Re: [VIC] R766 and R711 Ballarat tour.

[Yuri J Sos <steam4me@enternet.com.au>]

On Sun, 19 Dec 1999 12:59:23 GMT, Michael Kurkowski
<mk@netstra.com.au> wrote, and I selectively quote:

>I am not sure if this happened or not, but was there a time when R711 and 
>R766 sat next to each other at Ballarat?

 Not AFAIK.

After the parallel run, R711 returned to the WCR depot to the covered
shed outside the workshops, while R766 waited at the down end of the
Depot with the "V" set.  766 was then brought up to the turntable and
placed over a pit where the fire was dropped for the last time.  With
her last remaining steam pressure, she was then moved over to and
coupled to the rear of R711.

I'm glad all the naysayers and colour/headboard critics were out and
about yesterday snapping away merrily at the objects of their
complaints: dilutes the force of their arguments, doesn't it?

The contrast between dropping the fire on coal and oil couldn't be
greater: on R711, a couple of taps are turned off and there's a
"whoomp!" like a large gas jet going out, and that's it; on R766 the
fire is shaken down and sprinklers wash out the ash pan and flush the
cinders into the pit, a much more labourious and messy process!

Thanks, WCR for putting on a superb trip: the planning and leadership
shown by the organisers contributed to the success of the day.

Those of us who had a chat with Gary McDonald up on the bridge at
Warrenheip will be looking forward to 2000 in anticipation of the
ongoing revolution in mainline steam working in this state.  With two
"hyper Hudsons" on the loose, the video and film sales are sure to
skyrocket (Gary commented that with the number of inquiries for R
class charters he's fielding at the moment, there are times in 2000
where he'd need 5 Rs to satisfy the demand <g!> - that can only augur
well for the future of steam in this state).

Regards

Yuri
-- 
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Yuri J Sos
Melbourne VIC AUS

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