Reviews

Goods Wagons of the NSW Railways 1855-1905 by Ian A Dunn. Published by SCR Publications, PO Box 345, Matraville 2036. Ph: (02) 9311 2036. Fax: (02) 9661 4323. Website: www. australianmodelrailways.com.Price: $110.00 (plus p&p).

Following on from its highly acclaimed volumes on the coaching stock of NSW, Eveleigh Press has now turned its attention to the less glamorous, but equally important goods wagon fleet. Previous publications on this subject, though worthy for their time, have only skimmed the surface of this vast topic – now the depths have been plumbed!

Modellers of relatively modern outline are advised not to dismiss this book on the basis of its title – significant numbers of the wagons described in this book, and their progeny, survived a fair way into the twentieth century, and the background and development of goods wagon designs in NSW deserves a wider audience than merely those interested in 19th century matters. The array of excellent photographs alone makes this volume a must for anyone who has a passion for railways, both real and model, as well as the social history of the state and its railway system.

The author, Ian Dunn, has a writing style that is concise, authoritative, yet readily digestible, as you would expect from a career educator with an already impressive CV of publications. He appropriately acknowledges the invaluable research input undertaken by Don Estell and Robert Merchant, and text and images are ably supported by 85 excellent HO scale line drawings from Greg Edwards of Data Sheets fame.

The author takes us back to the embryonic days of goods wagon acquisition in NSW when, for a long time, as with the locomotives, proven British designs were the logical choice.

By the 1880s, the American influence was making its presence felt, both in locomotives and rolling stock, with bogie goods wagons being tried. Nonetheless, four-wheelers continued to reign supreme for a considerable time, though every aspect of componentry underwent evolution – frames went from timber to steel, brake blocks from wood to iron, American Westinghouse air braking was introduced. This blend of British and American influences produced a broad, variegated canvas for the modelling enthusiast to be inspired by.

Such was the expansion of NSW railways, the lines radiating out as finances permitted in order to tap the produce of pastoral holdings throughout the state, by 1905 it was the largest industrial enterprise in the country. Many lines were constructed for strategic and political reasons, the line to Bourke for instance in order to challenge the river trade down the Darling to South Australia, tapping the grazing herd trade and then minerals from the Cobar branch.

The variety of products transported led to the development of many different types, stock wagons for livestock, open trucks for just about everything, including coal, wool, bagged grain and farm machinery, vehicles with removable hoppers, along with a number of other types, for minerals such as coal, flat wagons for timber, covered and louvred vans for perishables such as milk churns and fruit, tank wagons, ballast hoppers and their attendant plough vans, etc.

Other subjects addressed are service vehicles and accident cranes, and the evolution of wagon roofing design, initially canvas coated with waterproof dressings, later to be covered with ‘shade’ roofs of corrugated iron. Of the various types tried, not all were successful, some were discarded or rebuilt. For example, many different types of refrigerator cars were experimented with for the transport of chilled meat.

Local manufacturers soon challenged imports in the production of rolling stock and it is surprising to this reviewer to discover just how many local wagon builders there were. Some readers, as I was, may also be surprised to learn of the many versions of, say, the D wagon, the variations within the type, as well as the large numbers produced from a variety of sources.

The evolution and variety of underframe construction is described in great detail by the author. We learn of gussets and shackles, couplings, from chain link to auto, of improved wheels and their different spoke arrangements, axles, journals and suspension, of sprung buffers, of the development of steel channel sole-bars and composite underframes etc. Many of these improvements related to the ever more