Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

707 Operations

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In 1980, a committee of six men got together to inspect the withdrawn steam locomotive R707 at Newport Workshops. This locomotive had been withdrawn from service in 1974.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 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

Number Image Year built Builder Status Notes Livery
R707 1951[1] North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow Operational Named City of Melbourne Black and red
R753 1952 Stored Black and red
S306 1957 Clyde Engineering, Granville Operational Purchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019.[19] PN blue and yellow
T387 1965 Operational On Standard Gauge CFCLA Silver and Blue
T392 Operational Purchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019.[20] PN Blue and Yellow
T413 1968 Operational Delivered as D1 for Fyansford Cement Works VR blue and gold
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) Operational V/Line orange and grey
P20 (ex T337) 1956 (rebuilt 1985) Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Martin & King, Somerton) Operational Acquired from Pacific National in 2023 V/Line orange and grey

Passenger carriages

Z cars

Carriage Image Guage Year built Livery Notes
255 ACZ Broad 1957 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style
270 BZ 1959 Second Class - Saloon Style
257 BCZ 1958 Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos) Guards Van/Second Class - Saloon Style
259 BTN 1959 Dining Car

S Cars

Carriage Image Guage Year built Livery Notes
205 BS Broad 1950 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Second Class - Compartment Style
212 BS 1949 VR Blue and Gold
215 BS 1955
224 BRS 1940 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Second Class - Compartment Style - Buffet

Sleeping Cars

Carriage Image Guage Year built Livery Notes
SJ 284 Dorai Broad 1950 Overland Maroon Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
JTA 6 Kuldalai 1957
LAN 2534 1961 Stainless Steel Roomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
NAM 2336 1961 Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditiong
Wando 1923 VR Carriage Red Twinshare Sleeping Car

N Carriages

Carriage Image Guage Year built Livery Notes
ACN 45 Standard 1983 Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos) Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style
ACN 48
BN 5 1981 Second Class - Saloon Style
BN 22 1982
BRN 43 1983 Second Class - Saloon Style - Buffet

Special carriages

Carriage Image Guage Year built Livery Notes
PCP 294 Broad 1957 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Power Van
PCO 3 (PCJ 492) 1970 Overland Maroon Power Van
PCJ 493 Standard 1970 Silver Power Van
708 BK Broad 1941 Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes Lounge Car
DC 783 Lowanna 1942 Maroon Commissioner's car
Victoria Club Car 1 1970 Overland Maroon Lounge Car
DT 318 1959 707 Ops Black Luggage Van

References

  1. ^ a b 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. ^ DT318Archived 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. ^ a b "- 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.