VP109

ID/Name: VP109
Type:  Departmental
Description: Bogie Louver
Built: 1955/56
Status: In use

HISTORY

One of 50 bogie louver vans of 35t, they were constructed at Newport Workshops between 1955/56 for use on express passenger trains. VP 109 originally entered service as V109, as the was a shortage of the correct style bogies, when fitted with such in 1958 it was coded VP.

Used on all mainline passenger trains for parcel, luggage and mail traffic, they were fitted with tail discs and lamp brackets so the could be used as terminal vehicles behind guards vans. In 1962, 10 vehicles were transferred to standard gauge to be used on interstate passenger trains.

Upon the introduction of the ‘New Deal’ for county services in the early 1980s, the VP vans (recoded to VLPY) were gradually replaced by the VBPY bogie box vans. VP109 was allocated to Steamrail Victoria, but became surplus to their requirements in the early 2000s with it being reallocated to Daylesford Railway in 2004.