Historical information

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 locomotive, the Y170, was one of 25 general purpose diesel-electric locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Granville NSW for the Victorian Railways between 1963 and 1968. Although built to dieselise Victoria's shunting operations and replace steam locomotives on branch line services, they were also used on mainline goods and passenger services. After closure of many branch lines across the state and the end of short pick-up goods trains, use of the class dropped. This locomotive, the Y170 entered service on 13 July 1968. It was withdrawn from service in April 1988 and was eventually scrapped in 1992.

Significance

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.

Physical description

Les Hallawell standing in front of Locomotive Y170. He started with Victoria Railways on16 Mayv1949. . He passed his Driver qualification on 12 July 1955. Les retired in Wodonga on 29 March 1988.