Southern Aurora

Southern Aurora

Preserved version of the Southern Aurora at Wagga Wagga station in April 2012
Overview
Service type Overnight sleeper train
Status Ceased
First service 16 April 1962
Last service 2 August 1986
Successor Sydney/Melbourne Express
Former operator(s) State Rail Authority
V/Line
Route
Start Sydney
End Melbourne
Distance travelled 956 kilometres
Service frequency Nightly in each direction
Train number(s) SL1/SL2
Line used Main South, NSW
North East, Victoria
Technical
Rolling stock Stainless steel carriages
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 16 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury,[1] eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.[2]

A fleet of 34 stainless steel carriages were jointly purchased by the Department of Railways New South Wales and Victorian Railways featuring fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners.[3][4][5] A Motorail service was added from July 1973 which enabled passengers to travel and take their cars.[6]

On 7 February 1969 the train was involved in the Violet Town railway disaster, when the southbound Southern Aurora collided head on with a northbound freight train, resulting in eight deaths and the destruction of two S class locomotives and seven carriages.[1][7][8]

With declining passenger numbers it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train, the unimaginatively named Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Southern Aurora ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.[1][9]

After the demise of sleeper trains in the early 1990s, many of the carriages passed to the Australian Railway Historical Society, Canberra and New South Wales Rail Transport Museum who have maintained them in operational condition.[10][11] The latter often operates them on tours under the Southern Aurora banner.[12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "VR timeline". www.victorianrailways.net. Mark Bau. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  2. ↑ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin December 1962 pp181-188
  3. ↑ Dunn, John (2008). Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Vol.2 1955 - 1966. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 234–239. ISBN 9781877058738.
  4. ↑ "Southern Aurora". http://www.pjv101.net/. Peter J Vincent. Archived from the original on 4 January 2006. Retrieved 2008-02-05. External link in |work= (help)
  5. ↑ "Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms: S". Comrails. Chris Drymalik. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  6. ↑ Vincent Adams Winter (1990). VR and VicRail: 1962 - 1983. p. 205. ISBN 0-9592069-3-0.
  7. ↑ "Melbourne/Sydney Express Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353
  8. ↑ "20 Years Ago" Railway Digest December 1990 page 454
  9. ↑ "Farewell to an Ideal" Railway Digest October 1986 Page 204
  10. ↑ "New South Wales Rail Transport Museum". 150 years of NSW Railways. RailCorp. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
  11. ↑ "Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT): Rollingstock index". www.arhsact.org.au. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
  12. ↑ Awake in a New World Heritage Express

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