Queensland Railways

CCH / CCHP Prairie Wagon

1:87 HOn3½ & HO Scale

Available - Late 2025

Keith McDonald Photo

* Pre-production sample model shown above

Model Features

* Ready to Run

* Factory painted & decorated

* Injection molded high quality plastic bodywork

* Highly detailed & accurate underframe with full brake equipment detail

* Equipped with genuine Kadee® scale knuckle couplers

* Adjustable coupler pocket for correct HOn3½ & HO scale heights

* Highly detailed QR37 type bogies fitted with blackened metal RP25-88 profile wheels

* Raised lettering on bogie sideframes

* Separately applied SAB load control valve on one bogie

* 18" Recommended minimum radius

* Separately applied buffers, uncoupling lever bars, & brake hoses (buffers to be fitted by the modeler).

* Pre-production sample model shown above

Pack - 1

1990's

CCH-1	CCH / CCHP Prairie Wagon -- Pack 1 - HOn3½ (12mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy / Grey Q-Link Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39531, CCHP 39564		*Pre-Delivery Price

CCH-1HO	CCH / CCHP Prairie Wagon -- Pack 1 - HO (16.5mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy / Grey Q-Link Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39531, CCHP 39564		*Pre-Delivery Price

Pack - 2

1990's

CCH-2	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 2 - HOn3½ (12mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39496, CCH 39544		*Pre-Delivery Price

CCH-2HO	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 2 - HO (16.5mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39496, CCH 39544		*Pre-Delivery Price

Pack - 3

1990's

CCH-3	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 3- HOn3½ (12mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39525, CCH 39551		*Pre-Delivery Price

CCH-3HO	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 3- HO (16.5mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39525, CCH 39551		*Pre-Delivery Price

Pack - 4

1990's

CCH-4	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 4- HOn3½ (12mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39582, CCH 39503		*Pre-Delivery Price

CCH-4HO	CCH Prairie Wagon -- Pack 4- HO (16.5mm Gauge)	$185.00	Pre-Order Now
	QR Grey - Orange QRX Canopy		$165.00*
	2 Wagon Pack - Wagon Numbers - CCH 39582, CCH 39503		*Pre-Delivery Price

* Pre-production sample model shown above

Order Form

Keith McDonald Photo

Prototype Overview

In 1976 Queensland Railways placed an order with Commonwealth Engineering at Salisbury, Brisbane, for 125 HWO class drop-sided open wagons. They were to be the last open wagon type purchased by QR, and the largest drop-sided open wagon to be operated on the Queensland system. All were delivered between August 1977 and March 1978.

The HWO wagon was dedicated to premium freight traffic in their early years of service, and many were allocated to freight companies such as QRX, and in later years, Q-Link.

In 1991 21 HWO wagons were selected for conversion to CCH "Prairie" wagons for QRX operations. The conversion to CCH Class involved widening the wagon floor and changes to the wagon ends which increased the overall height. The increase in width and height brought the wagon dimensions to the almost maximum limits of the QR Standard Loading Gauge.

The name "Prairie Wagon" was most likely coined by the use of a new design rolling canopy system which gave the wagon the look of an old western style prairie wagon. The canopy system featured rolling support frames to support the canopy and when rolled back in the retracted position the design allowed side access to approximately two thirds of the wagon. The CCH wagon also featured 24 removeable load gates behind the canopy support frames to secure the internal freight load.

The prototype CCH wagon was 39582 converted in March 1991 at QR's Ipswich Workshops. This wagon was fitted with a plain orange canopy with no QRX logo and was easily distinguishable from the rest of the CCH fleet throughout its career. The prototype wagon proved successful in trials with QRX and a further 20 HWO wagons were converted at Ipswich Workshops to CCH and assigned to QRX at Moolabin yard in Brisbane. The last QRX assigned wagon was delivered in March 1992.

One further conversion was completed at Ipswich Workshops for Q-Link in March 1994. This wagon was CCHP 39564 and wore a grey canopy with Q-Link logo. The use of this wagon remains unclear, however the "P" at the end of the classification and the red diamond symbol indicates this wagon was suitable for use on passenger trains at 100 km/h, possibly for express freight purposes.

All 22 CCH and CCHP wagons were withdrawn from service by 2000, and all appear to have been scrapped.

Above - CCH 39582 - Keith McDonald Photo

Above - CCHP 39564 - Keith McDonald Photo

Photo coutesy of Tom Badger

ABN 75 616 140 740

Prices & specifications subject to change without notice.