Relpacing Passenger Stock (WAS Re: Bluebird Railcars for Gippsland)

[steam4me@enternet.com.au (Yuri J Sos)]

"Michael Walker" <walker@hotkey.net.au> wrote, and I selectively
quote:

>Why? , WCR seem to do all right with the old locos and carriages they have.
>
Sure they do..........today.  And the S and B classes, obtained for
basically scrap value and refurbished have done a magnificent job in
helping WCR to survive and grow. 

However, at some point soon, the cost of repairing the S class and B
class is going to become prohibitive in terms of cost, availability of
spare parts and reliability of 400 year old locomotives.   V/Line have
now stored their 4 S classes.  WCR's S302 seems to have fared worst so
far, with a prime mover and generator replaced and now a stripped
timing gear.  OTOH, their Bs just go and go.

The privateers/franchisees of all parts of rail/tram transportation
will have service and reliability benchmarks:  it makes sense that
running equipment will need to be upgraded to ensure minimum standards
are met.

Even Bob Butrims, WCR's Ballarat East Workshop Manager, writing in a
recent Newsrail article (Sept?) said that the current loco fleet will
do to the end of the decade.  If you look at a calendar, the end of
the decade is only 14 months away.

I'd like to think that WCR are looking ahead more than 14 months, and
I'm sure would have a 5 year and a 10 year plan, so new/newer
locomotives would have to be on their shopping list.

Regards

Yuri
-- 
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Yuri J Sos
Melbourne VIC AUS

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(last updated 22 October 1998 2300h approx.)
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