R class 4-6-4

[ozbob]

R711 "Super R" Hudson Steam Loco to St Arnaud: Australian Trains

[Stillwater]

Rail Back On Track excursion aboard the Mary Valley Rattler anyone?

[#Metro]

I would be interested; depends on day and date though.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Double Headed R class, R761 & R711 - Snow Train 2012

[ozbob]

http://www.steamrail.com.au/documents/brochures/2012/2012-10-21_Bendigo_150th.pdf

[ozbob]

R711 Big Hill - Bendigo Railway Line 150th

R711 attacks Big Hill on the return trip to Melbourne after celebrating the Bendigo Railway line 150th anniversary and it own relaunch on Oct 21, 2012.

[ozbob]

R711 re-launch / Bendigo Line 150th tour 21/10/12

On Sunday 21st of October 2012 Steamrail Victoria ran a special steam hauled train from Melbourne to Bendigo to celebrate 150 years of the Bendigo line. The tour was also R711's first 'official' public run (it had already appeared as a second loco on 'The Snow Train' a few months previously) since returning to service after a lengthy overhaul.

In this video we see the special climbing 1 in 50 grades of the Sunbury Bank, then racing along near Woodend, then crossing the spectacular Blue Stone viaduct at Malmsbury.

[ozbob]

The recently overhauled Hudson Steam Locomotive R711 traveled to Bendigo for its official relaunch tour and for the 150th celebrations of the Bendigo line. This was the first time R711 had been to Bendigo in 10 years and did attract a lot of attention. The spots I got the train include: Macedon, Kyneton, Big Hill, Harcourt, Elphinstone, Taradale, Woodend. I hope you enjoy

[ozbob]

 2012 10 21 R711 Chase

[ozbob]

The 150th Anniversary of rail to Bendigo

[Stillwater]

It would be great to see a sight like this on the QR mainline between Nambour and Gympie at weekends, using the Mary Valley Rattler.  Safety issues have forced the Rattler to cease operations temporarily on the branch line, but it could still operate on the North Coast Line.  Imaging catching suburban passenger rail to Nambour, transferring to the Rattler and being dropped off at the Yandina or Eumundi markets, or into the heart of towns such as Cooroy and Pomona, or running through to Gympie, where there could be a market involving Mary Valley community groups.  People could be picked up at towns back to Nambour.  Fantastic opportunities.

[SurfRail]

The ARHS still run steam trains that far north from Brisbane.  Yandina has a turning triangle and you can probably run trains around at Cooroy.

[ozbob]

R 711 Through Kyneton - Bendigo 150th Anniversary

[colinw]

Awesome stuff.  I did an R class triple header to Bendigo in the '90s (tour was naturally called "The 3 Rs"). Incredible stuff.  Saddens me that the Bendigo line got single tracked as part of RFR, how short sighted is that?

[ozbob]

Double Headed R Class to Bendigo

[ozbob]

Cabride R761 Bendigo - Castlemaine

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

On Saturday 22 June 2013 a steam train tour was operated by Steamrail Victoria, running from Melbourne to Traralgon. The return trip was scheduled to arrive back in Melbourne well after dark and the train, with its powerful former Victoria Railways R class "Hudson" (4-8-4) [sic, is 4-6-4 admin] steam locomotive R761, is seen as it passes through Hughesdale at 7:30pm.

Details of preservation activities and upcoming tours operated by Steamrail Victoria can be found on their website http://www.steamrail.com.au/

[ozbob]

On 22 June 2013, Steamrail Victoria ran the first of their annual "Snow Trains" for the year from Newport to Traralgon. For those wondering why there's no snow in the shots, the train gets it's name from a side trip offered to the snowfields at Mt Baw Baw.

The train was hauled by hudson express passenger steam locomtive R761 hauling 8 vehicles comprising heritage timber or steel carriages dating from the 1920's to the 1950's. The weather for the trip was superb with very cold but clear air and no wind, resulting in a top quality soundtrack to go with the visuals.

[ozbob]

R761 rips through Nar Nar Goon, 22 June 2013.

[ozbob]

R761 makes an impressive sight as it races through Hernes Oak on the way back to Melbourne. 22/06/13

[ozbob]

Whistleblowers Break City Silence

At 10pm on Sunday 21st July 2013 the drivers of steam locomotives R707 & R761 made sure everyone in Melbourne heard their passing over the Flinders Street viaduct. A perfect ending to a perfect day (even thought the trains were a tad delayed due to a point failure first thing in the morning), well done Steamrail!

[ozbob]

R761 and R707 leading the Snow Train uphill to Huntingdale on a cold, clear winter morning.
After waiting in the wind with 5C temperature, I was a bit shaky holding the camera!

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Witness the magic of mainline steam train operations in this video of Steamrail's annual "Snow Train" to Traralgon on 13 July 2014. Featuring double headed hudson 4-6-4 express passenger steam locomotives and thirteen vehicles, this train is a highlight of the 2014 steam calendar.

The action commences at Oakleigh, where R761 and R707 work hard to lift their heavy train from a standing start in still, crisp winter morning air. We then move further east to Drouin bank, where the locomotives storm the 1 in 50 grade in fine style.

The double hudsons then literally make the ground shake as they race up the hill between Trafalgar and Moe, where many of the passengers would leave the train for a side trip to the snowfields at Mt Baw Baw. However, I continue to follow the train to get its arrival at Morwell and then on the undulating grades between Morwell and Traralgon.

The return journey commences with the locomotives lifting their train up the 1 in 50 grade out of Traralgon with a spectacular smoke display, followed by scenes in fading light at Hernes Oak and Yarragon.

[ozbob]

R761 and R707 lead the return leg of Steamrail Victoria's annual 'Snow Train' from Traralgon across the Flinders Street Viaduct at night, with the Melbourne CBD forming a spectacular backdrop. R761's driver puts on a fantastic show on the whistle, which echos off the sky scrapers.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Rebecca Thistleton ‏@RebeccaThiso  3m

The #train of honour, #R707 #CityofMelbourne back to service for 30 years thanks to restoration efforts. Well done.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Vicsig ‏@vicsig  53m

Triple R classes returning from Seymour seen at Broadford on a 707ops trip.

[ozbob]

To celebrate 30 years since Hudson steam locomotive R707s return to mainline service, a special tour from Melbourne to Seymour was run featuring R707 and two other R class steam locomotives R761 and R711.

19th July 2015

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Twitter

Rebecca Thistleton ‏@RebeccaThiso  2 minutes ago

Good morning Newport! The Spirit of Bendigo about to leave for the snow. #steam #train #loco

[ozbob]

Twitter

Heraldsunphoto ‏@heraldsunphoto  30m

The 8.32 from @Melbourne to #Traralgon heads through the city. @theheraldsun #Rialto #steamtrain #trains #melbourne

[ozbob]

Twitter

Steamrail Victoria ‏@SteamrailVic  2h

This morning departing Newport with The Snow Train. R711 and R761 leading 14 carriages. #Steamrail #thesnowtrain

[ozbob]

@SteamrailVic Off to the snow! pic.twitter.com/ERrlbbdkYc

— KingDickOfKorstraw (@korstraw) August 16, 2015

[ozbob]