R 766 runs trials at Rothbury , NSW, 24-7-21 

Since the early '50s it was planned to re-gauge Australian railways to standard gauge and some feasibility studies were done but not proceeded with as it would have been a mammoth expensive project. However new steam locomotives such as the R and J class and I don't know which others were able to be converted to standard gauge. Also the diesels were also able to be bogie exchanged and many were swapped to the standard gauge Melbourne-Albury line, many were rotated from one gauge to another. A relic of this was the now defunct Mt Gambier line, in the '50s it was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge and it used steel sleepers which has standard gauge holes in them ready to be converted. It is a pity that the Mt Gambier line was isolated when the Melbourne-Adelaide line was standardized in the 1990s.

An imposing bit of kit with a chime whistle to die for. Congratulations from a Brit to the Aussie team that did the restoration.

The R class were originally made in Scotland, I've seen photos of them on trucks being conveyed through this small town to the wharf. R704 was displayed at a trade show in London. It carries a plaque describing this at the railway museum at Newport.

Cannot wait for steamfest when racing against the plane. Which one will be faster, the R class or 38 class, which one can haul more? Can't wait. Great work by all involved. People said it can't be done, well she's on standard gauge now. All we need now is our big boy 5711 going, well she is big.

*WOW!!!* After all these years she's finally running under own power on Standard Gauge! Now to see her doing mainline trials and then tours! Bring her down south to her home state - we have plenty of former Broad Gauge lines that are now Standard Gauge waiting for her!!! 😍

Man this is history in the making! The first Australian steam locomotive to be re-gauged from broad gauge 5ft 3in to standard gauge 4ft 8-1/2in. Even as an American, the Victorian Railways R class Hudsons are my favorite steam locomotives of Australia. Oh wow! Since R766 has been re-gauged to standard gauge, just imagine if it came to North America to ride the rails in both the United States and Canada! Edited: also the R766 looks like a beast next to the wimpy American NSWGR D59 No. 5917.

Splendid!

At last, all those HO scale, 16.5mm gauge models of R766 have the correct gauge (and can keep running on NSW layouts! ;) All jokes aside, haven't they done a fabulous job!

They’ve done an beautiful job now we’ve got another R class apart of operation preservation to the volenteers Thankyou with out you guys this engine would still be in pieces how nice is it finally to see R766 in steam

Absolutely Magnificent video Graeme. Glad they painted her to her original Black and Red colours. Thanks for sharing. And a job well done and accreditation to the team at Rothbury for making this excellent milestone. Cannot wait to see what tours are planned for R766 in NSW. And perhaps going into Victoria in the future.

Beautiful steam locomotive. Fantastic efforts to all those people who made this happen.

Good to see this old steamer formally from the Victorian Railways running again. I think at one point it was also one of 2 oil burners with West Coast Railways along with R711 on the Melbourne to Warrnambool service before being transferred to New South Wales. Once again, good to see R766 running again.

If I didn't know any better, I'd say the New York Central hudsons have been reborn down under. Cracking job mates, absolutely stellar!

R766 looks very splendid. Congratulations to all involved in the restoration

Did you know the driving wheels on R766 are actually R700's driving wheels

Wow, I didn't even know it was possible to regauge a steam engine. Fantastic!

Looks and sounds fantastic. Credit to all involved in the restoration

Wait R766 is bigger than 5917, I forgot how big the r class are

Thanks for filming it for us - a great effort by all involved over many years - congratulations, hope it can come to S.A again some time!

Wait... Victorian Steam Train into Sydney Steam Train Fleet???

Fantastic to see her up ruining again, looking forward to see her in action

Oh my god this made my bloody day. Tell me, that whistle doesn’t sound like a typical R class one. It almost sounds like an NSWGR one, am I correct?

shes up and running amazing :O

Wonderful steam locomotive.

Incredible work!

Regauging a 5’3” locomotive to standard 4’8½” must have been a mammoth task. Not so much the tender. At least we have some dual gauge track in Vic for a visit. These Hudsons have it all over Pacifics do they not… 👏🌹✌️

May i use your footage for a video I am working on?

Oil fired? Nice

History for an R class..on the SG..wouldn't those NSW fans like to see her at 115kmh on the mainline? Is it wishful thinking?

Love it Graeme😀

Why does R766 have two small lights on the sides of the smokeobx?

Great to see. But wouldn't this loco have been broad gauge?