October 13th 2024 saw Steamrail Venture into the Gippsland region for a second tour to Bairnsdale dubbed the Gippslander, but this time being run as a day tour. This would mark the first time a steam hauled day tour to Bairnsdale since 2005 and the first day tour since 2010.
This run would also see R 711 be the second R class in history to visit the town of Bairnsdale along with also having R 761 in town made it the first time to have 2 Ex VR Hudson's at Bairnsdale.
The day Begins at Flinders St where R 711 brings the train into the station. after hopping on the train, 711 now begins traveling through the eastern Suburbs of Melbourne stopping at Caulfield, Dandenong and Pakenham.
after leaving the wires behind at Pakenham. The R continues on now trading the busy suburban areas for open fields and forests while also establishing a presence where ever it was with sound made by the Hudson as it attacked the many grades along the way. The train would have a brief stop at Warragal to top up on water, its then back to speeding through the country side before passing through Moe and charging the grades through the Haunted hills.
After another wait at Morwell to wait for a Melbourne bound train, 711 begins the train a slight grade before storming through Morwell station and speeding out of town to Traralgon where the train would next stop so as to gain the relevant track authority to continue east to Sale. after a stop as Sale to once again gain the relevant track authority R 711 becomes the second R to venture east of Sale over the Avon river, through Stratford to Bairnsdale.
At Bairnsdale, R 761 along with a mixed train of support carriages are already waiting having run from Melbourne the night before. 761 would Haul the return run as due to the closest turntable situated at Traralgon, it would prove to be easier to have the two Rs swap at Bairnsdale to allow timely running of the return run.
after a few hours in town to allow passengers to get a spot of lunch and walk around, the return run heads off out of town with R 761 now on the lead. While R 711 stays back as it would depart late at night to return to Melbourne.
heading out of Bairnsdale the mighty Hudson attacks the grade out of town before getting up to speed racing by fields and paddocks along with a light plane pacing and circling back around the train till Lindenlow South.
after passing back through Stratford and over the Avon river again the train wouldn't stop till Sale where the train would obtain the line staff from Sale to Traralgon.
Arriving into Traralgon the R would be topped up with water before heading off and slogging up Traralgon Bank, speeding through Morwell before stopping again at Hearns Oak loop to wait for a couple V/line trains to pass.
after waiting for a little while, the R slowly starts the train the 1 in 50 grade out of the loop and aggressively wheel slipping while entering the main line. before continuing to slog up the grade away from Hearns Oak.
Now with sunlight dying off, the R races on towards Melbourne not stopping again till Longwarry to wait for a east bound V/line to get off the single track section between Longwarry and Bunyip.
then back under Wires the train would make stops at Pakenham, Dandenong and Caulfield, Flinders Street and Southern cross where the R pulls away out of the station as it heads for Newport.