Southern Aurora

 ( Discontinued Railway Services In Australia ) 

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 car, the Southern Aurora featured sleeping car. 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."Opening of the Through Standard-Gauge Passenger Services between Sydney and Melbourne" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 302 December 1962 pp181–188

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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.

John Dunn (2026). 9781877058738, 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.

Vincent Adams Winter (1990). 9780959206937 ISBN 9780959206937

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. The latter often operates them on tours under the Southern Aurora banner. 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. 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.

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See also

• Intercapital Daylight
• Spirit of Progress
• Sydney/Melbourne Express

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External links

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