As we are fast approaching our busy summer season here in the West, we are forward planning the movement and availability of our locos for this period, both steam and diesel.
We are very lucky to have a close relationship with the team at Don River Railway in Devonport. The collaboration between our two heritage rail companies means that we have arranged to borrow one of their heritage Drewry diesel engines, which will ensure that we have two operational locomotives s in Strahan over the summer.
Introducing V2…
V2 was originally built in late 1947 by Vulcan Foundry Ltd in England on behalf of the Drewry Car Company. Built qith a Gardner 8L3 204hp engine, it was then shipped to Tasmania and arrived in Burnie aboard the ship ‘Port Hobart’ on the 30/08/1948.
It didn’t enter service until the 5th October and was painted green at the time. Since then, it has also worked at the Emu Bay Railway and possibly even spent some time with our red diesel engine, V9.
In December of 1977, V2 was treated to an overhaul and repaint, and was then sold to the Don River Railway in 1984 beginning service there on the 1st December.
During V2’s time in Strahan, it will assist our main diesel engine D1. While D1 will continue to be our primary locomotive for passenger services throughout the summer, V2 will provide back up for reliability.
In the meantime, the workshop team at Carswell Park have committed to giving V2 a fresh coat of paint whilst in our care, as well as undertaking routine maintenance and some minor repairs to assist the DRR team and ensure it returns to Don River Railway in tip top condition!
