HLV
Louvred Van
A HLV as converted. SRA
Photo
With changing freight handling techniques, the railways decided to order vans which could easily be loaded with forklift trucks. They were designed to have a similar appearance as the LLV/GLV types, but they had only 1 large 3.88 x 1.98m inside hung sliding door on each side. The door is positioned on the left hand end on both sides and the van has only one compartment. The vans had reinforced steel sheet floors.
75 were delivered by Tulloch Ltd, Rhodes between 1959-60, and were numbered 29550 -29624.
Length: 13.72m (45ft) Tare: 25t Capacity: 48t Gross: 73t
Bogies: HLV – 2CG, HLX – 2CL (XCL).
Coding:
- Initally coded HLV,
- By 1969 all had been converted for bogie exchanged and recoded HLX.
- Some reverted back to HLV as demand dictated.
- After 1979, HLV’s became NLHF and HLX’s became NLHX’s.
Colour Scheme:
- As introduced, they were painted gunmetal grey. Codeboards were white with black lettering.
- In the mid 70’s, some were painted PTC Blue with white lettering.
- Some vans were also repainted SRA red in the mid 80’s.
Further Modifications:
After their use had passed, many of the underframes were converted to NQZA container wagons and other departmental wagons. Four were modified into NLJF materials vans for concrete track-laying machines.
Operation:
They were used on fruit and other general freight workings.
Similar Wagons: LLV, GLV, TLV, NLJF.
Further
Plan: Outline Drawing
Modelling:
- AR Kits produce a HO scale kit of the HLV/X.
- On Track Models produced RTR HO scale models in 2008.
A clean SRA red NLHX at Goulburn.