Written By: Thomas Bulic
Photos By: Thomas Bulic, Campbell Ellis, Dean Jones, Declan Goodsell and Thomas McIntosh
Page Last Updated: 26/10/20
One of the most significant PN Rural & Bulk operations in NSW is the Manildra trains. Before Pacific National, ARG (Australian Railroad Group) held the contract between May 2003 and November 2008. In November 2005 PN took over the feeder shuttles to the mills at Narrandera, Manildra and Gunnedah. And finally in November 2008 PN began operating the flour trains to Bomaderry. Since then, Pacific National has been the sole operator of this contract.
The grain is primarily collected from Western NSW, with trains taking Grain to the Flour Mill at Manildra. Grain was previously harvested from North-Western NSW (brought to the Flour Mill at Gunnedah) and Southern NSW (brought to the Flour Mill at Narrandera). Both mills have since closed. But grain is sometimes collected from silos in Southern NSW and taken straight to Bomaderry. Once processed at the Flour Mill, the flour then goes to the Shoalhaven Starches facility in Bomaderry, NSW. Once at Bomaderry, the flour is processed into glucose and starch and taken to Enfield. It is then taken to Port Botany as a trip train for export. A container train loaded with flour runs between Manildra and Enfield, then taken to Port Botany as a trip train.
During the severe 2019 drought Manildra Group had been sourcing its grain from Canada, which is shipped to Quattro Port (Port Kembla Inner Harbour) and transported to Bomaderry in Containers.
Since late September, Manildra has no longer been importing grain from Canada instead collecting its wheat from the crop fields of the Southern Tablelands.
On 13th September 2020, Manildra Group purchased two more silos at Stockinbingal and Bellata. Since the purchase of the silo at Bellata, 5938 has returned to active service. On 23rd October 2020 the first 5938 in 5 years ran, originating from Moree Wheat Sidings to Nowra Yard. 8223, 8233 & 8232 operated the first service.
During late November extra rakes between Manildra and Bellata to Bomaderry as a result of the 2020 harvest.
The grain is primarily collected from Western NSW, with trains taking Grain to the Flour Mill at Manildra. Grain was previously harvested from North-Western NSW (brought to the Flour Mill at Gunnedah) and Southern NSW (brought to the Flour Mill at Narrandera). Both mills have since closed. But grain is sometimes collected from silos in Southern NSW and taken straight to Bomaderry. Once processed at the Flour Mill, the flour then goes to the Shoalhaven Starches facility in Bomaderry, NSW. Once at Bomaderry, the flour is processed into glucose and starch and taken to Enfield. It is then taken to Port Botany as a trip train for export. A container train loaded with flour runs between Manildra and Enfield, then taken to Port Botany as a trip train.
During the severe 2019 drought Manildra Group had been sourcing its grain from Canada, which is shipped to Quattro Port (Port Kembla Inner Harbour) and transported to Bomaderry in Containers.
Since late September, Manildra has no longer been importing grain from Canada instead collecting its wheat from the crop fields of the Southern Tablelands.
On 13th September 2020, Manildra Group purchased two more silos at Stockinbingal and Bellata. Since the purchase of the silo at Bellata, 5938 has returned to active service. On 23rd October 2020 the first 5938 in 5 years ran, originating from Moree Wheat Sidings to Nowra Yard. 8223, 8233 & 8232 operated the first service.
During late November extra rakes between Manildra and Bellata to Bomaderry as a result of the 2020 harvest.
8236-8233-8216-8241 with #8938 at Sodwalls. (7/7/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
8241-8254-8233-8236 with #9837 at Gerringong. (6/7/20)
Photo By: Campbell Ellis |
The usual locomotive rostering for Manildra Group trains are the Pacific National Rural & Bulk Locos 81's and 82's which are used on both Manildra Container trains as well as Grain Shuttles and Grain Haulage to Bomaderry.
As well as that BL, 48 & NR Classes are found on Grain Shuttles between Western NSW/Parkes to Manildra.
Wagons used to convey shipping containers from Manildra/Bomaderry to Enfield and Port Botany are NQJF's, NQOF's & NQTY. Grain trains are mostly comprised MGFH, NGPF, NGKF and NJKF. In recent times from NGXH wagons have been reactivated for the 2020 harvest.
To help out with shunting in the Manildra facilites, dedicated shunters have been purchased. Manildra Shunters are MM01 (ex 4907), MM03 (ex BHP 37 Class No.51) and 44208 and Bomaderry shunters are 7315 and 44209. Though Gunnedah and Narrandera are currently closed they were also allocated shunters. Where Narrandera had 7340 and Gunnedah had MM02 (ex 4913) and MM04 (ex Ex BHP 37 Class No.48).
As well as that BL, 48 & NR Classes are found on Grain Shuttles between Western NSW/Parkes to Manildra.
Wagons used to convey shipping containers from Manildra/Bomaderry to Enfield and Port Botany are NQJF's, NQOF's & NQTY. Grain trains are mostly comprised MGFH, NGPF, NGKF and NJKF. In recent times from NGXH wagons have been reactivated for the 2020 harvest.
To help out with shunting in the Manildra facilites, dedicated shunters have been purchased. Manildra Shunters are MM01 (ex 4907), MM03 (ex BHP 37 Class No.51) and 44208 and Bomaderry shunters are 7315 and 44209. Though Gunnedah and Narrandera are currently closed they were also allocated shunters. Where Narrandera had 7340 and Gunnedah had MM02 (ex 4913) and MM04 (ex Ex BHP 37 Class No.48).
Manildra shunter MM02 at the Gunnedah Flour Mill. (29/5/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
Manildra shunter MM03 at Manildra. (4/2/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
8134-8154-8138-8174 with #3930 at Berry (6/7/20)
Photo By: Campbell Ellis |
7315-44209 stabled in the loco road in the Manildra Facility at Bomaderry. (30/8/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
Pacific National operates their trains under the following train numbers:
Parkes / Western NSW to Manildra Loaded Grain Shuttles as 8830-8838
Manildra to Parkes / Western NSW Empty Grain Shuttles as 8831-8837
Manildra to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 8938
Bomaderry to Manildra Empty Flour as 9837
Bomaderry to Enfield Containerised Starch/Glucose as 9138
Enfield to Bomaderry Empty Containers as 1937
Quattro Port* / Southern NSW (occasionally) to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 3930
Bomaderry to Quattro Port* / Southern NSW (occasionally) Empty Flour as 9329
Southern NSW to Narrandera Grain Shuttles as 3330-3338 (discontinued)
Narrandera to Southern NSW Grain Shuttles as 3331-3337 (discontinued)
Narrandera to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 3938 (discontinued)
Bomaderry to Narrandera Empty Flour as 9337 (discontinued)
Manildra to Enfield Containerised Flour as 8138
Enfield to Manildra Empty Containers as 1837
Gunnedah to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 5938 (discontinued)
Bomaderry to Gunnedah Empty Flour as 9537 (discontinued)
Moree/Bellata to Bomaderry Loaded Grain as 5936
Bomaderry to Moree/Bellata Empty Grain as 9535
North Western NSW to Gunnedah Grain Shuttles as 5530-5538 (discontinued)
Gunnedah to North Western NSW Grain Shuttles as 5531-5537 (discontinued)
Enfield to Port Botany Container Shuttles as T150-T158
Port Botany to Enfield Container Shuttles as T151-T159
*sic (train is incorrectly numbered)
Parkes / Western NSW to Manildra Loaded Grain Shuttles as 8830-8838
Manildra to Parkes / Western NSW Empty Grain Shuttles as 8831-8837
Manildra to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 8938
Bomaderry to Manildra Empty Flour as 9837
Bomaderry to Enfield Containerised Starch/Glucose as 9138
Enfield to Bomaderry Empty Containers as 1937
Quattro Port* / Southern NSW (occasionally) to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 3930
Bomaderry to Quattro Port* / Southern NSW (occasionally) Empty Flour as 9329
Southern NSW to Narrandera Grain Shuttles as 3330-3338 (discontinued)
Narrandera to Southern NSW Grain Shuttles as 3331-3337 (discontinued)
Narrandera to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 3938 (discontinued)
Bomaderry to Narrandera Empty Flour as 9337 (discontinued)
Manildra to Enfield Containerised Flour as 8138
Enfield to Manildra Empty Containers as 1837
Gunnedah to Bomaderry Loaded Flour as 5938 (discontinued)
Bomaderry to Gunnedah Empty Flour as 9537 (discontinued)
Moree/Bellata to Bomaderry Loaded Grain as 5936
Bomaderry to Moree/Bellata Empty Grain as 9535
North Western NSW to Gunnedah Grain Shuttles as 5530-5538 (discontinued)
Gunnedah to North Western NSW Grain Shuttles as 5531-5537 (discontinued)
Enfield to Port Botany Container Shuttles as T150-T158
Port Botany to Enfield Container Shuttles as T151-T159
*sic (train is incorrectly numbered)
A map showing the different Manildra operations across NSW
Photos of Pacific National Manildra Trains
8143-8154-8163 with #3930 at Burrawang. (20/1/18)
Photo By: Declan Goodsell |
48161-8177 with #8838 from Parkes to Manildra at Bumberry. (4/2/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
DL43-DL41 with #8834 at Clergate. (13/10/18)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
8223-8233-8232 with the first #5938 in years at Sutherland. (26/10/20)
Photo By: Thomas Bulic |
Photos of ARG Manildra Trains
3101-4486-CLP12 with #8982 near Berry. (8/9/05)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
2204 idles in Bomaderry. (28/11/05)
Photo By: Dean Jones |
CLF1 with a 3100 and 422 with 3982 near Gerringong. (21/3/05)
Photo By: Dean Jones
Photo By: Dean Jones