Y175

 

Y175 was the first locomotive to emerge from Bendigo North Railway Workshops in the new V/Line corporate colours of orange and grey. It was released from the workshops without the V/Line logos and ran for a few days in this form before the launch of V/Line on 21st August 1983. 

I have wanted to include this locomotive in the fleet, and decided to scratch built it following the instructions that I had written when I built the other Ys in the fleet approximately 15 to 20 years ago. 

The locomotive is designed to fit on an Athearn SW1500 mechanism. This had previously been modified for one of my earlier Ys that has since been fitted with a Proto-2000 mechanism.

The Y was built out styrene sheet, 40 thou for the hood, 60 thou for frame, 20 thou for the cab and steps. The doors are made from 10 thou sheet. Some items have been reused from donor athearn locomotive including the exhaust stack, headlights, grills and handrails. 

The earliest photograph of Y175 in the new corporate colours of orange and grey that I could find was by Peter Enlund in Bendigo yard on 19th August 1983. 

Bernie Baker photographed Y175 in Melbourne yard still with its orange handrails on the long hood. This photograph isn't dated but it must have been taken between the 19th August and the launch of V/ Line on 21st August 1983. 

I photographed the Y on the launch day at both South Dynon and at Spencer Street station. It had lost the orange handrails on the long hood, but gained V/Line logos and white on the handrails at the steps.

Y175, L1156 and B84 in the new corporate colours rest at South Dynon locomotive depot on  21st August 1983.

There are still a few details to add including the horns and the radio equipped decals.

Y175 on pilot duties in Ballarat yard.