Parcels Vans

During 1982-83 VicRail shopped many VLPY wagons at Bendigo North workshops. The VLPYs had there passenger bogies replaced with 60mph bogies and were released recorded as VLBY. The passenger bogies from the VLPY were then placed under VBAY wagons, which were repainted orange and silver and recorded VBPY.

The first VBPY to be painted orange and silver to match the N cars was number 37, which emerged from the workshops in Nov 1981. By June 1983 there were 16 orange VBPY's in service.

Initially orange VBPY's were being outshopped in random numbers (11, 27, 37, 41, 52, 54, 66, 68, 74, 81, 90, 91), but by the end of 1982 they started being number in a numerical order (from 112). During August 1983 VBPY numbers 117 to 120 were released from the workshops. Not all orange and silver VBPY's were painted the same, some had black underframes, others orange. Being repainted just before the launch of V/Line, VBPY120 was released to service without logo's.

During 1983 it wasn't unusual to see a wagon red VLPY and VBPY, together with an orange and silver VBPY trailing Horsham and Dimboola passenger trains. VBPY's were also regularly included in the consist of the Overland and the Vinelander.

B66 on the evening Up Horsham pass through Sunshine on 6th January 1983. Note the VLPY trailing the N set has an original and replacement door.

A typical of working of the period was VBPY20 it was seen attached the Adelaide bound Overland on the 17th June 1983, returning through Ballarat on the morning of Sunday 19th June 1983. At Ballarat the van was transferred by yard pilot Y152 from the front to the rear of the train.

It was quiet common for the Dimboola pass to run with 2 vans. On the 20th October 1983 the 1755 Dimboola was S312-X53-X33 with set N15 (10BN-43BRN-45ACN) trailed by two orange VBPY's.

X53-X52 back to back lead the evening down Dimboola pass on 6th January 1983. Note the two parcels vans, a red VLPY and an orange VBPY.

As the year progressed and more orange VBPY's were released to traffic they became more common on the Overland and the Vinelander.

Late in 1983 the D code was introduced, replacing the VBPY code. They were renumber in the 300 - 361 range reflecting that they were passenger rollingstock. D342 to D345 were released from Bendigo North Workshops in December 1983 converted from VBAY69 and 26, VBAX36 and VBAY33 respectively. By the end of December 1983 there were 35 coded D Vans in service. Wagon red VBPY20 was repainted orange and silver with V/Line logos being outshopped as D304 on the 19th December 1983.

X52 and X43 climbs the grade out of Bacchus Marsh with the Up Dimboola pass on the 8th April 1983. Consist is 2xVBPY and set N9 (18ACN-38BRN-17BN)

The VLPY and VBPY's are all BGB kits assembled as per the instructions. VBPY20 is a new addition to the wagon fleet having been purchased from the second hand stall at the Morwell Model Railway Exhibition.