CLX Louvred Van

CLX 11146 at Albury Yd in November 1978. Rob O’Regan

These vans were built to supplement the fleet of JLX vans in the high-capacity, light weight goods traffic of the early 1970’s. They were rebuilt from LLV type vans into the same ‘high-cube’ design as the JLX and KLV vans. They were designed to carry palletised loads, loaded by forklift trucks. They feature fully louvred sides and outside-hung double sliding doors in the middle of each side.

They were designed to operate at express goods train speeds up to 115km/h.

Builders:

13 vans were converted by Cardiff Workshops between 1972 and 1978.

Running Numbers: 2774, 5209, 7945, 9878, 10676, 11083, 11146, 11285, 11405, 11491, 11534, 29492, and 29457. Although numbered in the same LLV van number range, the numbers do not reflect the original underframe used.

Length: 13.72m Tare: 24t Capacity: 50t Gross: 74t

Bogies: XCL and XCG.

Coding:

- As introduced, they were coded CLX.

- In 1980, the vans recoded NLCX.

Colour Scheme:

- As introduced, all vans were painted gunmetal grey with white lettering.

- In the late 70’s, some received the PTC Blue livery. Some also featured the red ‘worm’ logo. These include 5209, 7945, 11146, 11285, 11405, 11191 and 29457.

- Some vans were repainted into the SRA red livery as they were overhauled in the mid-1980’s.

Further Modifications:

Some of the vans were converted to container wagons and recoded

Operation:

Originally intended for fast general goods traffic, these vans were also used on fruit expresses. As demand for louvred vans declined in favor of containerized transport, the vans were either converted, or stored and scrapped.

Modelling:

- Rails North produced a kit for these vans, but they are no longer available.

- Ian Lindsay Models have a HO scale kit of the CLX.

- Hawkesmoor have a HO scale kit and is available from Hornsby Hobbyland.

Colour photos required on the CLX/NLCX in Gunmetal Grey and SRA Red.