OUR TRAIN
For many years 707 Operations hired carriages for mainline excursions (mainly from Steamrail Victoria) but following the end of the West Coast Rail franchise between Melbourne and Warrnambool on 30 August 2004, an opportunity arose to purchase our own train.
 The 707 Operations train consist is:
- ACZ 255 First class open saloon carriage with guard area
- BZ 270 Economy class open saloon carriage
-
BRS 224 Economy class compartment carriage with buffet
-
BS 205 and BS 212 Economy class compartment carriage
-
PCP 294 Power/observation van
-
DT 318 Bogie steel box van
Van DT 318 is only used when a mainline trip requires R707 to run tender first. The van is marshalled at one end of the train so that, when running tender first, the front of R707 is coupled to DT 318 rather than a carriage or the power van. This is necessary because on a sharp curve the front buffers on R707 can catch on the walkthrough door frame of the carriages and power van. To avoid this possibility in normal running the tender buffers on R707 have been removed.
All carriages are 75ft (approximately 23m) long, steel bodied, air-conditioned and in sound mechanical condition. Being built between 1940 and 1959 they are of appropriate vintage and ambience to operate with steam locomotive R707. They also provide safe and comfortable “family friendly” accommodation for our customers.
An important addition has been made to the buffet in BRS 224 – an espresso coffee machine has been installed and is proving to be very popular.
Power van PCP 294 contains a diesel generator to provide electrical power to operate the train lighting and air-conditioning. It also has a cargo area with wide doors on each side. A safety fence across these doors allows them to be left open so that customers can visit the van while the train is running and experience the sounds, smell (and smut) of steam haulage.
Repainting Project
The West Coast Rail blue and white external livery is both chalky and inappropriate. A project is underway to re-paint the carriages red with a grey roof. The shade of red is that used by Victorian Railways in the 1940s on the “AS” and “BS” carriages that were not used on the Spirit of Progress.
As at January 2009:
BZ 270 - completed using labour provided by Victoria University under the Work for the Dole scheme. It carries the Vintage Rail Travel brand name (the trading name under which 707 Operations runs mainline excursions) and is named NEWPORT. The other carriages will be named as they are re-painted.
  
PCP 294 - completed.
 
BRS 224 – leaking windows are being fitted with new seals prior to repainting.
 
Last Updated: 05 January 2009
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