In 1970, VR and SAR built 4 PCO Power Vans to help cater to the needs of electrical power on The Overland, as power was previously generated by axle driven generator. They were stored in 1990 as V/line's N class locomotives took over hauling The Overland, which had their own power generators which effectively made the PCOs obsolete.
In 1995, V/line and Australian National took full ownership of the fleet rather than the joint ownership which had existed before, with half the fleet going to each operator. V/line took PCO1 (later renumbered PCJ491) and PCO3 (later renumbered PCJ493), while Australian National took PCO2 and PCO4. PCO2 remained in storage until West Coast Railway purchased it in 1998, although it was sold to V/line after WCR ceased operations, and it was renumbered PCJ493. PCO4 was used on the short lived
'The Explorer' passenger train. It was included in the transfer of Australian National's passenger assets to Great Southern Rail in 1997.
in 2007, PCO4 was refurbished with new diesel generator sets as part of the refurbished Overland consist for the new daylight service. All of V/line's former PCOs (now PCJs) were converted to standard gauge in 2011 to power carriages on the new standard gauge Albury service.
thanks to original author Rob Shaw for giving me permission to release this modified asset.