▁with ▁ 1 9 , 8 2 3 ▁goods ▁w ag ons ▁and ▁ 1 , 4 9 9 ▁passenger ▁cars , ▁running ▁along ▁ ▁of ▁lines . ▁The ▁network ▁reached ▁its ▁largest ▁extent ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 , ▁covering ▁ 7 6 6 8 ▁route ▁kilometres . ▁ ▁Post ▁war ▁re building ▁ ▁After ▁World ▁War ▁II ▁the ▁rail ways ▁were ▁run ▁down , ▁with ▁Operation ▁Phoenix ▁un ve iled ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 0 , ▁involving ▁the ▁exp end iture ▁of ▁£ 8 0 ▁million ▁over ▁ 1 0 ▁years . ▁Works ▁included ▁elect r ification ▁to ▁Tr ar alg on , ▁new ▁Harris ▁sub urban ▁trains , ▁the ▁Walker ▁rail mot ors , ▁and ▁approximately ▁ 3 , 0 0 0 ▁new ▁goods ▁w ag ons . ▁ ▁On ▁ 1 4 ▁July ▁ 1 9 5 2 ▁the ▁V R ▁entered ▁the ▁dies el ▁era , ▁with ▁the ▁delivery ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁B ▁class ▁main line ▁locomot ive , ▁with ▁the ▁commission ing ▁of ▁the ▁first ▁main line ▁elect r ification ▁scheme ▁in ▁Australia ▁in ▁July ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁to ▁War rag ul . ▁March ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁saw ▁Queen ▁Elizabeth ▁II ▁tour ▁Victoria ▁by ▁Royal ▁Train , ▁the ▁first ▁time ▁a ▁reign ing ▁monarch ▁had ▁travel led ▁on ▁the ▁V R , ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁also ▁saw ▁the ▁last ▁steam ▁locomot ive ▁to ▁enter ▁service , ▁J ▁class ▁ 5 5 9 , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁the ▁last ▁four