A repository of information and photographs taken (mostly) by me recounting the upgrding of R711 and its return to mainline service by West Coast Railway and in particular due to the passion and drive of its CEO, the late Gary McDonald.

WCR's R711 was steamed at Ballarat East for the first time in 33 years on 22 Oct 98.  I'll present some of the radical design features of this breakthrough locomotive, its "delivery run", its first departure on 21 Nov 1998 and its subsequent withdrawal from service account corroded tyres.