PROTOTYPE INFORMATION

These 44 ton wagons were based on the siimilar succesful JX cement wagons which were buiilt in 1963 at Newport Workshops.

Like the JX wagons the first six wagons (FX1 – FX6) were also built at Newport Workshops in 1966. The had four silos mounted on a deep underframe and were gravity fed though top hatches and discharged by air pressure being forced into each silo and exiting through pipes mounted on the end platforms. A second series (FX7 – FX17) were built at Ballarat North Workshops during 1970/1971.

FX1 to FX6 had two outlet pipes at each end and the controls were between silos one & two, and three & four. FX1 – FX4 had ratchet handbrakes. By the mid 70’s most were modified to single discharge pipes.

FX7 to FX17 had one outlet pipe at each end when built and the controls were between the silos to the left hand end of the wagon. FX5 to FX17 were fitted with miner handbrakes.

When delivered the wagons were finished in silver with a small VR logo but in the early 1970’s they began to appear in white.

Several flour companies advertisements appeared on the side of these wagons from 1967 through to and around 1975 but the “O So Lite” brand appears to have been around until 1978. Apart from the “O So Lite” brand, other noteable brands included several variations of “Bunge Bulk Flour”, “Kimpton’s Flour”, “Jackett’s Swan Hill Bulk Flour” and “Water Wheels Flour”.

In 1976, most were re-branded with a large VR logo and 1975 the four letter code VPFX was introduced. From 1983 most were re-branded with the V/Line logo and painted white.

The FX’s main traffic was on broad gauge from Albury to Westall or Williamstown, although in the 1980’s some were seen on standard gauge operating to Canberra & Enfield Yard, Sydney.

In 1990 VPFX1, VPFX4 & VPFX17 were reclassified VZGX and used for Loco sand transport.

In 1995 VPFX wagons 2, 3, 6, 11 & 14 were reclassified to VPLX to be used solely for lime traffic. These wagons subsequently were stencilled in the red letter LIME ONLY.

It appears that these wagons, or those still in working order, were transferred to the newli incorporated Freight Australia around 1999 and at least two were painted in dark green with Freight Australia logos.

Freight Australia was later acquired by Pacific National and as late as 2010 there were still 12 wagons on PN’s register, although not in service.

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