References

• Steam Locomotive R-711 Builder: North British Locomotive Co, Glasgow Builder’s Number & Year: 27001 of 1951 Designer: Victorian Railways Wheel Arrangement: 4-6-4 “Hudson” Entered Service: 28 August 1951 Withdrawn from Service: 2 August 1965 R 711 was commissioned in 1951 as one of 70 members of the Victorian Railway's R-class 4-6-4 "Hudson" main line passenger locomotives. These locomotives were designed by Victorian Railways and were urgently required by the post World War 2 period, however construction was delayed by competing priorities. Building was eventually outsourced to the North British Locomotive Company, Glasgow but, as with so many post-war steam locomotives orders, delivery ultimately came years after the demand had required. The R-class superseded the A2-class 4-6-0 locomotives on fast passenger turns however the simultaneous arrival of first-generation diesels reduced their usefulness and the R-class locomotives were destined for relatively short lives and low mileages. R 711 was withdrawn in 1965 and plinthed outside the Bendigo station, coming into ownership of the City of Greater Bendigo. In 1995 it was leased to West Coast Railway and extensively rebuilt for regular service on “The Westcoaster” passenger service between Melbourne and Warrnambool. This rebuilding featured various modifications including Lempor exhaust, power reversing gear and conversion to oil firing. (Martyn Bane has documented the technical changes implemented by West Coast Railway to R 711 on his interesting & well documented page.) R 711 now carries the name 'Spirit of Bendigo' in recognition of its eponymous connections. Following the demise of West Coast Railway, R 711 became available and has been leased to Steamrail Victoria since 2005. Several of the previous modifications (notably the Lempor exhaust and power reverser) have been removed by Steamrail Victoria however it retains oil firing. As of January 2012, R 711 has been certified for mainline use and has received a striking new livery of blue with gold stripe, reminiscent of the VR 'Spirit of Progress' era and the long-lost S-class pacific steam locomotives associated with that train.