Mastodawn

Today's historic photo of the day: Exactly 40 years ago today, B74 in Vicrail Tangerine and Silver 'Teacup' livery hauls a VLine passenger train out of Spencer Street station, Melbourne, March 10 1986

B74 is one of 26 B class GM-powered double-ended streamline mainline diesel #locomotives introduced by the Victorian Railways in 1952 and 1953. They were highly successful and were the basis upon which the VR committed to full dieselisation of the entire network and elimination of steam traction.

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MrAndrewD Mar 10

@railmaps I note the "radio equipped" sticker on the front, replete with lightening emoji.

What value was there in placing a sticker on the front if the loco regarding the radio status?

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Railmaps

@MrAndrewD Those stickers were more commonly placed on the side beneath the driver's window. I'm not sure what value the sticker added. You would think that loco rostering staff would have known that based on the road number of the unit. Perhaps it became a but of public relations - 'dear passengers, look how advanced we are on this railway paid for by your taxes'. I don't know.