There were fifty VFNX wagons constructed for rollpaper traffic. The rollpaper was manufactured at Maryvale in the Latrobe Valley and transported to Melbourne, Montague Shipping Sheds. Two tiers of rollpaper were loaded along the wagon. The vehicle design allowed easy load/unload and weatherproofing by moveable hoops supporting a convas cover. These wagons replaced tarpaulin covered bogie open wagons already in this traffic.
The design appears to be home grown, with some influence from similar vehicles running through Europe. The VFNX canvas support and locking system suffered a lot of problems which continued to plague the class into the 1990's. Main problem was the hoops supporting the canvas binding when opening or closing the canvas covering.
All VFNX's were built the same. As built the vehicles were issued to service with 'zero filled' numbers; ie 001, instead of 1. The impression gained was that computerised numbers were starting. The vehicles were even type written up in the 'Registers' zero filled. Later research seemed to indicate that the numbers had been painted incorrectly, based on the lettering diagram showing the three lettering positions.
In the early 1990's, a few wagons has the tarpaulin gear removed and ran in service as flat wagons with end bulkheads. These were numbered into the 100 series.
To solve the problems of the tarpaulin gear, several wagons were fitted with special slides and hoops, with electronic welded "plastic" tarps which were a blue colour. These wagons were recoded to VFPX with new numbers.
In 1995, two VFNX wagons were rebuilt to timber transports, again similar to European wagons. The conversions were done at Bendigo. The new vehicles were coded VFHX and used side stanchions from ANR wagons ex Tasmania.
Photos for 'VFNX '
FileID Description................................................CC231 VFNX - 3 x shells, Newport Workshops, 2/4/1979, [oPJV]CK487 VFNX - 8 x shells stored, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK507 VFNX - coupled ends/profile, shells 6/7, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]DE685 VFNX - hoop arch as garden decoration, Haddon, 21/4/2003, [oPJV]CK506 VFNX - shell #2, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK505 VFNX - shell #3, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK504 VFNX - shell #4, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK502 VFNX - shell #5, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK500 VFNX - shell #6, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK501 VFNX - shell #7, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK508 VFNX - shell #8, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK499 VFNX - shell #9, s1, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CJ929 VFNX - Shell 9, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CJ715 VFNX - shells, stored, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]CK120 VFNX - underframes stored, Newport Workshops, 7/3/1979, [oPJV]AA226 VFNX - hoops missing, no canvas, 1999, [oDMG]AA227 VFNX - hoops missing, no canvas 2, 1999, [oDMG]CK270 VFNX 1 - VR, Flinders Street Yard, 22/7/1980, [oPJV]DG479 VFNX 1U- e2q, blue tarps, 1980s, [oDVC]AX152 VFNX 2G- s2e1, yellow tarps, Vline, Bendigo, 7/1995, [oNXB]AW357 VFNX 2G- with new class panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AX154 VFNX 4B- e1, s2 lettering panel, Bendigo, 8/1997, [oNXB]AX153 VFNX 4B- s2e1, yellow traps, no logo, Bendigo, 8/1997, [oNXB]AW351 VFNX 5K- class panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW350 VFNX 5K- end panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW352 VFNX 5K- old and new class panels, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW355 VFNX 8Y- old class panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW354 VFNX 8Y- with old panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AX970 VFNX 9A- top tarps replaced in yellow, North Melbourne, 1980's, [oNXB]AX971 VFNX 10T- new hoop end supports, no canvas fitted, Newport Workshops, 1980's, [oNXB]AW353 VFNX 10T- with new panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW356 VFNX 12Y, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AX973 VFNX 12Y- e1q, Newport Workshops, 1980ss, [oNXB]AX972 VFNX 12Y- std, VR logo, Newport Workshops, 1980s, [oNXB]AW359 VFNX 15S- new class panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]AW358 VFNX 15S- with new class panel, Flinders Street Yard, 21/11/1984, [oPJV]CR405 VFNX 24R- distant, Traralgon, 7/1989, [oNXB]BA268 VFNX 24R- VR, two yellow sections, Traralgon, 7/1989, [oNXB]AG806 VFNX 25, Tottenham, 5/6/1994, [oRXO]AX974 VFNX 26M- stored, ldd spare hoops, Bendigo, 4/1990, [oNXB]BA269 VFNX 30M- all yellow, VR, Bendigo, 4/1990, [oNXB]AG805 VFNX 35, Tottenham, 5/6/1994, [oRXO]BA270 VFNX 35L- VR, two yellow sections, Bendigo, 3/1991, [oNXB]BA271 VFNX 36U- VR, two yellow sections, Tottenham Yard, c1988, [oNXB]AU908 VFNX 41G, Melbourne Yard, 15/9/1983, [oPJV]AU897 VFNX 41G- lettering only, Melbourne Yard, 15/9/1983, [oPJV]BP289 VFNX 003, Flinders Street Yard, 8/4/1982, [oPJV]BO800 VFNX 006 - end/side, weigbill position, Newport Workshops, 2/9/1982, [oPJV]BM961 VFNX 006 - s1e2, North Melbourne C&W, 28/2/1980, [oPJV]BO798 VFNX 006 - Weighbill clip / lettering, Newport Workshops, 2/9/1982, [oPJV]BO799 VFNX 006 - weighbill clip, new position on end, Newport Workshops, 2/9/1982, [oPJV]BM960 VFNX 008 - s2e1, North Melbourne C&W, 28/2/1980, [oPJV]BB355 VFNX 009A, Port Melbourne, 18/7/1984, [oPJV]BB354 VFNX 009A- distant, Port Melbourne, 18/7/1984, [oPJV]BM962 VFNX 017 - s2e1, North Melbourne C&W, 28/2/1980, [oPJV]BG009 VFNX 021 - s2e1, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 10/9/1981, [oPJV]BR804 VFNX 022 - e2p, Shepparton, 23/11/1980, [oPJV]BR805 VFNX 022 - e2q, Shepparton, 23/11/1980, [oPJV]BR806 VFNX 022 - s2e1c, Shepparton, 23/11/1980, [oPJV]DS120 VFNX 023 - part opened cover, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 1/9/1980, [oPJV]BL905 VFNX 025 - damaged tarp, Newport Workshops, 17/4/1980, [oPJV]BL906 VFNX 025 - damaged tarp/closeup, Newport Workshops, 17/4/1980, [oPJV]BI581 VFNX 029 - chalk marks for loading, Bendigo, 18/10/1981, [oPJV]BP657 VFNX 029 - s1e2, Flinders Street Yard, 1/3/1980, [oPJV]BP656 VFNX 031 - s1e2, Flinders Street Yard, 1/3/1980, [oPJV]BP658 VFNX 033 - s1e2c, Flinders Street Yard, 1/3/1980, [oPJV]BP655 VFNX 034 - s1e2, Flinders Street Yard, 1/3/1980, [oPJV]BK560 VFNX 036, Flinders Street Yard, 22/7/1980, [oPJV]BK559 VFNX 037, Flinders Street Yard, 22/7/1980, [oPJV]BP796 VFNX 038, North Melbourne C&W, 5/2/1980, [oPJV]DS119 VFNX 038, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 11/7/1980, [oPJV]BK558 VFNX 039, Flinders Street Yard, 22/7/1980, [oPJV]BQ119 VFNX 041 - canvas hoops open, ldd, Centre Yard, 7/2/1980, [oPJV]BC090 VFNX 041 - part view, Newport Workshops, 14/6/1981, [oPJV]BO611 VFNX 041 - s1p, Flinders Street Yard, 25/4/1980, [oPJV]BO612 VFNX 041 - s1q, Flinders Street Yard, 25/4/1980, [oPJV]CN309 VFNX 042 - s1e1, VR tarp, 1979, [oBAU]BO606 VFNX 042 - s1e2, Flinders Street, 25/4/1980, [oPJV]BM945 VFNX 044 - s1e2, part open, North Melbourne C&W, 25/2/1980, [oPJV]BM757 VFNX 045 - e2p, North Melbourne C&W, 14/3/1980, [oPJV]BM756 VFNX 045 - e2q / lettering, North Melbourne C&W, 14/3/1980, [oPJV]BM932 VFNX 045 - s2e1c, North Melbourne C&W, 25/2/1980, [oPJV]BQ904 VFNX 046 - s2p, Newport Workshops, 8/12/1980, [oPJV]BQ903 VFNX 046 - s2q, Newport Workshops, 8/12/1980, [oPJV]AR353 VFNX 048, [sPJV]BY608 VFNX 048 - e1q, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/7/1980, [oPJV]BX926 VFNX 048 - new canvas latch details, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/7/1980, [oPJV]DT005 VFNX 048 - s2e1c new canvas latches, North Melbourne C&W Shops, 7/7/1980, [oPJV]BL428 VFNX 049 - s1e2, Flinders Street Yard, 18/3/1980, [oPJV]BM153 VFNX 050, Newport Workshops, 9/6/1980, [oPJV]AX975 VFNX 130T- flat, ldd concrete sleepers, Stirling North, SA, 2/1995, [oNXB]AX210 VFNX 139X, Tottenham, 1/1993, [oNXB]AU638 VFNX 140E- empty, no top, North Melbourne, 12/1994, [oNXB]AX211 VFNX 141N- empty, top view deck, North Melbourne, 10/1998, [oNXB]AX042 VFNX 147V- shows deck, top view, North Melbourne C&W, 8/1997, [oNXB]
No diagrams found for VFNX
File c031m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 28/2/2007
