I'm back! And 1 million page views

G'day Everyone!  It has been a while since my last post and in that time my Blog has racked up more than 1 million page views!!  

This year I haven't done a whole lot of rail photography and have been focusing on aviation photography when I have had some spare time (check out my Flickr page), which hasn't been abundant with family and work commitments.  On top of that, I've gone to a new PC, new screen, Windows 11 and new photo editing software.  Safe to say, I really hate every change and it has also been a dampener on my hobby enjoyment and has made photo editing a lot more challenging. 

Anyway, I have got out for a couple of photos in the last month so thought it would be good if I could get a few posts away in 2025.  From what I have observed, there hasn't been huge changes in the container scene, but I'll try and document some of the more interesting stuff.

Below on PS6 during Oct 2025 were a number of Primary Connect containers.  The first two are PCTN fully marked containers and the second two are recoded SCFU (Now PCFU) reefer.  

Enjoy!  

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New Manildra Trains

The last two months of 2024 has seen the introduction of new locos and wagons for Manildra Group, being operated by SSR.  

Here are a few photos of new Manildra services on the main south NSW.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and wishing you a happy new year for 2025.

Enjoy!

 

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QTKR Reefers

Have come across a pair of QTKR 46'6 reefers in the last week on BM/MB services.  

These are former TOLL 4CB reefers that have been painted all white and only carry the QTKR code and numbers 0053 and 0054.  

If anyone knows the new owners of these, please leave a comment.

Enjoy!

 

New Primary Connect Reefers

Turning up this week on Melb-Bris services were wo brand new Primary Connect 46'6 reefers.

Number PCTN 221330 and 221331, they appear to be from the same supplier/factory as the SRTF reefers.

The fridge unit is a Carrier HE19.

While Primary Connect boxes are somewhat common on the Darwin line, apart from the two Lindsay Reefers, we don't often see the Woolworths distribution company branding, Primary Connect, on the the east coast.  

Enjoy!

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 Earlier in the year new 48ft Sadleirs boxes started turning up, about 30 in total.  The other day I scored a new 40ft box being SLGC 400156-7.  Appear to be at least 60 or so of these.  

As per the 48ft boxes, these too are Seaco supplied.

Enjoy!

 

CRT 30ft Boxes

It certainly isn't common these days to see CRT 30ft aluminium containers however on today's BM4 service, there were no less than 3 wagons worth.

These boxes can be a pain to handle as you need wagons that can handle 30ft containers.  As you will see below, there was a mix of wagons used.

CQBY 2162 is a third series CQBY from Rail First.  These were build for maximum flexibility in loading and have a lot of pin positions.  CQBY wagons were heavily used in CRT traffic in the mid to late 2000s.

CQGY 549 is unique in being one of only three of 75 CQGY wagons painted in light blue for CRT.  CRT never took up the lease on the CQGY wagons which was being negotiated around the time of the Cargo Sprinter.  Those with a good memory will recall the Cargo Sprinter trialling with light blue painted VQCY wagons.  The CQGY wagons can handle 30ft containers as they were designed to handle the CFCLA 30ft grain containers (of which there were 24).  

RQGY 35017 is a long term 30ft capable wagon, being converted back in the Freightrail/Freightcorp days to handle CRT traffic between Yennora and Altona.  4 x RQGY wagons were sold to Ettamogah Rail Hub (owned by the former owner of CRT) for 30ft traffic but they haven't entered service.

Enjoy!   

Circue Du Soleil

Scored this modified container the other week coming in from Perth.  It appears to be a ticket booth or similar for Circue Du Soleil

Enjoy! 

New Lindsay Transport Logo

Scored this upgraded Lindsay Transport reefer container today.  Rebranded from a former ARLS, and now carrying LTCD 461579, this is the first LTCD container I have seen with new branding "Grow with Lindsay's".

Lindsay Transport would almost be completed rebranding all the ARLS reefers from their recent Scott's purchase.

This box was fitted with a Thermo King SB330RR refrigeration unit.

Enjoy

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Straittlink Recoding Whoopsie

Straitlink has been recoding and renumbering their reefers and the system seems to work reasonably well.

Former TSHR 1400 series is now SLHR 101400 series.

Former TSHR 1500 series is now SLHR 201500 series.

Former TSHR 1800 series is now SLHR 301800 series.

Former TSHR 2200 series is now SLHR 402200 series.

Former TSHR 2100 series is now SLHR 821000 series (original SCFU numbers).

1300 series don't appear to have a recoding plan which makes me think they are on borrowed time.

I came across this recoding error in July on a former Toll Shipping reefer TSHR 1541.  Under the system it should have become SLHR 201541 but it has been incorrectly coded as SLHR 821541, which means it would have had to have been a former TSHR 2100 series reefer (which it is not).

Hopefully it gets corrected in the near future.

Enjoy!

Coregas Tube Skid

Scored this the other week on a Perth to Sydney job.   It is a 8 tube Compressed Hyrdogen skid for Coregas running as H586 / AFLU 100323-0.  

Manufactured by NK, this looks to be a TT08-2250 with a water capacity of just over 18,000L and a gas capacity of 3173 cubic metres.  

Enjoy!

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