BKX Car Carrier

BKX 11862 loaded with gleaming new HZ Holden’s at Albury in 1978. Rob O’Regan

These car carriers could carry 8-10 cars. 20 wagons of the 1^st contract were built with an enclosed lower level (11851-11860 and 11877-11886), whilst others had their lower deck enclosed later. 11 wagons were fitted with 2CM bogies and recoded MBY for use on Motorail services. Two wagons, 2581/2584 were from the 2^nd contract, whilst 2582, 2583, 2585, 2586, 2591-95 were from the 3^rd contract. MBY’s 2585 and 2586, were rebuilt by A.Goninan in 1978 as a fully enclosed car carrier. The sheeting was removed in 1981, before used on Motorail services.

Builders: 76 wagons were built over 3 contracts:

- 38 were built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1963-65 and were numbered 11851-11860.

- 20 more were built by Commonwealth Engineering between 1966-67 and were numbered 11905-11924.

- 18 were built by Superior Weld and delivered during 1970, numbered 11861-11876 and 11925-11926.

Length: 22.25m Tare: 22t Capacity: 16t Gross: 38t Equiv Length:

Bogies: 2CL originally. 2CM for those coded MBY/NMKY.

Coding: Originally coded BKX, recoded NMKX after 1979.

Colour Scheme: Originally painted in standard gunmetal grey livery, they were subsequently repainted in PTC blue and SRA red over the years.

Period of Service: 1963-1994.

Operation: Used to transport new cars from South Australian car plants to Enfield Yd. MBY/NMKY used on Gold Coast, Southern Aurora and other passenger trains as Motorail services.

Modelling: PLAN

- Scaleways produced a HO scale kit, but availability is limited.

- Hanovale produced a HO scale kit but is temporarily unavailable.

Another load of new Holdens on BKX 11926 at Albury in 1979. Rob O’Regan

BKX 11915 on broad gauge bogies at Albury in 1979. Rob O’Regan

BKX 11907 freshly painted PTC blue at Clyde on 17/8/73. John Miller