Southern Aurora
{{Short description|Former passenger train service in Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2011}}
{{Infobox rail service
|box_width =
|name = Southern Aurora
|logo =
|logo_width =
|image = Southern Aurora passing Wagga Wagga Railway Station.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Preserved version of the Southern Aurora at Wagga Wagga station in April 2012
|type = Overnight sleeper train
|status = Ceased
|locale =
|predecessor =
|first = 13 April 1962
|last = 2 August 1986
|successor = Sydney/Melbourne Express
|operator =
|formeroperator = State Rail Authority
V/Line
|ridership =
|start = Sydney
|stops =
|end = Melbourne
|distance = 956 kilometres
|journeytime =
|frequency = Nightly in each direction
|trainnumber = SL1/SL2
|line_used = Main South, NSW
North East, Victoria
|class =
|access =
|seating =
|catering =
|entertainment =
|baggage =
|otherfacilities =
|stock = Stainless steel carriages
|gauge = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}
|speed =
|owners =
|routenumber =
|map =
}}
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 13 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury,{{cite web |date=1962-04-14 |title=Southern Aurora Is New Concept In Australian Rail Travel Luxury, inter-capital trip |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/from-the-archives-1962-a-trip-aboard-the-roarer-20220331-p5a9me.html |access-date=2023-04-02 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |publisher=}} eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities."Opening of the Through Standard-Gauge Passenger Services between Sydney and Melbourne" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 302 December 1962 pp181-188
History
A fleet of 34 stainless steel carriages was 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.{{cite book|last=Dunn|first=John|title=Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Vol.2 1955 - 1966|pages=234–239|year=2008|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|isbn=9781877058738}}"New Trains for Melbourne-Sydney Through Service" Railway Gazette 29 July 1960 page 143"Luxury Trains for Sydney-Melbourne Service" Railway Gazette 21 October 1960 page 143 A motorail service was added from July 1973 which enabled passengers to travel and take their cars.{{cite book|author=Vincent Adams Winter|title=VR and VicRail: 1962 - 1983|year=1990|isbn=0-9592069-3-0|page=205}}
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."Melbourne/Sydney Express Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353"20 Years Ago" Railway Digest December 1990 page 454
With declining passenger numbers, it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train, the Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Southern Aurora ran for the last time on 2 August 1986."Farewell to an Ideal" Railway Digest October 1986 Page 204
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.{{cite web|title=New South Wales Rail Transport Museum|work=150 years of NSW Railways|publisher=RailCorp|url=http://www.railcorp.info/150years/our_supporters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617113816/http://www.railcorp.info/150years/our_supporters|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-06-17|access-date=2008-02-05}}{{cite web|url=http://www.arhsact.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=17&Itemid=23|title=Australian Railway Historical Society (ACT): Rollingstock index|publisher=arhsact.org.au|access-date=2009-11-22}} The latter often operates them on tours under the Southern Aurora banner.[http://www.heritageexpress.com.au/pages/categories/escapes-on-a-train.htm Awake in a New World] Heritage Express
From December 2017 four NAM Twinette carriages were restored at the Lithgow State Mine Heritage Park & Railway on behalf of Vintage Rail Journeys.[https://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/story/5101195/lithgow-railway-workshop-to-give-new-aura-to-the-southern-aurora/ Lithgow Railway Workshop to give new ‘aura’ to the Southern Aurora] Lithgow Mercury 5 December 2017 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.{{Cite web|last=Thrower|first=Louise|date=2019-12-05|title=Southern Aurora restoration 'recaptures the magic'|url=https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/6525980/southern-aurora-restoration-recaptures-the-magic/|access-date=2020-12-13|website=Goulburn Post|language=en-AU}}{{Update inline|date=November 2023}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
{{AustralianInterstateRail|state=collapsed}}
{{Named trains of New South Wales|state=collapsed}}
{{Named trains of the Victorian Railways}}
Category:Discontinued railway services in Australia
Category:Interstate rail in Australia
Category:Named passenger trains of Australia
Category:Night trains of Australia
Category:Railway services introduced in 1962
Category:Railway services discontinued in 1986