Written By: Tom Schache
Photos By: Brad White and Ian Green
Page Last Updated: 13/7/20
Victorian Railways JX / VPCX Cement Hopper
Built: 1963-1982
Numbers: 1-158
Built: 1963-1982
Numbers: 1-158
VPAX 99 H in Gheringhap Loop. (6/1/11)
Photo By: Brad White |
VPAX 89 W in Gheringhap Loop. (6/1/11)
Photo By: Brad White |
In 1963, the VR introduced a new type of cement hopper, which used air in order to discharge the cement powder – a Pneumatic discharge hopper. Numbers 1-45 were built at Newport Workshops between 1963 and 1968.
Another 13 were built at Ballarat between 1970 and 1971, numbered 46-58, followed by another 50 in 1976/77, which brought the class up to 108 members. In 1979, the class was recoded to VPCX.
V – Victoria
P – Pneumatic
C – Cement
X – Bogie Exchangeable
A further 50 were built in 1981-1982 at Bendigo, which resulted in the class totalling 158 members.
In 1992, numbers 59-108 were recoded to VPAX, and in 1996, numbers 109-158 were recoded to VPBX. This was the separate the different air pressures for which the cement was discharged with.
Another 13 were built at Ballarat between 1970 and 1971, numbered 46-58, followed by another 50 in 1976/77, which brought the class up to 108 members. In 1979, the class was recoded to VPCX.
V – Victoria
P – Pneumatic
C – Cement
X – Bogie Exchangeable
A further 50 were built in 1981-1982 at Bendigo, which resulted in the class totalling 158 members.
In 1992, numbers 59-108 were recoded to VPAX, and in 1996, numbers 109-158 were recoded to VPBX. This was the separate the different air pressures for which the cement was discharged with.
VPCX 12 B in North Bendigo Workshops. (26/9/12)
Photo By: Brad White |
VPCX 21 A in the North Bendigo Workshops. (9/8/15)
Photo By: Brad White |
In service, the wagons were used for transporting cement powder from the cement plant at Waurn Ponds, near Geelong to various locations in the state. They could also be seen on the SG, such as in the mid 1980s when cement was transported from Somerton to Canberra for building the parliament house.
The class lasted in service until 2015, when Boral ceased using rail to serve their plant in Waurn Ponds. The last locations were Mildura and Somerton, where cement was transported in blocks using VPCXs from Waurn Ponds to Somerton, and to Gheringhap, where they were attached to the 9101 / 9102 Mildura freight. The cement is now containerised and is loaded onto 7901V / 7902V SG Mildura freight trains.
The class lasted in service until 2015, when Boral ceased using rail to serve their plant in Waurn Ponds. The last locations were Mildura and Somerton, where cement was transported in blocks using VPCXs from Waurn Ponds to Somerton, and to Gheringhap, where they were attached to the 9101 / 9102 Mildura freight. The cement is now containerised and is loaded onto 7901V / 7902V SG Mildura freight trains.
G531 at Somerton with a rake of VPCXs. (21/9/15)
Photo By: Ian Green |
VPCX 5 U in the North Bendigo Workshops. (26/9/12)
Photo By: Brad White |
All information sourced from Mark Bau and Peter J Vincent