Re: Conversion of a VR "J" class to standard gauge.

["Graeme Grime" <grimegrime@hotmail.NOSPAMcom>]

Or stock,and mixed trains to Mansfield?
GG
"michael pascoe" <michael_pascoe@iprimus.com.au> wrote in message
3b131df9@news.iprimus.com.au">news:3b131df9@news.iprimus.com.au...
> While it is sad that BG steam trains will one day have no-where to cruise,
> this should not even be considered in the modernising and improvement of
> railways.
>
> I don't think the short BG line between Springhurst and Wahgunyah will
ever
> be Standardised, so there is one line at least the steamers can hang out.
> Then again, with Uncle Toby's at the end of the line, who knows, it may
> reopen one day after all.... Comments?
> Michael P.
>
>
> James Brook <ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au> wrote in message
> 3B13179C.904E39B6@ozemail.com.au">news:3B13179C.904E39B6@ozemail.com.au...
> > John Coyle wrote:
> > >
> > > I was amazed and very pleased to read in RD, that a VR "J" class steam
> loco is
> > > to be converted from broad to standard gauge. Now that most of
Victoria
> is to be
> > > converted to standard gauge, will the remaining broad gauge in SA also
> be
> > > converted to standard gauge? It would be nice to see the Victor
Harbour
> line
> > > converted to stadard gauge, too, so that tours can be operated from
> Adelaide.
> > > With the announcement about the "J", nothing seems out of the
question!
> >
> > I don't know if SAR locos are gauge convertable, but can you imagine the
> > cost of converting all of their locomotives and rolling stock!?!? If the
> > Victor Harbour line was standardised then I wouldn't hold out much hope
> > for Steamranger's survival.
> >
> > At the moment, SRHC's J is under restoration (involving a complete
> > re-build) so they are converting it as a part of the restoration. Unless
> > the Melbourne - Seymour line was converted they will still have some BG
> > track to use as they gradually convert other items of rolling stock in
> > the years to come.
> >
> > Even so, gauge conversion is not a good thing for the mainline
> > preservation groups in Victoria. As each line is converted, operators
> > like Steamrail and the SRHC are running out of possible destinations for
> > their current locos and rolling stock (and this is on top of the
> > complications and problems that privatisation has created). Although it
> > is very easy to say "convert the locos and rolling stock to SG", it is a
> > very expensive and hard thing to do for a non-profit volunteer
> > organisation, especially when some locos like the K's aren't even
> > designed for gauge conversion.
> >
> > --
> > - James Brook -
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------
> > e-mail:
> > mailto:ajmbrook@ozemail.com.au
> > Victorian Railfan Web Site:
> > http://www.railpage.org.au/vr/
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>