The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport.Driver George Lynch and Fireman David Brown at the controls of Locomotive R707. This parallel run took place between Wodonga and Wangaratta on 24 November 1973 with 3820 on the standard gauge and R707 double-headed with R761 on broad gauge. This occasion marked the Centenary of the opening of the North Eastern railway from Melbourne to Wodonga. Locomotive 3820 was a NSW Railways locomotive and is now a key exhibit at the Trainworks Museum, Thirlmere, NSW In circle on front of the locomotive on left "NORTH EAST CENTENARY/ WODONGA/ 1873-1973" On front of locomotive on left "R797. On front of locomotive on right "3820"railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga centenary locomotive, locomotive r707, locomotive 3820, north east line centenary

ill, p.80.non-fiction A pictorial history of the Melbourne Steam Festival at Easter 1973 with the visit of 3801 & 3820 from NSW.railroad preservation - victoria - history, steam locomotives - australia - history