Historical information

Double or exposure containing an AEC Railmotor (with tiger stripes on front) and 4-wheel trailer used on branch lines. Where the strips appear to curve down is a sun visor over the windscreen of the railmotor. The image is double exposed with a E-class 2-4-2 steam locomotive and Tait train on display adjacent

"V.R. Cavalcade" Centenary 1854-1954 Exhibition (11-25 Sep 1954) presented a model railway occupying about 1,400 square feet in the Lower Town Hall featuring a number of model railway working scale models. The exhibition also included a display of rolling stock, track, electrical and other railway equipment held at Spencer Street Railway Station.

Physical description

Digital TIFF file
Scan of Kopdak 620 black and white negative transparency

Subjects

References

  • Exhibition Program [Centenary exhibition programme for Victorian Railways, named "V. R. Cavalcade", 1954] [picture]. (1954).
  • The Centenary Edition of "Power Parade" produced by Victorian Railways
  • Victoria's Rail Centenary (1954, September 2). Kilmore Free Press (Kilmore, Vic. : 1870 - 1954), p. 7.
  • Power Parade In 1950, a £80 million railways rehabilitation program called 'Operation Phoenix' was launched, which included orders for 130 additional steam locomotives. Victorian Railways engineers had developed designs for two new standard locomotive classes, but with a backlog of urgently needed maintenance and overhauls it was recognised that Victorian workshops would not have the capacity to manufacture the locomotives without long delays, so orders were instead placed with two leading British manufacturers. They would be last steam locomotives built for the Victorian Railways. Operation Phoenix also included orders for the first diesel-powered locomotives for Victorian Railways. Ten F class diesel-electric shunting locomotives entered service in 1951, followed by B class diesel-electric mainline locomotives in 1952-3. The latter engines had a dramatic impact on Victorian Railways operations, revolutionising engine power. Unlike steam engines, they required little routine maintenance and could be on-duty literally 24 hours a day. The B class locomotives quickly assumed responsibly for hauling much of Victoria's heavy freight and express passenger traffic.