Re: WCR leasing R766?

[keithm@happy.dca.gov.au (Dave Malcolm)]

In article <3817E9A5.650534A2@nmit.vic.edu.au> david <david@nmit.vic.edu.au> writes:
>From: david <david@nmit.vic.edu.au>
>Subject: Re: WCR leasing R766?
>Date: Thu, 28 Oct 1999 16:13:57 +1000

>Stupid Question 2 : How many "R"  still exist ?
>Stupid Question 1 : How many "R" may be able to be restored?

Technically any loco could be restored, some would just be impractical.

Dave Malcolm

>Question 3:  With the reduction of Broad gauge planned it seems, what other
>historic
>class of VR locos can be restored ??  "R"'s seem to be able to haul the trains
>to
>schedule - perhaps that is why they are favoured. WCR may continue their policy
>of
>using their Steam for regular haulage.

>Regards,
>David Head




>James Brook wrote:

>>     I really hope they don't convert R766. I like the locomotive the way it is
>at
>> the moment. If WCR want another "super R" ("R2" is the name I give to it. <g>)
>> then why don't they get R700 and convert it? R766 has already been restored
>and
>> is currently close to its original condition. The livery of R766 and the
>tender
>> are only minor alterations to its original VR condition and they are easy to
>> convert back. Once R766 has been converted to R711's condition it will be
>> wrecked. I like R711, but that loco was never restored to its original VR
>> condition.
>>
>>     The number of R class locomotives being returned to service is ridiculous.
>> Why does Steamrail need two (or more) R class locos anyway? R707 is sitting,
>> ready for use in the west block right next door to Steamrail! There is also
>R711
>> in use with WCR at the moment. Personally I think that four R class locos in
>> service is the absolute limit. In Victoria there are extremely limited
>resources
>> in volunteer labour, materials and funding to restore and maintain steam
>> locomotives. While it might be nice to restore every single R class in the
>state
>> that wasn't scrapped, we are going to reach a point where we will have too
>many
>> restored steam locomotives in the state and not enough resources to look after
>> them all. Where do we actually draw a line? There are plenty of other steam
>locos
>> around the state. Do we just keep restoring locos until we get to the stage
>where
>> we can't look after them properly? Does Victoria really need five R class
>> locomotives in service? Most R class tours only use two locomotives and there
>is
>> the odd tour that uses three.
>>
>> This is a list of currently restored ex Victorian Railways steam locomotives:
>>
>> - Steamrail
>>
>>     - K153
>>     - K183
>>     - K190
>>     - D3 639
>>     - R761
>>     - R766 (766 inc.)
>>
>> - SRHC
>>
>>     - J515
>>
>> - VGR
>>
>>     - J549
>>     - K160
>>
>> - Mornington
>>
>>     - K163
>>
>> - WCR
>>
>>     - R711
>>     - Y112
>>
>> - Puffing Billy (2'6")
>>
>>     - 7A
>>     - 8A
>>     - 12A
>>     - 14A