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 run 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.
In 1980, a committee of six men got together to inspect the withdrawn steam locomotive R707 at Newport Workshops. This locomotive had been withdrawn from service in 1974.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]
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]
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. A list of the entire fleet of rolling stock is shown below.
PCP294, D318,[6] [7] PCJ492[8]
DF935 (not operational)[16]
| Number | Image | Year built | Builder | Status | Notes | Livery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R707 | 1951 | North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow | Operational | Named City of Melbourne | Black and red | ||
| R753 | 1952 | Stored | Black and red | ||||
| S306 | 1957 | Clyde Engineering, Granville | Operational | Purchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019.[19] | PN blue and yellow | ||
| T387 | 1965 | Operational | On Standard Gauge | CFCLA Silver and Blue | |||
| T392 | Operational | Purchased from Pacific National in September 2023 after being leased from the company since 2019.[20] | PN Blue and Yellow | ||||
| T413 | 1968 | Operational | Delivered as D1 for Fyansford Cement Works | VR blue and gold | |||
| Y108 | 1963 | Stored | V/Line orange and grey | ||||
| Y127 | 1965 | Operational | First locomotive painted into V/Line orange and grey. In preservation. | V/Line orange and grey | |||
| F202 | 1951 | Dick, Kerr & Co. | Under restoration. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needs | VR blue and gold | |||
| F204 | Stored. Given back to VicTrack after 707 Operations deemed it surplus to needs | VR blue and gold | |||||
| F208 | Operational | VR red and gold | |||||
| A62 (ex B62) | 1952 (rebuilt 1983) | Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Clyde Engineering, Rosewater) | Operational | V/Line orange and grey | |||
| P20 (ex T337) | 1956 (rebuilt 1985) | Clyde Engineering, Granville (rebuilt Martin & King, Somerton) | Operational | Acquired from Pacific National in 2023 | V/Line orange and grey |
| Carriage | Image | Guage | Year built | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 255 ACZ | Broad | 1957 | Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes | Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style | |
| 270 BZ | 1959 | Second Class - Saloon Style | |||
| 257 BCZ | 1958 | Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos) | Guards Van/Second Class - Saloon Style | ||
| 259 BTN | 1959 | Dining Car |
| Carriage | Image | Guage | Year built | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 205 BS | Broad | 1950 | Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes | Second Class - Compartment Style | |
| 212 BS | 1949 | VR Blue and Gold | |||
| 215 BS | 1955 | ||||
| 224 BRS | 1940 | Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes | Second Class - Compartment Style - Buffet |
| Carriage | Image | Guage | Year built | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SJ 284 Dorai | Broad | 1950 | Overland Maroon | Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning | |
| JTA 6 Kuldalai | 1957 | ||||
| LAN 2534 | 1961 | Stainless Steel | Roomette Sleeping Car - Air Conditioning | ||
| NAM 2336 | 1961 | Twinette Sleeping Car - Air Conditiong | |||
| Wando | 1923 | VR Carriage Red | Twinshare Sleeping Car |
| Carriage | Image | Guage | Year built | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACN 45 | Standard | 1983 | Grey Livery (Stripped of PTV Purple & Grey, including PTV and V/Line logos) | Guards Van/First Class - Saloon Style | |
| ACN 48 | |||||
| BN 5 | 1981 | Second Class - Saloon Style | |||
| BN 22 | 1982 | ||||
| BRN 43 | 1983 | Second Class - Saloon Style - Buffet |
| Carriage | Image | Guage | Year built | Livery | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCP 294 | Broad | 1957 | Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes | Power Van | |
| PCO 3 (PCJ 492) | 1970 | Overland Maroon | Power Van | ||
| PCJ 493 | Standard | 1970 | Silver | Power Van | |
| 708 BK | Broad | 1941 | Vintage Rail Travel Mk3 - Red and 2 white stripes | Lounge Car | |
| DC 783 Lowanna | 1942 | Maroon | Commissioner's car | ||
| Victoria Club Car 1 | 1970 | Overland Maroon | Lounge Car | ||
| DT 318 | 1959 | 707 Ops Black | Luggage Van |