In 1945 and 1946 several "bride trains" were run in Australia to transport

war bride War brides are women who married military personnel from other countries in times of war or during military occupations, a practice that occurred in great frequency during World War I and World War II. Among the largest and best documented examp ...

s to or from ships. These trains included: *September 1945: A train from Perth to Brisbane, where the women and their children were to embark on a ship bound for the United States. The war brides endured cramped and uncomfortable conditions during the first leg of this trip. *September 1945: A train travelling directly from Melbourne to Brisbane carrying 230 women and 70 children (including those who had embarked at Perth) bound for the United States. *September 1945: A special train from Sydney to Brisbane carrying more than 254 women and 85 children bound for the United States. *October 1945: A train carrying Canadian war brides departed Brisbane for the southern states. *February 1946: A train carrying 495 women and children from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States. *April 1946: A train carrying British war brides from Melbourne to Sydney *April: A train carrying 41 women and 17 children to Brisbane where they boarded a ship bound for the United States. *May 1946: A train carrying women and children from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States. *June 1946: A train carrying 80 women and 46 children bound for the United States. The 2004 single ''

Bridal Train "Bridal Train" is a single by the Australian folk-rock band The Waifs, coming from their album '' A Brief History...''. ''Bridal Train'' was written by Vikki Thorn Vikki Elizabeth Thorn (née Simpson, born c. 1974) is an Australian harmonica p ...

'' by

The Waifs The Waifs (originally styled as The WAiFS) are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by sisters Vikki Thorn (harmonica, guitar, vocals) and Donna Simpson (guitar, vocals) as well as Josh Cunningham (guitar, vocals). Their tour and recor ...

is about the experiences of women who travelled on the Bride Trains.

References

;Citations ;Works consulted *{{cite web , last1=Arrowsmith , first1=Robyn Anne , title=Australian WWII war brides in America: their memories and experiences , url=https://www.researchonline.mq.edu.au/vital/access/manager/Repository/mq:20345 , website=PhD Thesis , publisher=Macquarie University , date=2010 Home front during World War II Aftermath of war 1940s in Australia History of rail transport in Australia Passenger rail transport in Australia