Port Lincoln prior to 1950. Ten more were transferred from the South East in 1952. All condemned September 1966.
V 3398, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
VFN 1965 4-wheel louvre van
8 vehicles: VFN 1-8.
New bodies on underframes from SFN sheep vans.
VFN vans 5 &, Port Lincoln, Sep 1998
Photo: Peter Knife

Flat Wagons

CF   4-wheel wooden flat wagon, cut down from C
14 vehicles, including CF 286, 373, 557, 986, 1268, 1408, 1720, 1850, 1867, 1881, 1982
FM   Flat wagon, cut down from MM sheep van
33 vehicles: FM 1502, 4856, 5359, 5364, 5365, 5367, 5368, 5545, 5546, 5548, 5550, 5556, 5557, 5564, 5566, 5572, 5601, 5602, 5605, 5612, 5615, 5617, 5619-5625, 5627, 5633, 5635, 5639
FNC 1959 40' bogie flat wagon. Converted from ODN open wagons at Port Lincoln, 1959. Reclassified and renumbered as FRN 22-29 in 1970. See ODN above, FRN below.
8 vehicles: FNC 14020, 14023, 14025, 14026, 14029, 14032, 14038, 14040.
FNC 14029, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
FNS 1946 Bogie sleeper flat
45 vehicles: FNS 7801, 7802, 7804, 7805, 7808, 7809, 7811-7820, 7822, 7824, 7827, 7830, 7833-7837, 7839-7843, 7846-7849, 7851-7854, 7856,7858-7860, 7863, 7864, 7866.
Transferred from South East to Port Lincoln in early 1950s. All returned to Islington in 1956/57 for conversion to ON ore wagons.
FRN 1965 Bogie flat wagons. 10 converted from ODN open wagons in 1965, another 11 in 1967, and the 8 FNC flats were reclassified FRN in 1970. Used as rail carriers on work trains, also as general purpose flats. See ODN and FNC above.
29 vehicles: FRN 1 - 29
FRN with typical flat car load, early 1976
Photo: Denis Edlington
XF 1932 4-wheel flat wagon
12 vehicles: XF 5925-5928, 5932, 5934, 5935, 5946, 5948, 5951, 5968, 5969
Cut down from XX open wagons. All condemned 1972, then 5927 and 5948 reinstated.
YF 1930 4-wheel flat
23 vehicles: YF 6137, 6166, 6280, 6384, 6459-6466, 6468-6478.
4 vehicles cut down from YX open wagons at Port Lincoln (6137 in 1930, 6166, 6280 and 6384 in 1953), others from broad gauge Y wagons in 1930.
YF 6464, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
YP   4-wheel pipe flat
19 vehicles: YP 2572, 5029, 5211, 5262, 5263, 5274, 5300, 5434, 5435, 5671, 5674, 5707, 5708, 5755, 5779, 5781, 5784, 5793, 5794.
Cut down from Y wagons, Jul 1946. All condemned Nov 1969.

Hopper Wagons

HN 1964 Bogie ballast hopper
12 vehicles: HN 11001-11012. Six vehicles (11002, 11004, 11007, 11009, 11010 and 11012) transferred to Port Lincoln in 1964 and the remainder in 1984.
HN 11004, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
HAN 1969 Bogie wheat hopper
68 vehicles: HAN 1-68.
Built for the Port Lincoln Division between 1969 and 1973. HAN 51-68 delivered with auto couplers, while the earlier ones were converted from 'chopper' type.
HBN 1968 Bogie ballast hopper
17 vehicles: HBN 1-17.
Built for the Port Lincoln Division. Used for ballast 'off season', and for grain traffic (with tarpaulins) during the grain season.
HBN 11, Tooligie, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife
HFN 1955 4-wheel ballast hopper
20 vehicles: HFN 5084-5094, 5096-5104.
Formerly Z class ballast hoppers. To Port Lincoln 1959/60.
HFN 5090, Cummins, Mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
YH 1926 4-wheel side-door hopper wagon
34 vehicles: YH 4904, 4906, 4909, 4911, 4912, 4916, 4917, 4919, 4920, 4923, 4928, 4929, 4932, 4933, 4935, 4938, 4941, 4943, 4945, 4946, 4949, 4952, 4956, 4961-4963, 4965-4967, 4971, 4975-4978
New bodies fitted in 1955.
YH wagon in ballast service derailed at Taragoro, early 1964
Photo: Bill Lewis

Insulated Vans

PP 1925 4-wheel insulated van
12 vehicles: PP 5974, 5977, 7700-7709
5974 amp; 5977 to GF flats, Sep 1938. 7700 onwards issued Sep 1937 onwards.
RN 1937 4-wheel insulated van
11 vehicles: RN 4918, 4921, 4944, 4957, 4960 and 4970 all had ice hatches and ladders. RN 6479-6483 had no hatches or ladders. Often used as explosives vans.
RN 4957, Cummins, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife
RPN 1970 Bogie insulated van (bodies ex 4-wheel vans)
4 vehicles: RPN 7716-7719.
All transferred ex Peterborough in 1970.
RPN 7719, Port Lincoln, Aug 1970
Photo: Peter Knife

Livestock Vehicles

CFN 1945 4-wheel cattle van
16 vehicles: CFN 7075-7084, 7099-7104
11 vans converted to GCF sleeper transport wagons in 1969.
CFN 7080, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
OJ 1924 4-wheel horse box
1 vehicle: OJ 1268.
To Port Lincoln, Aug 1924. Converted to CF flat wagon, Nov 1954.
QX 1932 4-wheel cattle van
15 vehicles: QX 7030-7044.
Condemned mid-1960s.
SFN 1939 4-wheel sheep van
60 vehicles: SFN 8034, 8036-8039, 8042, 8048, 8049, 8052, 8054-8059, 8061, 8065, 8066, 8072, 8077, 8081-8083, 8085, 8086, 8117-8132, 8134-8136, 8138-8140, 8142, 8143, 8145-8148, 8150-8156.
SFN 8072, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
SN 1937 Bogie sheep van
20 vehicles: SN 8157, 8158, 8176-8179, 8182-8184, 8186, 8188, 8189, 8191, 8197, 8198, 8200-8203, 8207.
All rebuilt as OSN open wagons, 1964.

Tank Wagons

TDW 1963 Bogie diesel fuel tank wagon (departmental)
2 vehicles: TDW 18000, 18001.
Transferred to Port Lincoln Jul 1963 for transporting diesel loco fuel to Thevenard.
TDW 18000, Cummins, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden
TS 1935 4-wheel tank wagon (Shell)
2 vehicles: TS 3716, 3815.
1500 gallon 3-compartment tanks on X wagon underframes. Converted in 1935. Both condemned 1958.
TS 1930 Bogie petrol tank wagon (Shell)
2 vehicles: TS 3360, 3376.
5000 gallon tanks on underframes from W (bogie open) wagons. 3360 to Peterborough, 1937. 3376 to South East some time after 1934.
TSN 1975 Bogie diesel fuel tank wagon (Shell)
6 vehicles: TSN 5, 9, 16, 19, 20, 22.
22730 litre tanks on FRN flat wagons (same numbers). Used for supplying drilling ship Regional Endeavour via port of Thevenard.
1200 gal   4-wheel water tank
8 vehicles: 1230, 1439, 2157, 2194, 2255, 3538, 4135
1300 gal   4-wheel water tank
4 vehicles: 965, 1418, 1645, 1678, 2233
2000 gal   4-wheel water tank
4 vehicles: 3483, 4769, 5972, 5973, 5975, 5976, 5978
(5972 used as poison tank)
2200 gal   4-wheel water tank (circular tank)
5941, 5979, 5980, 5981
(all used as water and/or poison tanks)
3000 gal   6-wheel water tank
16 vehicles: 6525-6532 in use on Eyre Peninsula prior to 1961, 6533-6540 transferred in 1970
Water tank 6562, Port Lincoln, mid-1960s
Photo: Ralph Holden