Re: WCR leasing R766?

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

Just to clear up any uncertainty in the situation following a general
members meeting of Steamrail at which Gary McDonald from WCR spoke.  WCR are
negotiating to lease R766 from 766 inc, but as yet, nothing is concrete. 
The plan at the moment is for WCR to take 766 and convert it to another
'Super R' and have it in running as a backup engine by Easter. 

 To cover the problem this creates by leaving Steamrail without a second R,
WCR will carry out the bulk of a restoration of R700, which will remain
under Steamrail control.  Steamrail would carry out component overhauls
while the engine itself would go to Ballarat to be worked on.  The tenders
would be swapped due to the extended bunker modifications already been done
on 766.
Gary believes this work can be completed by the end of 2000.  R700 is in the
best unrestored condition of any R.

This is as I understand a deal dependant on WCR retaining the warrnambool
passenger contract.

Stuart Thyer
Photographer
University of Melbourne

----------
In article <3816ED5E.FF7B813C@harnessnet.com.au>, Craig Haber
<albatross@harnessnet.com.au> wrote:


>G'day,
>
>Roderick Smith wrote:
>
>> I am quoting from an apparently-authentic 5 October press release
>> authorised by Gary McDonald, Peter Keen & Andrew Swaine.  Of course, the
>> whole thing could be a hoax by an evil mastermind: I don't know what the
>> signatures of these three should look like.
>
>I asked Gary about it today - the press release was genuine.  I haven't seen
>it so I can't comment on what it says.
>
>Regards,