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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.

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In 1980, a committee of six men got together to inspect the withdrawn steam locomotive R707 at Newport Workshops. This locomotive had been withdrawn from service in 1974.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 in 2022, 707 Operations is running a number of 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. A list of the entire fleet of rolling stock is shown below.

Locomotives

Number Image Year built Builder Status Notes Livery
R707 1951[1] North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow Operational Black and red
R753 1952 Stored Black and red
S306 1957 Clyde Engineering, Granville Operational On loan from Pacific National PN blue and yellow
T387 1965 Under Restoration On Standard Gauge CFCLA Silver and Blue
T392 Operational On loan from Pacific National PN Blue and Yellow
T413 1968 Out of traffic for repaint Delivered as D1 for Fyansford Cement Works VR blue and gold
H3 1969 Operational On loan from Regional Connect Delivered as T415 FA green and yellow
H5 On loan from Regional Connect Delivered as T417 FA green and yellow
Y108 1963 Stored V/Line orange and grey
Y127 1965 Operational First locomotive painted into V/Line orange and grey. In preservation. V/Line orange and grey
F202 1951 Dick, Kerr & Co. Under restoration. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needs VR blue and gold
F204 Stored. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needs VR blue and gold
F208 Operational VR red and gold
A62 (ex B62) 1952 (rebuilt 1983) Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Clyde Engineering, Rosewater) Currently being reactivated V/Line Passenger Mk2

Operational carriages

Carriage Image Type Gauge Status Year built Livery Notes
PCP294 Power van Broad Operational June 1957 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes PCP294 operated with Victorian Railways and V/Line as 6CP (and later 6VVCP due to the New Deal (railway)). When the carriage was sold in 1994 to West Coast Railway, it was converted from a guards van to a power van that provided head-end power for passenger carriages. In 2005, the carriage was sold to 707 Operations and later restored. PCP294 is now operational as both an observation carriage and a head-end power van.[17]
ACN45 Passenger Car Standard Operational 30 March 1983 Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos) First Class saloon with guards compartment. Ex V/Line, passed onto 707 Operations for standard gauge use as of 4th of August, 2022. Prior to preservation, it was apart of SN15 (BN5-BDN21-BRN43-ACN45) for use on V/Line Albury services.
ACN48 Passenger Car Standard Operational 3 June 1983 V/Line PTV Purple & Grey Livery First Class saloon with guards compartment. Ex V/Line, passed onto 707 Operations for standard gauge use as of 4th of August, 2022. Prior to preservation, it was apart of SN16 (BN22-BN7-BDN6-BRN46-ACN48) for use on V/Line Albury services.
ACZ255 Passenger carriage Broad Operational December 1957 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes ACZ255 was formerly First Class sitting car AZ5 when built in 1957 by the Newport Workshops. The carriage was converted to ACZ255 to include a guard's compartment in 1984. The carriage was sold to West Coast Railway in 1994 and was sold to 707 Operations after West Coast Railway became defunct in August 2004. ACZ255 has since been restored to operation.[18]
BRS224 Passenger carriage Broad Operational September 1940 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes BRS224 was built as a second class compartment carriage numbered BS7. As part of the New Deal (railway), BS7 was one of the ten carriages that was converted to include a small kiosk that provided refreshments (similar to the BRN carriages) and was rebuilt as a BRS carriage in 1983.[19]
BS205 Passenger carriage Broad Operational May 1950 Vintage Rail Travel Mk2 - Red, black and 2 white stripes BS205 was built in May 1950 as a first class sitting compartment carriage AS14. The carriage was modified in 1983 and converted into an economy class compartment sitting car BS205. BS205 was restored by 707 Operations and was returned to the original red livery in 2014.[20]
BS212 Passenger carriage Broad Operational May 1949 VR Blue and Gold Like BS205, BS212 was also historically a first class sitting compartment carriage. The original number of the carriage was AS13 and it was built by the Newport Workshops in May 1949. The carriage was modified in 1953 to become a composite carriage (four first class and four second class) sitting compartments numbered ABS2. The ABS carriages were used on the Overland train to transport passengers between Stawell and Horsham. The first class accommodation was removed in 1972 and replaced with economy class compartments, renumbering the carriage as BS15. BS15 was renamed to BS12 in 1983 and a year later the carriage was renumbered to BS212.[21]
BS215 Passenger carriage Broad Operational July 1955 VR Blue and Gold BS215 was built at Newport Workshops as 9BS in July 1955. In 1962 it was converted to standard gauge and renumbered 4VFS. In the late 80s, it returned to board gauge and was renumbered BS215. The car was withdrawn from service in 2010 and in April 2017, it was allocated to 707 Operations by V/Line. In 2021 it was restored to its former VR Blue and Gold livery. BS215 entered service with 707 Operations on April 2, 2022.
BZ270 Passenger carriage Broad Operational February 1959 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes BZ270 is an economy class saloon carriage that was built in February 1959 as BZ7. BZ7 was formerly split into smoking and non-smoking compartments, but in August 1983 the whole carriage was made non-smoking. Along with that change, an additional row of seats was added in place of the former partitions and BZ7 was renumbered into BZ270. The carriage was sold to West Coast Railway in 1994 and later sold to 707 Operations.[22]
SJ284 Dorai Passenger carriage Broad Operational December 1950 Overland Maroon SJ284 is an air-conditioned twinette sleeping car built with Corten steel that fitted 20 people in 10 compartments. Originally, SJ284 was named Dorai and worked on The Overland between Melbourne and Adelaide. After minor refurbishments in 1955 and 1970, the carriage was sold to Victorian Railways in June 1972. The carriage was renumbered to Sleeping Car No.14 and repainted into a VR Blue and Gold colour scheme. The carriage reentered service in November 1972 for the Vinelander train between Melbourne and Mildura. When Victorian Railways was abolished in 1983, the carriage was renumbered SJ284 and painted into a V/Line Orange and Grey colour scheme. When the Vinelander was axed in September 1993, the carriage was put into storage until VicTrack sold SJ284 to 707 Operations in 2011. The carriage is currently in operational condition.[23]
BK708 Passenger carriage Broad Operational 24 June 1941 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Car 708 was formerly classified as a second class saloon carriage used on country branch lines. 708 entered service in 1941 and was withdrawn from use in 1981. Shortly after withdrawal, the carriage was sold to Steamage Australia for use as a heritage sitting car. When Steamage collapsed, the carriage was sold to Australian Vintage Travel in 1987 where it was converted into a lounge car. Between 1987 and 1989, the carriage was operational on the Southern Cross Express as the Wellington club car. In 1989, 708 was sold to Northern Rivers Railway in NSW where they refurbished the carriage in 1999 as the Cape Byron club car for the Ritz Rail train between Murwillumbah and Byron Bay. Carriage 708 was purchased in January 2012 and since became operational.[24]
DC783 (Lowanna) Passenger carriage Broad Operational 24 March 1942 Maroon Entered service with the S.A.R as Car 783 in 1942. In 1973, the car was converted to a Departmental Officer's car and recoded as DC783 with the first class seating removed and replaced with four sleeping compartments and a kitchen.[25] It was withdrawn from service in 1986 and leased to SteamRanger. In 1990, SteamRanger named the car Lowanna. On April 1, 1995, the car was transferred to the National Railway Museum in Port Adelaide. In 2005, the car was sold to a private syndicate, who transferred it to the Victorian Goldfields Railway for use as a first class car. In 2022, 707 Operations purchased Lowanna and was transferred to Melbourne on April 2, 2022.[26]
LAN2354 Passenger carriage Broad Operational 20 August 1961 Stainless steel LAN2354 was refurbished for the Sydney/Melbourne Express in 1987. When the carriage was withdrawn in 1994, it was sold to Steamrail. Harris motor bogies were fitted onto the carriage in order to convert LAN2354 from standard gauge to broad gauge. The carriage was sold to a private individual in mid-2018 on behalf of 707 Operations.[27]
NAM2336 Passenger carriage Broad Operational 29 September 1961 Stainless steel NAM2336 was formerly owned by the Hunter Valley Railway Trust at Rothbury and was leased to the Ozback Explorer for a brief period of time between 2003 and 2005, where it was classed as OAM. The carriage was purchased in mid-2018 by 707 Operations as a sleeping car and subsequently put on the broad gauge.[28]
Kuldalai (JTA6) Passenger carriage Broad Operational 11 October 1957 Overland Maroon In October 1970, the carriage was converted from independent (generator slung under the carriage) to head end power. In 1995, the carriage was withdrawn and incorrectly recorded as scrapped. In actuality, it was sold to International Development Services, who onsold the carriage to Mr Binns in Talbot Victoria for a static exhibit.[29] JTA6 was later pictured at South Dynon for transfer to 707 Operations in 2011 and is owned by K&AB Rail.[30] JTA6 is now operational with 707 Operations [citation needed].
Victoria (Club Car 1) Passenger carriage Broad Operational 26 October 1970 Overland Maroon In 1995, the carriage was transferred to V/Line ownership and renamed Victoria.[31] The carriage is now operational with 707 Operations. [32]
Wando Passenger carriage Broad Operational 14 September 1923 VR Carriage red In 1939, Wando was recoded as Sleeping Car 5. In 1953, the train was fitted with autocouplers and brake van facilities were fitted in 1971. When the train was put on the Train of Knowledge, the carriage was reverted to its original name. In 1990, the carriage was withdrawn and allocated to Seymour Railway Heritage Centre, then called Seymour Loco Group. This carriage was deemed surplus to requirements and was sold to 707 Operations in 2017. Wando now operates as the wooden sleeping carriage.[33]
DT318 Passenger carriage Broad Operational 3 June 1959 Vintage Rail Travel Black When the carriage entered service with Victorian Railways, it was numbered as BP91 box carriage. The carriage was refurbished in 1963 with plain bearings fitted and the carriage renumbered to BB91. The carriage was reverted to original configuration in 1974. BP91 was renumbered to VBPY91 in 1980 in order to allow the carriage to operate at higher speeds. In 1983, all VBPY vans were converted to D vans after Victorian Railways was abolished. In 1984, VBPY91 was renumbered to D318. The van was painted as DT318, which meant that head end power could be supplied to the carriage instead of a generator slung under the carriage. Despite this, DT was never an official classification. DT318 was sold to 707 Operations in 1994.[34]

References

  1. ^ a b R707 City of Melbourne Restoration 707 Operations
  2. ^ Past Mainline Trips 707 Operations
  3. ^ "TrainReview's guide to 707 Operations". Archived from the original on 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ T413 Service History 707 Operations
  5. ^ PCP294 707 Operations
  6. ^ DT318 707 Operations
  7. ^ ACZ255 707 Operations
  8. ^ BS205 & BS212 707 Operations
  9. ^ BRS224 707 Operations
  10. ^ BZ270 707 Operations
  11. ^ "707 Operations Inc - Posts". facebook.com/707operationsinc. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  12. ^ SJ Vinelander Sleeper Carriage 707 Operations
  13. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  14. ^ Lounge Car 708 History 707 Operations
  15. ^ "707 Operations". Facebook. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  16. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  17. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  18. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  19. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  20. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  21. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  22. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  23. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  24. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
  25. ^ "S.A.R 780 Class Steel Cars". comrails.com. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  26. ^ "707 Operations Inc - Posts". facebook.com/707operations. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Hudson News Winter 2018" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2018.
  28. ^ "Hudson News Winter 2018" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 August 2018.
  29. ^ ""Kuldalai" - V&SAR Joint Stock Steel Sleeping Car". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  30. ^ "Photographs - Steel V&SAR Joint Stock Carriages". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  31. ^ "First Class Club Cars - V&SAR Joint Stock". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  32. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria".
  33. ^ ""Wando" - VR Sleeping Car No. 5". www.comrails.com. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
  34. ^ "- 707 Operations Inc - Mainline Steam Train Trips in Victoria". www.707operations.com.au. Retrieved 14 January 2020.
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