26th Edition
Welcome to the twenty-sixth edition of The Eureka Times.
Welcome to our first edition of The Eureka Times for 2013. Already 2013 is shaping up to be a very busy year with the HUB sets arriving over Christmas 2012. Delivery of a major project such as the HUB sets always places an enormous strain on the resources of the Eureka office and it is only now at the end of March that things are getting back to normal. This is unlikely to last for long as 2013 should see delivery of another half dozen new projects and re-runs. If re-runs are included a total of 14 projects are currently being worked on at the factory and data packages for another half a dozen projects are currently being worked on at the Eureka Offices. More than enough to keep us busy in 2013 and for a number of years into the future. Before we get down to business, the pages of The Eureka Times are not usually the place to canvas advertising that may or may not have appeared on VR T vans but the accompanying photo which was taken by ET staff just had to be used.
With the return to work of the factory after Chinese New Year the R class project is nearing completion with final assembly being undertaken. In late February two final preproduction, running decoration samples were received (R 704 and R 719). They are not the final production model but they are very close and both models look very swish and are excellent runners.
The engine numbers that will be available “ex-factory” for the standard coal burners are: R 700, R 717, R 727, R730, R 740 and R 752. When the R class arrives Eureka will contact each person with an R class on order to confirm the details of the order and the postal address before dispatching the order. Engine numbers could also be confirmed at this stage, however those wishing to advise their required engine number and to confirm their postal address now are welcome to do so. The balance on all orders is now due. Distribution will commence with fully paid models.
The K Class: Tooling on the K class is almost finished and final running samples are expected in May. Once these are received sound files can be prepared and the project will proceed to final assembly. The factory is being asked to schedule delivery of the K class six to eight months after delivery of the R class which would suggest a K class delivery date of March, 2014.
The 59 Class: As previously advised, the 59 class production slot was taken by the 50 class. With the tooling of the 50 class now almost complete, tooling of the 59 class can commence in the second half of 2013 with a target delivery date in the second half of 2014
The 40 Class:
At last real progress is again being made on the 40 class with the factory recently sending a full set of paint samples for checking along with two running samples for testing. Long lead time items such as motors and gears have been prepared. The factory has not given a delivery date as yet but the third quarter of this year is looking good.
The 50 Class Standard Goods Engine:
Tooling on the 50 and 53 class is almost complete and the factory has advised that tooling samples will be available in April, 2013. Running samples should be available in June which will allow the preparation of sound files in the second half of the year. The factory has been advised that the target delivery date for the 50 class is February, 2014. The first production run of the 50 class will involve a minimum size run. This will allow a re-run to be commissioned early than would normally be expected. This first re-run of the standard goods will involve production of the 53 class along with further 50 class units including alternative tenders. (Tenders will then be made available separately) The first standard goods re-run is expected in 2015 and will be followed by further re-runs which will include the SMR 10 class and the 55 class as variants of the 50 class.
The 50 class will be available in the following numbers:
Saturated: 5069 and 5096
Superheated Beyer Peacock: 5063, 5133 and 5165
Superheated North British: 5221, 5263 and 5271
The 12 Wheeler Project – The NCR Set:
A major undertaking by Eureka has commenced with the start of what we are calling the “12 Wheeler Project”. The first step in the project is the NCR set consisting of four cars, these being BV, HCV, HFV and RFV. The project has been undertaken with the aim of producing as many of the 12 wheeler coaching stock in multiple variations (ie. with and without crown lights) as is economically viable. Provision for these later items is being incorporated into the design process from the start and it is anticipated that by using two common under-frames it will be possible to produce variations that would otherwise not be viable. The program at this stage, in no particular order includes the following cars: ACS, MAL, AB, TBC, TFX, RFX, CS, TAM, MFE, MBE, KAM, MAM and as a set, the Commissioner’s Cars. Tooling is underway for the NCR set and the target delivery date is April/May 2014. Order forms are attached.
VR/SAR Bogie Open/Flat/Oil Tank wagons: The NSW Bogie Tank Wagon:
Assembly of the VR E wagon variations and the NSWGR Bogie Tank Wagons are underway. The factory intends delivering the VR oil tankers and the NSW Tanker wagons in the first half of 2013. The E variation open and flat wagons are expected to follow eight weeks later.
W44 For Those Double Garratts
Tooling on the GC has started and whilst we have not received a target delivery date from the factory the third quarter of 2013 should see their arrival..
RSH /LCH/CCH: 620/720 2 Car Diesel re-run: 38 Class re-run: With tooling now retrieved from the old factory these three projects are now underway again and all three projects have target delivery dates in late 2013/early 2014.
As the heading suggests this table is an attempt to foresee what can be expected from current projects over the next three years. There are also a number of other projects that are under consideration and which may be fitted into the above program. Some of these are spin-offs from the above projects whilst a number are new projects altogether. Logically, as one moves down the schedule, dates become less firm and more subject to change.