The 2800's are General Electrics built under licence by Goninans in Townsville Queensland. They are CM30-8's ..... from memory the M stood for modified. So it's a dog bone shaped C30-8 powered by a 12 cylinder 7FDL engine. I've had a cab ride in one and they are fairly quiet. At the time 1997(?) the driver said they were incredibly slow to respond to increases in power. Here's a picture of the chassis of 2808 early in its life at Goninans after it rolled over and went to sleep one day. It was being stripped of any useful bits. Fortunately they were still building new 28's and QR simply bought an additional chassis and other bent parts to make a "rebuilt" 2808. 2805 is behind 2808's chassis getting revised stiffer suspension. Three 2800's have been converted to 4'8" and renumbered as 3200's so if you see them it's the same type of loco.
Thanks for posting another very worthwhile video AC4000. Non Australians looking at this should note that Longreach and Winton are quite good tourist destinations. My girlfriend talked me into going on the train to Longreach for a few days there and I have to admit we should have stayed longer. The train is an overnight sleeper leaving from Brisbane. Sleeping rooms are 1 person only but the divider between pair of rooms can be opened so you end up with a very long skinny room for 2. Meals and non alcoholic drinks are included. Food was served on china plates like a traditional streamliner so there is nothing in cardboard or plastic .... You can purchase alcohol if you want to. There is plenty of accomodation and food in Longreach. The big attraction there is the Qantas Museum. The main aircraft they have are a Boeing 707, DC3, a Catalina flying boat, a Super Constellation and a 747-200. We opted for the more expensive guided tour and because it was mid winter Yvonne and I were the only 2 customers that morning. The tour takes you for a quick look inside the DC3, they ain't that big, and a walk around the Super Constellation which had only just arrived when we were there. After that we toured the 707. It is a Qantas aircraft outside but inside it is configured as a private jet including gold fittings in the rest rooms (bathrooms). We did the wing walk on this aircraft. You have to put on a harness and are tethered to a wire and can then walk out onto the wing. Finally there is the 747 tour and it is big , just like the aircraft. If you can humanly fit into a space in the aircraft you can go there. Small parts of the inside have been opened up carefully so you can see the black box flight recorders and screw jack for the elevators and rudder control are a few. You can go down into the cargo hold via the avionics bay, go on the flight deck, , , everywhere. That tour also included a wing walk. The tour is expensive but the guides know what they are talking about. In Longreach there is also the Stockman's Hall of Fame which could be described as a tribute to all aspects of working on cattle stations (ranches) from when they were first established. Its an interesting museum worth seeing. They also have an evening meal and show most nights. If you like BIG steaks and plenty of fresh wholesome food give it a try. To get to both of these museums from Longreach you'll need a car. All the rental cars were stationed at the airport. Once we got our car (with mileage limits) we decided to see the Age of Dinosaurs near Winton. We saw real fossils being cleaned up in the conservation building and got a tour around the place explaining everything about the dinosaur age in the area. If you want to spend as much as another airfare you can go on an 8 day package and dig up real dinosaur fossils ........... and yes we have Raptors and they are all very dead. Its easy to get to with a regular car despite all the pro 4WD publicity. There is lots more to do out there but I'm getting off track as usual ..........
As far as I know the 707 you’re speaking of was John Travolta’s personal airplane, at the controls of which he flew for his own transportation. Actually this aircraft was first delivered to Qantas in the 60’s and when JT decided to withdraw her from use, giving her to Qantas was an obvious option. Now, as far as I know, he has a big Grumman Gulfstream twin-jet for his own transportation, plus a handful of various flying toys just for fun, including a few light single engine piston-driven airplanes.. Dom
I sort of thought the same thing until I went to Longreach. . It turns out there is 2 of of them ! VH-EBA (VH-EBX) was the first Qantas 707 and it is now at Longreach. https://www.aussieairliners.org/b-707q/vh-eba/vheba.html VH-EBM / N707JT was the last and is still in the USA. Mr Travolta has very generously donated the aircraft to HARS (Historical Aircraft Restoration Society) in New South Wales. John does have a great selection of aircraft , lucky guy. https://www.aussieairliners.org/b-707q/vh-ebm/vhebm.html With Qantas starting to phase out its 737's many are waiting to see if either or both museums get given a 737.
