The Southern Aurora was a named express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Melbourne and Sydney. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 16 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.
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 eight deaths.
With declining passenger numbers it was decided to combine the Spirit of Progress and Southern Aurora into one train - the unimaginatively named Sydney/Melbourne Express. The Southern Aurora ran for the last time on 2 August 1986.
After the demise of the train, the majority of the carriages passed to the Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT division and New South Wales Rail Transport Museum who have maintained them in operational condition. The latter often operates them on tours under the Southern Aurora banner.
Read more about Southern Aurora: Model Railways, See Also
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