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

[John Dennis <jdennis@mpx.com.au>]

An excellent point, Stuart, although I was really discussing things
that happened during the life of the loco in operation on the VR.  But
the propensity of the ARHS Museum to acquire one-offs is a little
strange, as your examples note.  Is there any other N class preserved
anywhere, or are we stuck with 432, one of 5 in a class of how many?

I am not concerned about R704 being preserved with its knackered
boiler, especially not since the museum is (currently at least) for
static preservation, but once again, it is a one-off loco, just like
X36.  Ditto (IIRC) the rail tractor, which was the first tractor, and
not one of the "fleet" which shunted at various rail yards around the
state.

Cheers...JD

On Mon, 24 Jan 2000 08:52:13 +1100, "Stuart Thyer"
<s.thyer@anatomy.unimelb.edu.au> wrote:

>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

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John Dennis                             jdennis@mpx.com.au
Melbourne                                  denjo02@cai.com
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