The Stephen Johnson Models NSWGR ‘Thow’ Bogie Cattle Wagons in HO Scale

Stephen Johnson Models ‘Thow’ Bogie Cattle Wagon (1890, 1891 and 1895 types) kit in HO scale by Stephen Johnson Models, PO Box 31, Red Rock 2456. Facebook: facebook.com/Stephen Johnson Models. Website: www.stephenjohnsonmodels.com.au. Prices: $80.00 (Kadee coupler version)/$85.00 (screw-coupled version), plus P&P.

Prototype

Upon assuming office in 1889, William Thow set about having bogie sheep, cattle and refrigerator cars designed and built. The first bogie cattle wagon, using “the American underframe” (which was also used for the other two types) was built to Shop Order 2490 of July 1890, a single vehicle turned out in December of that year and numbered 6251.

As well as being built on the ‘American underframe’, by which Thow meant that the body was fixed directly to the sole which were, in fact, lengthened, close copies of the Baldwin tender bogies found under the L304 class ‘Mogul’ engines imported in 1884. The ‘passenger bogies’ never found their way under any passenger vehicle, but they did permit the cattle vans fitted with them to travel at passenger train speed (40mph) and to be included in passenger trains. No.6251 entered traffic without Westinghouse brake, but this would have been fitted almost immediately.