707 Operations

Last updated

R707 as restored, in 2007 R707-loco-victorian-railways.jpg
R707 as restored, in 2007

707 Operations is a railway preservation group based in Melbourne, Australia. The volunteer organisation was established in 1980 to restore R class locomotive R707. The company has its own section of the Newport Workshops that is used for storing carriages and locomotives when not in use for trips (charter or regular). They are located in roads 7 and 8 of the Newport West Block Workshops.

Contents

707 Operations run regular trips across the broad gauge rail network in Victoria and also charter trains. People who motorcade the train to photograph it are asked to consider donating $10 towards the costs of running the train. This has been controversial among the railway fraternity. For the donation, 707 Operations provide a detailed schedule and tour notes 24 hours prior to departure and SMS updates should the train fall behind schedule in excess of 30 minutes.

History

In 1980, a committee of six men got together to inspect the withdrawn steam locomotive R707 at Newport Workshops. This locomotive had been withdrawn from service in 1974. After close examination of the locomotive, which showed some disrepair, a proposal was put forward to VicRail for restoration with work commencing in 1981. The restored locomotive made its debut on a return trip to Bacchus Marsh in July 1985. [1]

Operations

Today 707 Operations run heritage special trains in Victoria. [2] In 2020 most trips were cancelled due to COVID restrictions, however since 2022, 707 Operations have resumed running their popular mainline day trips and sleeping car trips around Country Victoria and Tocumwal (NSW). Destinations include Bendigo, Bacchus Marsh, Quambatook and the Silo Art Trail, Tocumwal, Ballarat, Swan Hill, Echuca and Seymour. [3]

Fleet

After the restoration of R707, the organisation expanded their fleet further with R753 being bought as well as diesel locomotives F204, T413 and Y127. The organisation owns former West Coast Railways S and Z type carriages as well as South Australian Railways carriage 708 for use on special trips. No West Coast Railways liveried cars remain with all S and Z type cars having been repainted in 707 Operations red or VR Blue and Gold. A list of the entire fleet of rolling stock is shown below.

Locomotives

NumberImageYear builtBuilderStatusNotesLivery
R707 SpiritofProgress87Albury.jpg 1951 [1] North British Locomotive Company, GlasgowOperationalNamed City of MelbourneBlack and red
R7531952StoredBlack and red
S306 S306 at Newport Workshops.jpg 1957 Clyde Engineering, Granville OperationalPurchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019. [19] PN blue and yellow
T3871965OperationalOn Standard GaugeCFCLA Silver and Blue
T392OperationalPurchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019. [20] PN Blue and Yellow
T413 VR-T413.jpg 1968OperationalDelivered as D1 for Fyansford Cement WorksVR blue and gold
Y1081963StoredV/Line orange and grey
Y127 Y127 SCS.jpg 1965OperationalFirst locomotive painted into V/Line orange and grey. In preservation.V/Line orange and grey
F2021951 Dick, Kerr & Co. Under restoration. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needsVR blue and gold
F204Stored. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needsVR blue and gold
F208 VR Loco F208 at Newport Workshops.jpg OperationalVR red and gold
A62 (ex B62) A62 at Newport Workshops.jpg A62 Newport Workshops Open Weekend 2022.jpg 1952 (rebuilt 1983)Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Clyde Engineering, Rosewater)OperationalV/Line orange and grey
P20 (ex T337)1956 (rebuilt 1985)Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Martin & King, Somerton)OperationalAcquired from Pacific National in 2023V/Line orange and grey

Passenger carriages

Z cars

CarriageImageGuageYear builtLiveryNotes
255 ACZ Broad 1957Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesGuards Van/First Class - Saloon Style
270 BZ1959Second Class - Saloon Style
257 BCZ BCZ257.jpg 1958Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos)Guards Van/Second Class - Saloon Style
259 BTN1959Dining Car

S Cars

CarriageImageGuageYear builtLiveryNotes
205 BS Broad 1950Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesSecond Class - Compartment Style
212 BS1949VR Blue and Gold
215 BS1955
224 BRS1940Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesSecond Class - Compartment Style - Buffet

Sleeping Cars

CarriageImageGuageYear builtLiveryNotes
SJ 284 Dorai Broad 1950Overland MaroonTwinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
JTA 6 Kuldalai1957
LAN 25341961Stainless SteelRoomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
NAM 23361961Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditiong
Wando1923VR Carriage RedTwinshare Sleeping Car

N Carriages

CarriageImageGuageYear builtLiveryNotes
ACN 45 Standard 1983Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos)Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style
ACN 48
BN 51981Second Class - Saloon Style
BN 221982
BRN 431983Second Class - Saloon Style - Buffet

Special carriages

CarriageImageGuageYear builtLiveryNotes
PCP 294 Broad 1957Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesPower Van
PCO 3 (PCJ 492)1970Overland MaroonPower Van
PCJ 493 Standard 1970SilverPower Van
708 BK BK708 at Sale railway station.jpg Broad 1941Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesLounge Car
DC 783 Lowanna SAR Departmental Officer's car 783 in 2022.jpg 1942MaroonCommissioner's car
Victoria Club Car 11970Overland MaroonLounge Car
DT 3181959707 Ops BlackLuggage Van

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References

  1. 1 2 R707 City of Melbourne Restoration Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  2. Past Mainline Trips Archived 9 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  3. "TrainReview's guide to 707 Operations". Archived from the original on 29 July 2021.
  4. T413 Service History Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  5. "Locomotive P 20 update". Facebook.com/707operations. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  6. PCP294 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  7. DT318 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  8. "707 Operations Inc". facebook.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. ACZ255 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  10. BS205 & BS212 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  11. BRS224 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  12. BZ270 Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  13. "707 Operations Inc". facebook.com. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  14. "707 Operations Inc - Posts". facebook.com/707operationsinc. Archived from the original on 12 August 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  15. SJ Vinelander Sleeper Carriage Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  16. 1 2 "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Archived from the original on 20 December 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  17. Lounge Car 708 History Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  18. "707 Operations". Facebook. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  19. "VICSIG - Locomotives - S306". vicsig.net. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  20. "VICSIG - Locomotices - T392". vicsig.net. Retrieved 25 January 2024.