Abstract: Apparatus for use in positioning a pouring tube on a bottom pour nozzle of a hot metal casting vessel including a pouring tube support carriage having universal or two dimensional movement in a horizontal plane and pouring tube transfer car mounted on the carriage to extend the pouring tube from an inboard position adjacent the carriage to an outboard position in alignment with the bottom pour nozzle. The apparatus is designed to raise and lower the pouring tube with respect to the bottom pour nozzle when in alignment therewith. The apparatus is also provided to move the pouring tube from an inboard vertical position to a horizontal travel position and finally to a vertical outboard position with the bottom portion of the pouring tube projecting into the molten metal bath of a tundish positioned beneath the casting vessel and the top of the pouring tube engaging the casting vessel bottom pour nozzle. The pouring tube transfer car is designed to be rapidly withdrawn in an emergency.