Re: Surviving R classes (was: West Coast Railway and 6042 - AD60 Garrett)

[James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au>]

MattyQ wrote:

> > Is R704 in any state to be restored, or has it been out in the open too
> > long? What about H220?

I hope they don't return it to service. At the moment R704 is the only R class
left without any plans to return it to service. Any R class that is returned to
service will require modifications for modern operation. On top of the essential
modifications, all the current steam operators end up adding headboards,
nameplates or just about anything else that ruins the historical significance of
their locos. R704 should be kept in the musem as an example of an original VR R
class.

> I would dearly love to see H220 restored to operating condition. However, I
> am told by a "reliable source" that there aren't many tracks around strong
> enough to cope with the extremely high mass of the loco (approx 260 ton, I'm
> told). Still, one can only dream   :-)

It would be too expensive to maintain and operate. Also as H220 is one of a kind
it should not be modified in any way.

--
- James Brook -

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