Class :                ALX 

Item Type :             Car Transport

Parent System :           VR

Gauge :                            Broad (and Standard via bogie exchange)

Description :                    A two deck style, 73 ft, all steel car carrier

Year of Manufacture :       1964  ALX 200 - 236, 1969  ALX 237 - 260, 1972   ALX 261 - 272

Manufactured By :             

Previous Classification :      

Current Classification :       VMBX         

Year of Withdrawal :        

Named :                                 

Number Range :              200 to 272

Capacity:                       

History in Service :        This has been developed to supercede the previous car carriers OAX, OMX and OAS single deck wooden sided carriers. At the same time as the SAR was introducing this car carrier the VR was also introducing an almost identical car carrier that was also designated ALX. With the three versions of the SAR version and the VR  version the modeller has at least 4 variations of this class as possible models. The VR ALX was completely enclosed on the lower deck. The three builds of the car carrier have minor differences including:   The second build  (1969) has a sheet metal cover over the first two diagonals at the code board end and a bogie exchange symbol over the last diagonal before the ladder. It also has two air hoses and a symbol board with the SAR symbol in the center. The third build  (1972) has further modifications of the bogie exchange symbol.  A further modification to this wagon is the addition of sides protecting the  lower deck of cars. The VR wagons had this in the initial build. A further variation of this wagon is the introduction of ribbed sides which is specific to the SAR version of this wagon.  Note : all the wagons in each build may be different due to different sized  beams, diagonals and hand rails; so if building a specific wagon check out the    prototype. Other differences include car guide deck tracks, car chocks and some  wagons with wooden decks.

See Also :                     OAX, OMX, OAS, VMBX, AMBX

Colour Schemes :          VR Wagon Red

Modelling Hints :           BGB provide a model of the ribbed sided SAR ALX - BK100,  BGB also provide a model of the smooth sided SAR ALX, VR VMBX,  As this is a bogie exchange vehicle, it could be seen over most of the broad and standard gauge systems and in a variety of trains.

Further Information:      Article in August ‘The Buffer Stop’ 1983 Page 15 from which most of this information is drawn.

Plans :                                

Picture Book