Start of Red Hen 402 12th February 2021

Red Hen Railcar 402's, first engine started up in 5-6 years.
The South Australian Red Hen Trains were manufactured from1955 - 1960, at the Islington Workshops. In total one hundred and eleven were built, now only eight to nine Red Hens remain in working order.
Red Hens 311 and 402 displayed here are part of the total. With only a hand full remaining and scattered over various regions the future looks bleak unless efforts are made to save the remainder.
My search in 2018, lead me to Korumburra in Victoria’s South Gippsland. It took some time to open communications with the powers that be, taking up to a year until contact was made. I then commenced negotiations with Victrack and traveled to Korumburra to view the Red Hens.
In February 2020, I submitted formal interest for ownership. The Covid 19 situation led to many delays but finally in August 2020, the transfer of ownership was agreed to and signed.
With no future within Victoria, the Red Hens were listed for scrapping at Korumburra together with other remaining rolling stock.
With your help, both 311 and 402 will come back to South Australia and be restored to their former glory, with future operations planned.
In February 2021, I traveled to Korumburra once again to start the process of moving both 311 and 402, after pre-checks 402 was the first to be started and was then driven out onto the turn-table. However this was all that was achieved as approx 15minutes later Victoria went into covid lock-down, this meaning I had to return back to South Australia within a matter of hours.
Donations would be gratefully received and assist in returning these heritage vehicles to their rightful home.
Thanks very much for your help, I really appreciate.