Trans-Australian

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 west to Perth, and east to Port Pirie and Adelaide.

This article is about a former train service. For the railway line between Kalgoorlie and Port Augusta it traversed, see Trans-Australian Railway.

Trans-Australian
The Trans-Australian soon after dawn at Cook station bound for Perth in 1986
Overview
StatusDiscontinued
LocaleSouth Australia
Western Australia
First service1917
Last service27 June 1991
Former operator(s)Commonwealth Railways
(1917–1975)
Australian National
(1975–1991)
Western Australian Government Railways
(1969–1991)
Route
TerminiPort Augusta /
Port Pirie /
Adelaide
Kalgoorlie /
Perth
Line(s) usedAdelaide-Port Augusta
Trans-Australian
Eastern Goldfields
Eastern
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

History

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 and from 1938 by C class locomotives.[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 1964 Commonwealth Railways purchased 24 carbon steel carriages from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville.[5][6] These were later augmented by stainless steel carriages.[7][8] 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 on 15 June 1969 replacing The Westland.[9] 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.[10]

At this stage the service was operating five times per week, with the Indian Pacific operating on the other days to provide a daily service. This had ceased by May 1977 with each operating individually and the Trans-Australian reduced to three times weekly.[9][10]

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][11]

  • The Trans-Australian in 1924
    The Trans-Australian in 1924
  • The Trans-Australian in 1938
    The Trans-Australian in 1938
  • The Trans-Australian in 1951
    The Trans-Australian in 1951
  • Poster advertising the Trans-Australian about 1940
    Poster advertising the Trans-Australian about 1940
  • Post-war poster advertising the Trans-Australian in the final years of steam traction
    Post-war poster advertising the Trans-Australian in the final years of steam traction
  • Poster advertising the introduction of diesel locomotives for the Trans-Australian in 1951
    Poster advertising the introduction of diesel locomotives for the Trans-Australian in 1951

See also

References
  1. "Trans-Australian Express Delayed by Hotbox". Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950). WA. 8 June 1938. p. 4. Retrieved 4 March 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  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. Trans-Australian Passenger Train comrail.com
  4. Oberg, Leon (1984). Locomotives of Australia 1850s – 1980s. Frenchs Forest: Reed Books. pp. 122, 164. ISBN 0-730100-05-7.
  5. Dunn, John (2008). Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 2 1955-1966. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 266–272. ISBN 978-1877058738.
  6. Commonwealth Railways Passenger Carriage Information Chris' Commonwealth Railways Pages
  7. Dunn, John (2010). Comeng A History of Commonwealth Engineering Volume 3 1966-1977. Rosenberg Publishing. pp. 16–35. ISBN 9781877058905.
  8. "Railways of Australia (Indian Pacific) Cars" Railway Digest November 1986 page 353
  9. A Study of East-West Rail Passenger Services The 'Indian Pacific' and 'Trans Australian' Bureau of Transport Economics May 1977
  10. Higham, Geoffrey (2007). Marble Bar to Mandurah: A history of passenger rail services in Western Australia. Bassendean: Rail Heritage WA. pp. 149–150. ISBN 978-0-9803922-0-3.
  11. "Interstate cutbacks" Railway Digest July 1991 page 231

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