R707 Operations
Volunteer Organisation
Established1980
Location1 Shea Street, Newport, Victoria
Coordinates37°51′00.2″S 144°52′47.3″E
CollectionsLocomotives, rolling stock, multiple units
WebsiteOfficial site

707 Operations is a railway preservation group based in Melbourne, Australia. The volunteer organisation was established in 1980 to restore R class locomotive R707. The company has its own section of the Newport Workshops that is used for storing carriages and locomotives when not in use for trips (charter or regular). They are located in roads 7 and 8 of the Newport West Block Workshops.

707 Operations runs regular trips across the broad gauge rail network in Victoria and also charter trains. People who motorcade the train to photograph it are asked to consider donating $10 towards the costs of running the train. This has been controversial among the railway fraternity. For the donation, 707 Operations provide a detailed schedule and tour notes 24 hours prior to departure and SMS updates should the train fall behind schedule in excess of 30 minutes.

History

In 1980, a committee of six men got together to inspect the withdrawn steam locomotive R707 at Newport Workshops. This locomotive had been withdrawn from service in 1974. After close examination of the locomotive, which showed some disrepair, a proposal was put forward to VicRail for restoration with work commencing in 1981. The restored locomotive made its debut on a return trip to Bacchus Marsh in July 1985.[1]

Operations

Today 707 Operations run heritage special trains in Victoria.[2] In 2020 most trips were cancelled due to COVID restrictions, however since 2022, 707 Operations have resumed running their popular mainline day trips and sleeping car trips around Country Victoria and Tocumwal (NSW). Destinations include Bendigo, Bacchus Marsh, Quambatook and the Silo Art Trail, Tocumwal, Ballarat, Swan Hill, Echuca and Seymour.[3]

Fleet

After the restoration of R707, the organisation expanded their fleet further with R753 being bought as well as diesel locomotives F204, T413 and Y127. The organisation owns former West Coast Railways S and Z type carriages as well as South Australian Railways carriage 708 for use on special trips. No West Coast Railways liveried cars remain with all S and Z type cars having been repainted in 707 Operations red or VR Blue and Gold.[citation needed]

Locomotives

NumberImageYear builtBuilderStatusNotesLivery
A621952 (rebuilt 1983)Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Clyde Engineering, Rosewater)OperationalAllocated by VicTrack in 2020, restored fully in 2025V/Line orange and grey
F2081951Dick Kerr Works, Preston, EnglandOperationalLimited to shunting dutiesVR red and gold
P131956 (rebuilt 1984)Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Martin & King, Somerton)OperationalTransferred from V/Line to 707 Operations ownership in November 2024.[4] On Standard GaugeV/Line Passenger Mk2
P201956 (rebuilt 1985)OperationalAcquired from Pacific National in 2023V/Line orange and grey
R707North British Locomotive Company, GlasgowOperationalNamed City of MelbourneBlack and red
R7531952StoredParts source for R707Black and red
S3001957Clyde Engineering, GranvilleOperationalPrivately owned, on Standard GaugeCFCLA Silver and Blue
S3061957Out of traffic, OverhaulPurchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019[5]PN blue and yellow
T3871965OperationalPrivately owned, on Standard GaugeCFCLA Silver and Blue
T392OperationalPurchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019[6]Slow Rail Journeys Blue and Yellow
T4131968OperationalDelivered as D1 for Fyansford Cement WorksVR blue and gold
Y1081963Clyde Engineering, GranvilleStoredParts source for Y127V/Line orange and grey
Y1271965OperationalFirst locomotive painted into V/Line orange and grey in preservationV/Line orange and grey
Y1431965StoredParts source for Y127V/Line orange and grey

Passenger carriages

Z cars

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
255 ACZBroad1957Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesGuards Van/First Class - Saloon Style
270 BZ1959Second Class - Saloon Style
257 BCZ1958Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos)Guards Van/Second Class - Saloon Style. Transferred 14/05/2023
251 BTN1956Second Class - Saloon Style. Ex 1AZ.
259 BTN1959Saloon car converted to Dining Car. Transferred 06/07/2023

S Cars

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
205 BSBroad1950Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesStored. Second Class - Compartment Style
212 BS1949VR Blue and GoldSecond Class - Compartment Style
215 BS1955
224 BRS1940Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesSecond Class - Compartment Style - Buffet

N Carriages

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
ACN 45Standard1983Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos)Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style. Transferred August 2022
ACN 48
BN 51981Second Class - Saloon Style. Transferred August 2022
BN 221982
BRN 431983Second Class - Saloon Style - Buffet. Transferred August 2022

H Carriages

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
BTH 174Broad1958, Converted to H Car 1989Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos)Transferred 12/12/2024. ex Harris 688T
BIH 1931957, Converted to H Car 1990Transferred 12/12/2024. ex refurbished Harris 3505T
BCH 1341962, Converted to H Car 1990Transferred 12/12/2024. ex refurbished Harris 902M

Sleeping Cars

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
Sleeper 5 WandoBroad1923VR Carriage RedTwinshare Sleeping Car
SJ 284 Dorai1950Overland MaroonTwinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
JTA 6 Kuldalai1957
LAN 23521961Stainless SteelRoomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning. Owned by THNSW
LAN 23541961Roomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning. Privately Owned
NAM 23361961Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning
NAM 2373Standard1963
NAM 2380Broad1963

Vans & Special carriages

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
PCP 294Broad1957Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesPower Van
PCO 3 (PCJ 492)1970Overland MaroonPower Van
PCJ 493Standard1970SilverPower Van
PHA 23951984Stainless SteelPower Van. Owned by THNSW
PHN 23621961Power Van. Owned by THNSW
2 COBroad1970Guards Van. Privately Owned
35 CP1958RedGuards Van
37 CP1958GreyGuards Van
708 BK1941Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripesLounge Car. Privately Owned
DC 783 Lowanna1942MaroonCommissioner's crew car. Privately Owned
Club Car 1 Victoria1970Overland MaroonLounge Car
DF 9351968Stainless SteelIndian Pacific Dining Car. Privately Owned
Sleeper 4 Buchan1923VR Blue and GoldTwinshare Sleeping Car - Paritally converted to Crew Car

Electric Multiple Units

CarriageImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
3 MBroad1973Stainless SteelHitachi Motor Car
304 D1973Hitachi Driving Trailer Car
178 M1979Hitachi Motor Car

Freight Wagons

WagonImageGaugeYear builtLiveryNotes
DT 318Broad1959707 Ops BlackLuggage Van
VOAF 100BlackBogie Open Wagon for carrying coal
L 1174RedFormer NSWGR Water Gin. Owned by THNSW
HH 51902RedLoco Breakdown Van
VLCX 1871966RedLouvre Van
DT 3611959Red
VLPY 1251956Red
VWBA 21960RedWell Wagon. Holds Boiler ex R753

References

  1. ^ R707 City of Melbourne Restoration Archived 2 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  2. ^ Past Mainline Trips Archived 9 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine 707 Operations
  3. ^ "TrainReview's guide to 707 Operations". Archived from the original on 29 July 2021.
  4. ^ "VICSIG - Locomotives - P13". vicsig.net. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  5. ^ "VICSIG - Locomotives - S306". vicsig.net. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  6. ^ "VICSIG - Locomotices - T392". vicsig.net. Retrieved 25 January 2024.