Great Train Expo (6) - Southern Aurora

The Southern Aurora was a named express passenger train that operated between the cities of Melbourne, Victoria, and Sydney, New South Wales, in Australia. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation.^[1] The train first ran on 16 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury,^[2] eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.

The carriages used featured fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners, and were owned jointly by the Victorian Railways and the New South Wales Government Railways. 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, when the southbound Southern Aurora collided head on with a northbound freight train, resulting in 8 deaths. Patronage declined though the 1980s, with the train being combined with the Spirit of Progress to form the Sydney Express (from Melbourne) and the Melbourne Express (from Sydney), the last run of the Southern Aurora being on 3 August 1986.

After the demise of the train, the majority of the carriages have passed to the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum and the ARHS ACT division, who have preserved them in operational condition. (Where would we be without Wikipedia?)