Steamrail Victoria

Steamrail Victoria is a not-for-profit volunteer group established in 1965 to restore and operate historic locomotives and rolling stock used on the railways in Victoria, Australia.[1] The main depot of the group is at the Newport Workshops ('West Block') in suburban Melbourne. In addition to operating railfan special trains and charters for private groups, the group also operates special steam trains in the Melbourne suburban area.[2] Steamrail regularly tours the state, including participation in annual events such as the Ballarat Heritage Weekend (steam locomotive Y112 is used to shuttle between Ballarat and Sulky Gully/Lal Lal).[3] Steamrail Victoria also hires diesel locomotives to Qube Logistics (Formerly POTA) as required. Locomotives were also hired to El Zorro until they ceased trading.[4][5][6]
The group has custody of a number of Victorian Railways steam locomotives, including the R, D3 and K classes; in addition to several diesel electric locomotives, and various suburban electric rolling stock.[7] Heritage carriages include the wooden 'E' and 'W' types, steel air conditioned 'S' type carriages, and South Australian 'K' type steel stock. The group has been criticised by some elements of the railfan community for use of non-heritage liveries on rolling stock.
Locomotives
Steam locomotives
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
A2 986 | ![]() |
1915 | Newport Workshops | Testing and commissioning | Moved under its own steam for the first time in 52 years on 30 May 2015. Currently undergoing mainline trials. |
D3 608 | Stored | Stored at Ballarat East | |||
D3 638 | Stored | Stored at Ballarat East | |||
D3 639 | ![]() |
1903 | Newport Workshops | Operational | Occasionally runs with its original number D3 658 |
D3 641 | Stored | Stored at Ballarat East | |||
D3 677 | Stored | Stored at Newport | |||
D3 688 | Stored | Stored at Ballarat East | |||
K151 | Newport Workshops | Stored | Stored at Newport | ||
K153 | ![]() |
1940 | Newport Workshops | Operational | Currently on hire to the VGR |
K183 | 1943 | Newport Workshops | Accident damaged, stored | Stored after accident damage at Benalla in October 2002. | |
K184 | Newport Workshops | Stored | Stored at Newport | ||
K190 | ![]() |
1946 | Newport Workshops | Operational | Painted in a LMS inspired livery |
R700 | North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow | Stored | Stored at Newport | ||
R711 | ![]() |
1951 | North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow | Operational | Currently the only mainline certified oil-burner in Victoria |
R761 | ![]() |
1952 | North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow | Operational | |
Y112 | 1889 | Phoenix Foundry, Ballarat | Operational | Occasionally runs with its original number Y419. Kept in Ballarat East. | |
Diesel locomotives
Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
B63 | Non-operational. | Currently stored at Newport. | |||
B72 | Stored midway through restoration. | ||||
M231 | Operational. | Used occasionally to shunt at the Newport Depot. | |||
M232 | Non-operational. | Currently stored at Newport. | |||
S313 | |
Operational. | On hire to QUBE | ||
T356 | Operational. | ||||
T364 | Operational. | ||||
T395 | Operational. | ||||
Y164 | Operational. | Main Shunter at Newport Depot. | |||
Electric locomotives
- E1106: Non-operational. Stored at Newport.
- E1108: Non Operational. Stored at Newport.
- E1109: Under restoration.
- L1160: Non operational. Stored at Newport.
- L1162: Operational. Stored at Newport as of 2014
- L1169: Non operational. Stored at Newport.
Harris electrics
- Two former 'Greasers' Currently awaiting restoration
Swing Door electrics (all destroyed by fire at Newport Workshops in 2015)
- 107M: Operational.
- 137M: Operational.
- 12BT: Under restoration.
Tait electrics
- 317M: Operational.
- 381M: Operational.
- 470M: Operational. Unique double end configuration.
- 208T: Operational.
- 341T: Under restoration.
- 230D: Operational.
Carriages
Class | Image | Type | Gauge | Top speed (km/h) |
Built | Number | Notes |
E type carriage | ![]() |
Passenger carriage | Broad | 115 | 1906 | ||
E type carriage | ![]() |
Passenger carriage | Broad | 1906 | |||
W type carriage | ![]() |
Passenger carriage | Broad | 1911 | |||
W type carriage | ![]() |
Passenger carriage | Broad | 1911 | |||
S type carriage | Passenger carriage | Broad | |||||
South Australian 'K' type carriage | Passenger carriage | Broad |
See also
References
- ↑ "Steamrail Victoria - About Us". www.steamrail.com.au. Archived from the original on 2008-05-09. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ↑ "Media Release: RIDE A STEAM TRAIN AROUND MELBOURNE THIS SUNDAY". www.dpc.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ↑ Steam trains return on Ballarat's Heritage Weekend. The Courier. May 9, 2012
- ↑ "Qube's use of SRV locos". www.railpage.com.au.
- ↑ "El Zorro's Demise". www.railpage.com.au.
- ↑ "Steamrail Forum ~ View topic - El Zorro Hirings of SRV Locos". www.steamrail.com.au. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ↑ "VICSIG - Heritage Groups - Steamrail Victoria". www.vicsig.net. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
External links
- http://www.steamrail.com.au/ (official site)
Coordinates: 37°51′3″S 144°52′48″E / 37.85083°S 144.88000°E