Trans-Australian

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For the railway line between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta, see Trans-Australian Railway.
Trans-Australian

GM36 & GM22 with a Perth-bound Trans-Australian at Cook, South Australia in 1986.
Overview
Status Discontinued
Locale Australia
First service 1917 (1917)
Last service June 1991 (1991-06)
Former operator(s) Commonwealth Railways
(1917–1975)
Australian National
(1975–1991)
Western Australian Government Railways
(1969–1991)
Route
Start Port Augusta /
Port Pirie /
Adelaide
End Kalgoorlie /
Perth
Line used Trans-Australian Railway
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in)

The Trans-Australian (originally known as the Trans-Australian Express) was an Australian passenger train operated by the Commonwealth Railways initially between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie on the Trans-Australian Railway line, and later extended to Port Pirie, Perth and Adelaide.

History

Poster by James Northfield, ca. 1930s.

The train commenced operating between Port Augusta and Kalgoorlie in 1917 [1][2] following the completion of the Trans-Australian Railway.[3] It was extended to Port Pirie in 1937 following the conversion of this line to standard gauge.[4]

Initially the train was hauled by G class locomotives (similar to the New South Wales 32 class) and from 1938 by C class locomotives (similar to the New South Wales 36 class).[4] In 1951 it began to be hauled by GM class diesel locomotives.

Originally it only conveyed sleeping accommodation but aside from a period in the 1960s, it was not until 1981 that seated accommodation was provided.[3] In the late 1960s the Commonwealth Railways purchased 64 new stainless steel carriages from Comeng, Granville to the same design as being built for the Indian Pacific.[5] It also operated with other rolling stock, de-motored Bluebird railcars being used by the late 1980s.

Following the conversion of the line from Kalgoorlie to standard gauge the Trans-Australian was extended to Perth in June 1969 replacing The Westland.[6] For a time from December 1973 the service ran daily with the Trans-Australian combined with the Indian Pacific at Port Pirie on the days the latter ran. This had ceased by May 1977 with each operating individually.[6]

After the Port Pirie to Adelaide line was converted to standard gauge in 1982, the Trans Australian was extended to Keswick Terminal in Adelaide.

In the wake of a recession and cheaper air fares, the service was reduced from two services per week to one in February 1991 with this too cancelled from June 1991.[3][7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trans-Australian Express Delayed by Hotbox.". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 - 1950) (WA: National Library of Australia). 8 June 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2013. 
  2. ↑ Gillman, B. H (July 1982), "Linking East and West: a trip with the first Trans Australian Express. - Reprinted from the S. A. R. Officers' Magazine, Nov/ Dec 1919-", Bulletin (Australian Railway Historical Society) 33 (July 1982): 137–147, ISSN 0005-0105 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Trans-Australian Passenger Train comrail.com
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850's - 1980's. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 122, 164. ISBN 0 730100 05 7. 
  5. ↑ "Railways of Australia (Indian Pacific) Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Study of East-West Rail Passenger Services The 'Indian Pacific' and 'Trans Australian' Bureau of Transport Economics May 1977
  7. ↑ "Interstate cutbacks" Railway Digest July 1991 page 231

External links

Media related to Trans-Australian at Wikimedia Commons

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