To replace the ageing fleet of ballast hoppers which were built between 1900 and 1950 ( _NN_ and _QN_ ), the railways built a fleet of pneumatically operated discharge hoppers.
The old method required men to walk beside the slow moving train and control the discharge of ballast with the hopper door open/close wheel. No doubt this was dangerous and with increasing 'Health and Safety' issues and safer methods were introduced.
The door discharge operation is a rotating 'drum' with flat inner and outer sides. The 'drum' can be rotated to allow discharge inside or outside of the rails. The operator stands on a high platform at one end.
Some wagons were relettered to VHMF in 1988. Remaining vehicles in the group were relettered to VZMF in 1989.
The VHMF numbers were: 11, 18, 22, 23, 34, 36, 37, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 59, 52, 54, 56.
Between 1990 and 1994 the class was again relettered to reflect departmental ( non revenue ) service. The class letters used were VZMF.
Photos for 'VHMY '
FileID Description................................................AR395 VHMY - detail, [sPJV]AR401 VHMY - detail, [sPJV]AR404 VHMY - detail, [sPJV]AR410 VHMY - discharge detail, [sPJV]AR407 VHMY - end platform detail, [oPJV]AR416 VHMY 5, [sPJV]AR415 VHMY 24, [sPJV]AR414 VHMY 1003, [sPJV]AL516 VHMY 1010, [oGRE]CR406 VHMY 1002R- Met, loaded, North Melbourne, 8/1987, [oJXS]
No diagrams found for VHMY
Photos for 'VHMF '
FileID Description................................................BL050 VHMF - interior, as GHMF, 2001, [oJAB]
No diagrams found for VHMF
File c086m compiled by Peter J. Vincent, updated 29/4/2007
