The stored Harris rail greaser unit (794M and 797M) at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. This unit is from the last build, and does not contain asbestos unlike earlier units. The Harris units were commonly referred to as Blue Trains as they wore VR’s Blue and Yellow livery similar to T364. The Harris units started to replace the Tait unit, known as Red Rattlers.
The Newport Railway Workshops water tower stand guard at the exit to the 2026 Open Day. The 30 meter tall tower can hold 375,000 litres of water. It provided water to the entire railway workshops from 1888 through to closure in 1992. Even such a utilitarian building was given contrasting banding and detailing in the brickwork.
In the middle of the line of Victorian Railway’s L Class is L1169 at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. L1169is sitting behind yesterday’s L1162, and in front of L1160 in V/Line orange and grey livery. The orange and yellow livery on L1169 was for the Apple TV+ series Shantaram. This is the second time that L1169 has appeared on screen, she appeared in Texas Eagle livery in Ghost Rider.
While L1162 is operational and L1160 is a longer term restoration project. L1169 is stored for parts to keep the other two operational.
Blue and Gold liveried Victorian Railways L Class, L1162, reflected in the adjacent carriage. The English Electric built L Class were Victoria’s only mainline electric locomotive. They were used on the Gippsland line hauling passenger trains and heavy briquette trains. L1162 hauled the last V/Line electric passenger service in 1987, and operated some Steamrail tours in the early 2000s.
A 1963 EH Holden Sedan – RTB959 – at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
The Clock Tower and office block of the Newport Railway Workshops during the 2026 Open Day.
A police car at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. This is one of the cars belonging to the Victoria Police Historical Society. This 1995 VS Commodore was used for general duties from the Winchelsea station between 1995 and 1996.
Victorian Railways T Class diesel-electric T364 sit at the head of of rake of carriages. T364’s train is alongside the West Block of the Newport Railway Workshops during the 2026 Open Day.
The Buffalo-Springfield scarifier pressure cylinder on the back of Maffra’s Golden Roller at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026. The scarifier is used to rip up the old road surface before resealing. Even this cylinder has a panel picked out and fully-lined to blend in with the rest of the steam roller.
Buffalo-Springfield
Pressure Cylinder Scarifier
Shop Number – 2412
[Patent Details]
DIRECTIONS
1. Teeth must be set at least 7 inches below tooth holder arms
2. Keep cylinder well lubricated with steam cylinder oil
3. To avoid loosening by vibration keep all nuts and bolts tight
4. Use only number of teeth cylinder will force fully into the road when scarifying. Gauge wheels should touch the ground
5. For best results use genuine Buffalo-Springfield scarifying teeth.
Built only by
The Buffalo-Springfield Roller Co.
Springfield Ohio U. S. A.
Victorian Railways Walschaerts fitted A2 Class, A2 986, at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
A2 986 is one of the final batch of 60 A2s built with Walschaerts valve gear instead of Stephensons used on the first 125. This change, higher boiler pressure and larger cylinders, meant that the later engines had a higher tractive effort. The original spoked driving wheels had developed fatigue cracks, and were replaced with Boxpok wheels.
Victorian Railways A2 Class, A2 986, and Y Class, Y419, take their turn at the head of the photo line-up at the Newport Railway Workshops Open Day 2026.
A2 986 has featured on the blog before, as a mural on the Mooroolbark Miniature Railway.
