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707 Operations July 2017 Tours

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      narf120 Locomotive Fireman

    707 Operations have released details for a trio of trips in July 2017, with a Classic Carriage Afternoon Steam Soiree to South Geelong with R707 Saturday 15 July, Best of British Suburban Tour with F208 and R707 Sunday 16 July and Farewell to Murrayville Broad Gauge Weekend with heritage diesels and sleeping carriages Friday 21 July to Sunday 23 July.

    These trips will contain a number of firsts (and sadly a few lasts). For all the details and to book your tickets visit http://www.707operations.com.au.
    Posted: 05 Jun 2017 22:23

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      BrentonGolding Chief Commissioner

    Location: Maldon Junction
    Brilliant! I'd like to do at least 2 of those. Great to see 707 getting out and about after a few quiet months. Must be the Steamin' Season!

    BG
    Posted: 06 Jun 2017 10:26
      Carnot Chief Commissioner

    It must be ages since sleeper carriages have been on the Murrayville line (2002 perhaps?).  I'm aware SRV went to Yelta in Oct 2009.

    Glad to see a 'farewell to broad gauge' trip on this line.  (Ironically 15 years after the "Farewell to Broad Gauge Tour" in April 2002)

    Also, R707 is/was meant to be hauling the SRHC trip to Echuca on Saturday.  It didn't make it out of SCS on Sunday because of a roster stuff-up on Kilmore East signal block point.  Hopefully it sneaks its way North to Seymour before Saturday....
    Posted: 06 Jun 2017 11:08
      Carnot Chief Commissioner

    As per 707 Operations official FB page, R707 is heading up to Seymour this morning.  Departing Southern Cross 9:52, an arriving at Seymour around 11:12am.  Apparently it'll return to Newport in the next week or so with a couple of carriages (i.e. Avoca) currently at Seymour in tow.

    It's been a long time since R707 visited the border.
    Posted: 08 Jun 2017 09:28
      Factory_Fill Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Melbourne VIC
    A few shots from the transfer and today can be found here:



    More here:

    Video will be up later tonight.
    Posted: 10 Jun 2017 18:33

    Last edited by Factory_Fill on 10 Jun 2017 18:36; edited 4 times in total
      Factory_Fill Deputy Commissioner

    Location: Melbourne VIC
    As promised, R707 to Echuca:





    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVlU2dg8Msw&t=2s
    Posted: 11 Jun 2017 10:26
      Valvegear The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    And very nice too, thank you Factory_Fill. Nine cars is a good load for an R, and the lift out of Seymour and over the High Street level crossing sounded nice ( except for the pesky leaking cylinder release cock on the fireman's side).
    Posted: 11 Jun 2017 15:38
      YM-Mundrabilla Minister for Railways

    Location: Mundrabilla but I'd rather be in Narvik
    And very nice too, thank you Factory_Fill. Nine cars is a good load for an R, and the lift out of Seymour and over the High Street level crossing sounded nice ( except for the pesky leaking cylinder release cock on the fireman's side).
    Valvegear
    Great photos and video Factory_Fill. Thanks for posting them.

    Assuming 45 tons/car (I can't be bothered looking up the correct weights) is near enough to a full goods load for an R on the NE.

    Looking at the video, the RH side cylinder cocks seems to be blowing from very early and then both sides for a few seconds presumably in an attempt to get the RH one(s) to seat properly.
    Posted: 11 Jun 2017 16:38
      Valvegear The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    Looking at the video, the RH side cylinder cocks seems to be blowing from very early and then both sides for a few seconds presumably in an attempt to get the RH one(s) to seat properly.
    "YM-Mundrabilla"
    It's always worth a try. This time it didn't work, but I noticed in subsequent footage that the cocks weren't leaking.
    Posted: 11 Jun 2017 20:01
      mikesyd Chief Commissioner

    Location: no longer in Sydney
    707 Operations have released details for a trio of trips in July 2017, with a Classic Carriage Afternoon Steam Soiree to South Geelong with R707 Saturday 15 July, Best of British Suburban Tour with F208 and R707 Sunday 16 July and Farewell to Murrayville Broad Gauge Weekend with heritage diesels and sleeping carriages Friday 21 July to Sunday 23 July.

    These trips will contain a number of firsts (and sadly a few lasts). For all the details and to book your tickets visit http://www.707operations.com.au.
    narf120
    Well after some dithering, I have taken the plunge and Booked for the Murrayville trip.
    Posted: 22 Jun 2017 17:45
      narf120 Locomotive Fireman

    707 Operations have released details for a trio of trips in July 2017, with a Classic Carriage Afternoon Steam Soiree to South Geelong with R707 Saturday 15 July, Best of British Suburban Tour with F208 and R707 Sunday 16 July and Farewell to Murrayville Broad Gauge Weekend with heritage diesels and sleeping carriages Friday 21 July to Sunday 23 July.

    These trips will contain a number of firsts (and sadly a few lasts). For all the details and to book your tickets visit http://www.707operations.com.au.
    narf120
    Its only two weeks until the return of English Electric F208 for its first (and likely only) mainline tour for many years with 707 Operations Best of British Tour with R707 - I hope everyone has brought a ticket or made a photographers donation. Without everyone's support through traveling on these tours, we won't have these opportunities for mainline heritage into the future.
    Posted: 02 Jul 2017 22:00
      hbedriver Train Controller

    Well, they did it. Saw F 208 leading a fair size train, with R 707 behind bearing the tail disc. Good few people aboard, hope they enjoyed their day, comical as it may have been. Managed to see the train at Deer Park on my way out, was tempted to walk ahead for a photo, but alas time was against me.

    Good luck to 707 Ops; they deserve credit for having the creativity to run the trip, probably the first trip run by an F this century!
    Posted: 17 Jul 2017 07:32
      Lockspike Chief Train Controller

    Well, they did it. Saw F 208 leading a fair size train, with R 707 behind bearing the tail disc. Good few people aboard, hope they enjoyed their day, comical as it may have been. Managed to see the train at Deer Park on my way out, was tempted to walk ahead for a photo, but alas time was against me.

    Good luck to 707 Ops; they deserve credit for having the creativity to run the trip, probably the first trip run by an F this century!
    hbedriver
    T'was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, visiting locations rarely seen by passengers. With a maximum permissible speed of 30km/h the tour was somewhat of a stately progression. However, it gave plenty of time to observe and discuss the passing scene.
    Yes, it was a bit comical, max 30km/h train being allowed on the RRL tracks.
    Thank you Seven-O-Seven Ops.
    Posted: 17 Jul 2017 22:14
      Valvegear The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    When I was with 707 Ops, I always had the crazy idea of what fun it would be to drive F208 light engine to Seymour. One of the guys improved on the idea and suggested hauling the old lounge car "Yarra."
    It was never on, but wouldn't it have turned some heads along the way?
    Posted: 18 Jul 2017 08:23
      mikesyd Chief Commissioner

    Location: no longer in Sydney
    The Murrayville (Vinelander to Murrayille) trip is underway after a 90 min delay at Southern Cross due to a signalling problem

    At present, we are sitting at a red light in Bungaree loop.

    T413 + H5 and 11 cars.
    Posted: 22 Jul 2017 00:50

    Last edited by mikesyd on 22 Jul 2017 01:32; edited 1 time in total
      hbedriver Train Controller

    11 cars is a good sized train. I hope you and all the rest of the passengers have a great time. Any idea how many aboard? Will you keep posting updates?
    Posted: 22 Jul 2017 08:25
      Valvegear The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    The Murrayville (Vinelander to Murrayille) trip is underway after a 90 min delay at Southern Cross due to a signalling problem
    "mikesyd"
    Ho hum - business as usual, I see. Something fails, no back-up position and everything stops. An antique dealer would pay well for our rail system.
    Posted: 22 Jul 2017 10:29
      mikesyd Chief Commissioner

    Location: no longer in Sydney
    Update at 01:25 Sunday.

    The down train (8249) arrived at Ouyen, with about 100 passengers (some of whom were former Walpeup residents) on board, close to the scheduled 08:00 on Saturday in rather brisk but sunny conditions, being met by about 40 locals who then boarded for the trip out to Murrayville (they returned to Ouyen by bus). There were also some hardy souls who had chased since daybreak around Woomelang.

    Shunting and reversing the locomotives to keep T413 on the front resulted in departure for Murrayville being almost an hour late. The sedate run (average about 35 km/h) to Murrayville, where half the town seemed to be waiting, took just on 3 hours, arriving at 12:15pm – 45 mins down on the timetable.

    The 10 hour layover at Murrayville was used to rest the Loco crew (who had joined at Maryborough), remarshal the train for the return trip and fix a power van problem (we had lost power just before Ouyen) – while the customers took a 200km Bus trip to Red Cliffs to experience the Red Cliffs Historical Steam Railway. Dinner was partaken at the Ouyen Pub, with further refreshments at the Murrayville Pub (very well patronised by the locals) before rejoining the train for the 22:30 departure to Ouyen, where we have just arrived at 01:25.

    Departure from Ouyen (as 8248) is scheduled for 02:05, with arrival into Maryborough due at 07:30, departing 09:20, Ballarat dep 10:40, North Geelong C dep 12:55, via Newport to SCS to arrive at 14:23.

    There should be quite a few photos doing the rounds, I will post some later as Internet connections are patchy while on the move.
    Posted: 23 Jul 2017 01:31
      mikesyd Chief Commissioner

    Location: no longer in Sydney
    We have maintained the schedule fairly well and are now approaching Gheringhap.
    Posted: 23 Jul 2017 12:15
      ParkesHub Chief Commissioner

    The Murrayville (Vinelander to Murrayille) trip is underway after a 90 min delay at Southern Cross due to a signalling problem
    Ho hum - business as usual, I see. Something fails, no back-up position and everything stops. An antique dealer would pay well for our rail system.
    Valvegear
    And they run around like it's never happened before!
    Posted: 23 Jul 2017 16:30
      mikesyd Chief Commissioner

    Location: no longer in Sydney
    3 Photos :

    Ouyen on Saturday morning

    https://flic.kr/p/WWFzg1

    At Murrayville just after midday Saturday

    https://flic.kr/p/WWFBU7

    And at Maryborough on Sunday morning

    https://flic.kr/p/WpMZ5G
    Posted: 23 Jul 2017 19:15

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