Steamrail Victoria

Steamrail Victoria

Formation	1965
Type	Volunteer Organisation
Purpose	Restoration & Operation of Heritage Rollingstock
Headquarters	Newport Workshops
Coordinates	37°51′3″S144°52′48″E / 37.85083°S 144.88000°E / -37.85083; 144.88000
Website	www.steamrail.com.au

2007 open day at the Steamrail Victoria depot: R 711 beside an L class electric locomotive and Swing Door suburban train

Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the railways in Victoria, Australia. ^[1] The main depot of the group is at the Newport Workshops ('West Block') in suburban Melbourne. In addition to operating railfan special trains and charters for private groups, the group also operates special steam trains in the Melbourne suburban area. ^[2] Steamrail regularly tours the state, including participation in annual events such as the Ballarat Heritage Weekend (steam locomotive Y112 is used to shuttle between Ballarat and Sulky Gully/Lal Lal). ^[3] Steamrail Victoria also leases diesel locomotives to freight operators such as Southern Shorthaul Railroad (SSR) & Qube Logistics as required. Locomotives were also hired to El Zorro until they ceased trading. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

The group has custody of a number of Victorian Railways steam locomotives, including the R, D3 and K classes; in addition to several diesel electric locomotives, and various suburban electric rolling stock. ^[7] Heritage carriages include the wooden 'E' and 'W' types, steel air conditioned 'S' type carriages, and South Australian 'K' type steel stock.

Locomotives

Steam locomotives

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Max Speed km/h Metro Network	Max Speed km/h	Notes
A2 986		1915	Newport Workshops	Operational	80	80	Re-entered service on 13 May 2017 after a 30-year restoration
D3 608		1908	Newport Workshops	Stored			Stored at Ballarat East
D3 638		1916	Newport Workshops	Stored			Stored at Ballarat East
D3 639/658		1903		Operational	95	95	Restored in 1984. Painted in the Victorian Railways Commissioner's Loco livery (black and red). Occasionally runs with its original number D3 658
D3 641		1915	Newport Workshops	Stored			Stored at Ballarat East
D3 677		1917		Stored			Stored at Newport Workshops (West Block)
D3 688		1912	Newport Workshops	Stored			Stored at Ballarat East
K151		1940	Newport Workshops	Stored			Stored at Newport Workshops (West Block)
K153			Newport Workshops	Operational	80	80	Restored in 1983. Masqueraded as K100 and K140 for 100 years of the K class in 2022/23
K183		1943	Newport Workshops	Operational	80	80	Originally restored in 1992, suffered damage in a level crossing accident at Benalla in October 2002 and was stored at Newport Workshops East Block until June 30, 2020 when it was transferred to Steamrail's workshops. [8] After an assessment on the condition of the engine, Steamrail have decided to restore the locomotive to mainline operating standard. [9] On October 7, 2021, K183 made its first mainline appearance since 2002 performing several test runs on the Newport–Sunshine line. [10] K183 officially returned to service on April 24, 2022
K184		1945	Newport Workshops	Stored for future long term restoration			Stored at Newport Workshops (East Block). Was used on heritage services with Steamrail Victoria through the 1970s, painted all over gloss black with red frames and buffer beams. [11] The engine was withdrawn in 1980 due to poor mechanical condition [12]
K190		1946	Newport Workshops	Operational	80	80	Restored in 1979. Painted in a LMS inspired livery
R700		1951	North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow	Stored for future long term restoration	115	115	Stored at Newport Workshops (West Block). Partially cosmetically restored for the 2020 Steamrail Open Days
R711			North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow	Operational	115	115	Restored by West Coast Railway in 1998. Entered service with Steamrail in 2012. Currently the only mainline certified oil-burner in Victoria
R761		1952	North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow	operational			Restored in 1985
Y112		1889	Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat	Testing	65	65	Restored in 1996. Occasionally runs with its original number Y419. Based at Ballarat East. Withdrawn from service in May 2022 to receive new driving wheels and tires. [13] Undergoing testing since September 2025 [14]

Diesel locomotives

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Max Speed km/h	Notes
B63		1952	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Stored		Currently stored at Newport workshops
B72		1953	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	115
M231		1959	Newport Workshops	Operational	12	Used for shunting at Newport workshops
M232		1959		stored	12	Currently stored at Newport workshops
S301		1957	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	115	Donated by Pacific National in March 2024
S313		1961	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	115
T356		1959	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	100
T364		1962	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	100
T395		1965	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	100	On hire to the Victorian Goldfields Railway as of December 1 2024
Y164		1968	Clyde Engineering, Granville	Operational	65	West Block shunter

Electric rolling stock

Locomotives

Number	Image	Year built	Builder	Status	Max Speed km/h	Notes
E1106		1929	VR Newport and Jolimont Workshops	Non-operational	65	Stored at Newport workshops
E1108
E1109				Formerly Under restoration.
L1160		1953	English Electric	Non operational	115
L1162				Operational		Stored at Newport workshops pending equipment upgrades for mainline accreditation
L1169		1954		Non operational.		Stored at Newport. Used as a prop for 2007 Film Ghost Rider with "Texas Eagle" paint job. Repainted to Indian Railways livery in 2021 for TV Series Shantaram

Swing Door electrics

Main article: Swing Door (train)

Number	Image	Year built as carriage	Year converted to Electric car	Builder (Electric)	Status	Max Speed km/h	Notes
107 M		1888 as 85 AA	1920	Newport Workshops	Destroyed	80	Destroyed in fire at Newport Workshops in 2015.
137 M		1907 as 22 BDBD
93 M		1889 as 110 AA	1919		Under restoration		Under restoration after being recovered from paddock in Mooroopna in 2017.
113 M		1888 as 35 AA	1920		Stored		Former Jolimont Workshops Pilot
156 M		1900 as 2 BDBD	1917
24 D		1904 as 72 ABAB	1923		Destroyed		Destroyed in fire at Newport Workshops in 2015.
12 BT		1890 as 173 AA	1919

Tait electrics

Main article: Tait (train)

Number	Image	Year built as carriage	Year converted to Electric car	Builder (Electric)	Status	Max Speed km/h	Notes
2 CM		-	1921	Newport Workshops	Stored	80	Parcels motor
317 M		-	1917		Operational
267 M		-			Stored
284 M		-	1918
327 M		1915 as 52 BCP	1921		Under restoration
381 M		-	1918		Operational
470 M		1915 as 25 BCP	1921		Under restoration		Unique double end configuration.
230 D		1910 as 3 ACP	1922		Operational
257 D		1913 as 30 ACP			Stored
208 T		1910 as 8 AP	1919		Operational
341 T		1913 as 55 BP	1922		Operational
48 G		-	1924		Stored		Dual lighting (Gas/Electric)

Passenger carriages

E cars

Main article: Victorian Railways E type carriage

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
3 ABE		15 August 1908	Red and Gold	80	First / Second Class - Compartment Style - Half Carpet Floor
7 ABE		30 June 1909	Red		First / Second Class - Compartment Style - Kiosk
12 AE		28 August 1908	Blue and gold		First Class - Compartment Style - Air Conditioning
1 BCE		10 February 1910	Red		Guards Van / Second Class - Compartment Style
5 BCE		23 December 1909			Guards Van / Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
2 BE		28 August 1906			Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
3 BE		31 October 1906
4 BE		31 October 1906	Blue and gold		Second Class - Compartment Style - Air Conditioning Under restoration
17 BE		15 August 1908	Red		Second Class - Compartment Style
25 BE		16 July 1909
38 BE		3 December 1910
46 BE		3 March 1910			Second Class - Compartment Style - Carpet Floor
18 CE		24 February 1911	Blue and gold		Guards Van
1 HW		19 December 1910	Red		Weedex Crew Car - Formerly 37 AE - Stored

W cars

Main articles: Victorian Railways Short W type carriage and Victorian Railways Long W type carriage

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
32 ABU		2 April 1914	Red	80	First / Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
40 ABU		25 June 1914
25 AW		5 July 1918			First Class - Compartment Style - Stored
64 AW		8 April 1927	Red and gold		First Class - Compartment Style
60 BW		1 October 1926			Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
61 BW		30 July 1926			Second Class - Compartment Style
63 BW		9 July 1926	Red
67 BW		13 April 1927
68 BW		12 April 1927
70 BW		8 July 1927			Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
71 BW		18 June 1926
80 BW		23 April 1926	Brown		Second Class - Compartment Style - On loan to the VGR
14 CW		18 January 1914	Red		Guards Van

K cars

Main article: South Australian Railways steel carriage stock

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Gauge	Notes
500 AK		5 December 1936	Blue and gold	115	SG	First Class - Compartment Style Leased to The Picnic Train
502 AK		17 February 1937	Blue and gold		SG	First Class - Compartment Style Leased to The Picnic Train
600 BK		19 December 1936	Blue and gold		BG	Second Class - Compartment Style
603 BK		11 May 1937	Blue and gold		SG	Second Class - Compartment Style Leased to The Picnic Train
604 BK		23 July 1937	Blue and gold		SG	Second Class - Compartment Style Leased to The Picnic Train
605 BK		24 August 1937	Blue and gold		SG	Second Class - Compartment Style Leased to The Picnic Train
700 BK		9 July 1940	Blue and gold		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style
702 BK		13 August 1940	Blue and gold		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style
703 BK		28 August 1940	Explorer		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style - Stored Fire Damaged
711 BK		19 July 1941	West Coast Railway		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style - Stored Fire Damaged
751 AK		29 June 1942	ANR		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style - Stored. Numbered BE 358
782 AK		19 March 1942	ANR		BG	Second Class - Saloon Style - Stored

S cars

Main article: Victorian Railways S type carriage

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
5 AS		14 November 1937	Blue and gold	115	First Class - Compartment Style
8 AS		14 May 1940
11 AS		22 March 1949
9 BRS		2 December 1948	Red and silver		Second Class - Compartment Style - Buffet
14 BRS		14 December 1956	Blue and gold
2 BS		14 November 1937			Second Class - Compartment Style

N cars

Main article: VicRail N type carriage

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
ACN 24		7 June 1982	PTV	115	First Class with Guards Compartment - Saloon Style - Standard Gauge Leased to The Picnic Train
BRN 34		17 December 1982			Economy Class with Buffet - Saloon Style - Standard Gauge Leased to The Picnic Train
BN 7		18 December 1981			Economy Class - Saloon Style - Standard Gauge Leased to The Picnic Train
BN 10		19 February 1982			Economy Class - Saloon Style - Standard Gauge Leased to The Picnic Train

V cars

Main article: Victorian Railways V type carriage

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
1 AV		16 June 1897	Red	65	First Class - Compartment Style - Stored
32 AV		26 October 1899
7 BV		29 March 1898			Second Class - Compartment Style - Stored
18 BV		31 August 1899
12 BL		30 June 1893			Second Class - End Platform Compartment Style with Saloon - Stored 'Enterprise'
13 BL		30 June 1893			Second Class - End Platform Compartment Style with Saloon - Stored 'Pioneer'

Special carriages

Carriage	Image	Year built	Colour	Max Speed km/h	Notes
Moorabool		1 June 1939	Blue and gold	115	Club / Dance Car
601 Tweed		2 March 1937	Blue and gold		Dining Car - Standard Gauge Leased to The Picnic Train
607 Richmond		24 November 1937	Blue and gold		Dining Car
SJ 282 Tantini		7 March 1950	Overland Maroon		Roomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
SJ 283 Weroni		9 December 1950	V/Line Orange (Vinelander)		Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
4 AZ		26 November 1957	PTV		Ex BTN254, retired from V/Line service July 2023
269 BZ Hobsons Bay		4 December 1958	Blue and gold		Multifunction/Dance Car
Goulburn		23 November 1908	Red and gold	80	Twinshare Sleeping Car (SRV Crew Car)
Inman		22 August 1923	Red		Twinshare Sleeping Car
Coliban		22 August 1923	Red		Twinshare Sleeping Car
Indi		14 April 1928	Blue and gold		Twinshare Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
Werribee		14 April 1928	Blue and gold		Twinshare Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
24 CP		3 February 1958	Blue	115	Guards Van - Standard Gauge. Leased to The Picnic Train.
34 CP		28 April 1958	Wagon Red		Ex 291 CP, Guards Van
292 PCP		17 September 1957	Blue and gold		Power Van
PCJ 491		18 September 1970	Silver		Power Van
Carey		26 August 1901	Blue and Gold	80	Shower Car (formerly Horsebox DFDF 1, Guards Van C 43)
VZVF 1		16 May 1955	Black	95	Water Tank Wagon - 33640L Capacity. Built as WX 1.
VOAF 9		5 July 1927	Red		Bogie Open Wagon for Coal Transport - 45t Capacity. Built as E 9
ELX 244		24 September 1969	Red and Gold		Ex VOBX 244. Bogie Open Wagon for Coal Transport - 51t Capacity
WT 49		16 July 1902	Red	65	Water Tank Wagon - 9000L Capacity

See also

• Tourist and Heritage Railways Act

References

1. "Steamrail Victoria - About Us". www.steamrail.com.au. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
2. "Media Release: RIDE A STEAM TRAIN AROUND MELBOURNE THIS SUNDAY". www.dpc.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 11 August 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
3. Steam trains return on Ballarat's Heritage Weekend Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine . The Courier. 9 May 2012
4. "Qube's use of SRV locos". www.railpage.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
5. "El Zorro's Demise". www.railpage.com.au. Archived from the original on 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
6. "Steamrail Forum ~ View topic - El Zorro Hirings of SRV Locos". www.steamrail.com.au. Archived from the original on 1 August 2008. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
7. "VICSIG - Heritage Groups - Steamrail Victoria". www.vicsig.net. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2008.
8. "K183 Update". facebook.com/steamrail. Steamrail Victoria. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
9. "K183 Update". facebook.com/steamrail. Steamrail Victoria. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
10. "K183 Test Run". facebook.com/steamrail. Steamrail Victoria. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
11. "K class steam locomotives". Archived from the original on 5 August 2020.
12. "K184". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020.
13. "Happy 133rd Birthday Y112!". facebook.com/steamrail. Steamrail Victoria. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
14. "Steam Train Sunday - Y112 The Y class". facebook.com/steamrail. Steamrail Victoria. Retrieved 14 September 2025.

External links

• Official website