Southern Aurora
The Southern Aurora was a named express passenger train that operated between the cities of Melbourne, Victoria, and Sydney, New South Wales, in Australia. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation.[1] The train first ran on 16 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury,[2] eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities[3].
The carriages used featured fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners,[4] and were owned jointly by the Victorian Railways and the New South Wales Government Railways.[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 8 deaths.[2] Patronage declined though the 1980s, with the train being combined with the Spirit of Progress to form the Sydney Express (from Melbourne) and the Melbourne Express (from Sydney),[1] the last run of the Southern Aurora being on 3 August 1986.[2]
After the demise of the train, the majority of the carriages have passed to the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum and the ARHS ACT division,[7][8] who have preserved them in operational condition.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "Public transport history". Department of Infrastructure. http://www.doi.vic.gov.au/doi/internet/transport.nsf/allDocs/RWPE06934B7A6094C844A256AFD001C4975?OpenDocument. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ a b c "VR timeline". http://www.victorianrailways.net/. Mark Bau. http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, December 1962 pp181-188
- ^ "Southern Aurora". http://www.pjv101.net/. Peter J Vincent. http://www.pjv101.net/cd/pages/trsa.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-05.[dead link]
- ^ "Abbreviations and Glossary of Terms: S". Comrails. Chris Drymalik. http://www.comrails.com/common/glossary_s.html#saurora. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ Vincent Adams Winter (1990). VR and VicRail: 1962 - 1983. p. page 205. ISBN 0 9582069 3 3.
- ^ "New South Wales Rail Transport Museum". 150 years of NSW Railways. RailCorp. http://www.railcorp.info/150years/our_supporters. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
- ^ "Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT): Rollingstock index". www.arhsact.org.au. http://www.arhsact.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=23. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
[edit] Further reading
The Southern Aurora Sleeping Cars - Design and Construction Adam, Eric Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October;November 1990 pp231–243;255-270.
