40th Anniversary of the launch of V/Line

Today marks 40 years since the launch of V/Line at Spencer Street station on the Sunday 21st August 1983.

Y175, L1156 and B84 in the new V/Line colours at South Dynon Locomotive Depot, 21st August 1983.

On the day of the unveiling B84, X47, Y175 and L1156 all carried the new V/Line colours and logos. In the following days both Y146 and T386 received the new corporate image.

X47 arrives at Spencer Street station with 4BN,49BRN,51ACN, 10BRS, 7BS and  7AZ

Free train rides were offered with orange B84 hauling an N set 17 (4BN,49BRN,51ACN) and refurbished and Z and S cars (7AZ, 7BS, 10BRS) displaying the new V/Line logo. 

A crowd has assembled on platform 1 for the official unveiling of the new logo.

X47 uncouples and runs around the passenger cars

Y175 hauled a small rake of goods wagons with the new logo for display at Spencer Street (VF-VQCX-VPFX-VHGY-VBCW). The event was described in the December 1983 issue of V/Line News (attached). 

Y175 with goods wagons with the new logo for display at Spencer Street, VF-VQCX-VPFX-VHGY-VBCW. 

I attended the launch and took these photos. We must of first visited South Dynon locomotive depot and taken the photos of the locomotives assembled together in the new livery. Being only 11 and using my parents old Kodak 104 instamatic camera I only took 2 photos at South Dynon, presumably saving the shots on the film for the actual event. At Spencer Street I photographed X47 as it hauled the set of new N cars and refurbished S and Z cars, and Y175 on rake of goods wagons. 

I don't recall the actual ceremony except that I think there was a brass band. Maybe I had moved the road bridge to watch other trains arriving and departing Spencer Street when the ceremony was on. I did capture B68 on a double set of N cars in platform 2. I'm unsure what platform the goods wagons were displayed on. Suprisingly I didn't photograph B84 or L1156 on the day, I think like many railfans I didn't like the dipped in orange livery, although 40 years on its grown on me. 

B68 with 2 N sets also ran free shuttle services. The train used to unveil the new logo can be seen in the background in platform 1.