The ''Southern Aurora'' was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities,
Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
and
Melbourne
Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...
. First-class throughout, including the
dining facilities, the ''Southern Aurora'' featured
all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 13 April 1962 after the opening of the
North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to
Albury,
eliminating the
break-of-gauge between the capital cities.
History
A fleet of 34
stainless steel carriages was jointly purchased by the
Department of Railways New South Wales and
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways (VR), trading from 1974 as VicRail, was the state-owned operator of most rail transport in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companie ...
featuring fluted sides and consisted of
roomette and
twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners. A
motorail service was added from July 1973 which enabled passengers to travel and take their cars.
On 7 February 1969 the train was involved in the
Violet Town railway disaster
The Violet Town rail accident, also known as the Southern Aurora disaster, was a railway accident that occurred on 7 February 1969 following the incapacitation of the driver of one of the trains, near the McDiarmids Road crossing, approximatel ...
, 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.
[
With declining passenger numbers, it was decided to combine the '']Spirit of Progress
The ''Spirit of Progress'' was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the New South Wales border at Albury, and later through to Sydney.
Route
From its introduction in November 1 ...
'' and ''Southern Aurora'' into one train, the '' Sydney/Melbourne Express''. The ''Southern Aurora'' ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.[
After the demise of sleeper trains in the early 1990s, many of the carriages passed to the Australian Railway Historical Society, Canberra Railway Museum and New South Wales Rail Transport Museum (now the NSW Rail Museum) who have maintained them in operational condition. The latter often operates them on tours under the ''Southern Aurora'' banner.
From December 2017 four NAM Twinette carriages were restored at the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway on behalf of Vintage Rail Journeys. From September 2019, two LAN Roomette carriages, one NAM Twinette carriage and one MHN Luggage were restored at the Goulburn Rail Heritage Centre (GRHC) on behalf of Vintage Rail Journeys.]
See also
* Intercapital Daylight
*Spirit of Progress
The ''Spirit of Progress'' was the premier express passenger train on the Victorian Railways in Australia, running from Melbourne to the New South Wales border at Albury, and later through to Sydney.
Route
From its introduction in November 1 ...
* Sydney/Melbourne Express
References
External links
{{Named trains of the Victorian Railways
Discontinued railway services in Australia
Interstate rail in Australia
Named passenger trains of Australia
Night trains of Australia
Railway services introduced in 1962
Railway services discontinued in 1986
1962 establishments in Australia
1986 disestablishments in Australia