QS / VFHA / VFHF - Bogie Stator Wagon


Bogie Stator Wagon

In 1941 an uncoded and unlettered wagon was placed into service for the transport of heavy electrical equipment to Yallourn, the site of Vicoria's brown coal power generating plants.

This wagon remained un-numbered until 1962 when another 'Stator' wagon was built. The second wagon was built to transport heavy electrical equipment to the North East of Victoria for the construction of hydro-electric power plants in the Kiewa Valley.

Stator Wagon - in substation (undated)

QS

The 1941 built vehicle was lettered to become 'QS 1'. The new vehicle was issued as 'QS 2'.

QS 2 was built to suit two capacities. If fitted with four wheel bogies the loading was 120 tons. If fitted with six wheel bogies, the rating was 170 tons. Bogies used were ex steam locomotives.

The six wheel bogies were also used for heavy flat wagons coded _QH_.

QS 1 and 2 were stored at Newport Workshops when not in use.

QS 1 had never been used since 1975. It was stored on the ground minus bogies. The writer believes that it may not have been in use after 1962.

In the 1979 recoding, QS 2 was relettered to VFHA.

QS 1 was not lettered at the time as it was a body on the ground without bogies.

VFHA

Only VFHA 1 was recoded. It was used for traffic after recoding.

In March 1981 the wagon was placed into storage.

VFHF

By 1990, the unused body on the ground had been relettered as VFHF. It has not been determined whether the class change was for traffic use that was not seen or the relettering was done on site whilst the body was at Newport Workshops. Last sighting of this vehicle was in 1993, as a body on the ground.