Re: [VIC] H220 (was: Surviving R classes)

["Stuart Thyer" <s.thyer@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au>]

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In article <5qkl8s86d8dlevl1jonf470fdvk6q4rhgf@4ax.com>, John Dennis
<jdennis@mpx.com.au> wrote:

>
>Actually, many/most of the locos in the museum have indeed been
>modified.  Just not since leaving VR service (excluding paint and
>rust, of course).

This has probably been the greatest failing of the museums acquisition
policy in the 1960's. The policy of collecting the 'one offs' and different
engines has meant there are some real lemons now in the museum. R 704 with
its knackered boiler collected because it was the exhibition R, X 36 the
only non-booster fitted X class. N 432, the last N built, one of only 5?
with the different deflectors so somewhat 'non standard' as well as having
stuffed driving wheel tyres.

I suppose at the time the people choosing saw the appeal in different
engines after having seen everything else, but personally the emphasis
should have been on collecting good condition engines just in case
restoration was ever considered.

Stuart Thyer
Photographer
University of Melbourne