Edited 14 Apr 2021 08:54, 9 months ago, edited by petan

More on the assumption that the X suffix 'always' means gauge convertible in QR land.

1959 QR Annual Report has a photo of a WHX (note the 'X' suffix) bulk grain wagon with side buffers and hook, not auto coupler. Comeng had a construction contract, so that wagon code was for a new build wagon in 1959. It was an open style wagon with tarpaulin hoop style supports over the load. The Comeng book V2 P.275 reveals they were for bulk wheat from Darling Downs to Brisbane and unloaded at the tippler at the Bulk Wheat terminal at Pinkenba, near the mouth of the Brisbane River. No mention of gauge conversion in either the QR report nor Comeng book.

The QR Annual report states "WHX" wagon has been designed as a bulk grain wagon, with a carrying capacity of 30 tons 7 cwt. The Department already has 200 "WH" bulk grain wagons in service and when the 300 "WHX" wagons have been received there will be 500 bulk grain wagons available with a total carrying capacity of 14,305 tons.

An innovation with the introduction of the large bogie "WHX" wagon has been the manufacture of a special tarpaulin which completely covers the wagon. This not only obviates the necessity for using two tarpaulins, as is the case now with the "WH" bulk grain wagon, but it eliminates the overlapping inseparable from the use of two tarpaulins and thus provides more positive all weather protection. It is proposed to have similar special tarpaulins manufactured for the "WH" wagons. (Obviously copied from Report)