The Southern Aurora was a named express passenger train that operated between the cities of Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation.^[1] The train first ran on April 16, 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^[3].

The carriages used featured fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners,^[4] and were owned jointly by the Victorian Railways and the New South Wales Government Railways.^[5] In later years a MotoRail service was added from July 1973 which enabled passengers to travel and bring their cars.^[6]

On February 7, 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.^[2] 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),^[1] the last run of the Southern Aurora being on August 3, 1986.^[2]

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,^[7][8] who have preserved them in operational condition.

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

The Southern Aurora Sleeping Cars - Design and Construction Adam, Eric Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, October;November, 1990 pp231–243;255-270.

[edit] See also

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