Recently Auscision Models re-released some long sold-out models of their VLCX louvered vans. Funnily enough I once had some V/Line VLCX vans on my original Philden layout, only to sell them off when funding my new layout build. Well one thing led to another, and suddenly I was back to modelling the same time period, only with the layout's location now moved to Melbourne. In hindsight I probably could have kept them.
There are now 5 x VLCX/VLVX louvered vans in Philden Street Yard while I decide upon tying them in with my final locomotive acquisition in early 2023.
My B65 Smurf is still one of my favourite locos, so adding a pair of West Coast Railway VLCX vans to my roster was a no-brainer!
Anyway, a twin pack of VLCX's in West Coast Railway blue have now joined my fleet, along with the single Pacific National VLVX in the chance that I decide to acquire a Pacific National BL Class loco early in the new year. The G/BL Class dilemna is a polarising one for my layout, as technically I could fit a V/Line, Freight Victoria or Freight Australia G Class loco into my time period, and also a National Rail, Steel Link or Pacific National BL Class. That's six options when I really only want to decide upon one locomotive as potentially my last motive power addition! My mind has regularly changed by the week for the past 12 months which is why I refrained from ordering one in the first place. For once its a real nice problem to have.
