Spirit of Progress
Encyclopedia
The Spirit of Progress was the premier express train passenger service on the Victorian Railways
in Australia
, running from Melbourne
to the Victorian border, and later through to Sydney
.
tracks out of Melbourne's Spencer Street Station and terminated at Albury
, on the New South Wales
- Victorian
border, where passengers changed to a New South Wales Government Railways
train (the Melbourne Limited Express), running on standard gauge
track to complete their journey to Sydney. From the introduction of standard gauge passenger services between Melbourne & Sydney in April, 1962 until the demise of the Spirit of Progress in 1986, the service ran the complete distance between the two capital cities.
The Spirit of Progress ushered in a standard of passenger train speed and comfort not previously seen in Australia. Its introduction in November, 1937 marked the culmination of many years of preparatory work by Victorian Railways, from the laying of heavier rail on the North Eastern line, introduction of Automatic Staff Exchange
apparatus to allow continuous high speed running between track sections, introduction of high-powered three cylinder Pacific
locomotives, and the testing of air conditioning plant in passenger rolling stock. Such was the commitment of VR Chief Commissioner Harold W Clapp
to introducing a world-class train service to Victorian Railways, virtually no detail was overlooked. Legend has it that VR engineers went as far as road testing the new dining car by placing a full bowl of soup on one of the tables and checking that none spilt as the train took curves along the route at over 60 mph (96 km/h). Harold Clapp could not however take credit for the name for the service; when discussing with his wife his proposed Royal Victorian name (inspired by the LMS Royal Scot), Mrs. Clapp suggested, on the spur of the moment, Spirit of Progress.
, full air-conditioning, and all-steel
carriage construction. Its overall exterior and interior design reflected the latest Art Deco
style, and interior fittings used materials such as stainless steel and native Australian blackwood veneers. The luxurious new train also featured a dining car with a modern galley kitchen modelled after the most up-to-date hospital kitchens of the period and, at the rear, a round-ended parlour/observation car
offering panoramic views of the Victorian countryside as it disappeared into the distance.
S class
4-6-2
steam locomotives were assigned to haul the train, which could have a trailing load of up to 600 long tons (609.6 t), over the 1 in 50 gradients
between Melbourne and Albury. Although these locomotives had been in service since 1928, their appearance was dramatically altered with the addition of streamlining and royal blue and gold livery designed to seamlessly match the train carriages. The locomotive
s were also equipped with enormous tenders
with enough water and coal
capacity to enable the train to travel the entire 191 miles (307.4 km) journey between Albury and Melbourne non-stop at an average speed of 52 miles per hour (23.2 m/s), which was the fastest (and longest non-stop) regularly scheduled train journey in Australia. Until the conversion of the S class locomotives to oil firing (which commenced from February 1951) the locomotive fireman was charged with the formidable task of shovelling six to seven tons of coal into the firebox during the course of each journey in order to generate enough power to maintain the schedule.
The Spirit of Progress was launched on November 17, 1937 in a blaze of publicity, which included dramatic footage being taken of the new train racing Airco DH.4 aeroplane VH-UBZ Spirit of Melbourne on its demonstration run to the Victorian city of Geelong. In an elaborate launch ceremony at Spencer Street Station, Premier Albert Dunstan
opened the Parlor Car with a gold key.
300 invited guests joined the train for the inaugural run, ranging from Attorney-General of Australia
former Railways Minister Robert Menzies
to Mr. A O Henty, descendant of Edward Henty
, the Victorian pioneer after whom the train's locomotive was named. During the return leg of its journey, the train reached a new official Australian rail speed record of 79.5 mph (128 km/h) between Werribee
and at Laverton
before speed was cut to avoid stray livestock on an unprotected level crossing
.
(While not officially acknowledged, the steam-hauled Spirit of Progress is reported on occasion to have reached speeds as high as 86 mph (138 km/h) while in regular service. Flaman speed recorder
paper tape records were taken for every journey.)
bridge to a turning triangle at Wodonga. This ensured that the locomotive and parlour car were facing their correct respective directions for the return trip to Melbourne, which departed at 7:55am the following morning and arrived at Spencer Street Station at 11:35am.
(At the Melbourne end, the train was reversed at the balloon loop near what used to be the Melbourne Hump Yard).
An additional first class car and a bulk mail van (later classed "DS") were built in April 1938. One second class car was removed from the standard consist to make way for the mail van. This left one spare sitting car of each class.
From 1941, the Spirit was occasionally hauled by VR's H class
4-8-4
in the event of one of the S class locomotives not being available. Although the H class was limited to a maximum 60 mph (96 km/h) top speed, its superior performance climbing steep gradients along the route reportedly compensated for its reduced top speed and allowed it to maintain the timetable.
From 1952, the S class steam locomotives were replaced by 1500 hp B class (EMD ML2) diesel electric locomotives. None of the iconic S class steam locomotives were saved for preservation. All were scrapped by September, 1954.
From 1956, some key changes to the consist occurred. The VR and NSWGR introduced a new daylight connecting service between Melbourne and Sydney, the Daylight, and the Parlor Car was removed from the Spirit and transferred to the new daylight train. At the same time, the VR introduced open, 'saloon' style 'Z' class carriages which later began to supplement the original compartment carriages of 1937 in the Spirit consist.
From 1957 onwards, the Spirit of Progress was also hauled by a new S class
of 1800 hp diesel electric locomotives (EMD A7) which inherited the class designation and also carried over the names and numbers of the former S class steam locomotives.
line and began through running to Sydney. In the process two (2) train consists were formed to provide the overnight service in each direction.
The final run of the broad gauge Spirit of Progress and the inaugural run of the standard gauge service saw a brief return of steam power on the train. Veteran A2 class
locomotives A2 995 and A2 996 hauled the final broad gauge Spirit from Seymour to Melbourne on 16 April 1962. When the inaugural standard gauge Spirit of Progress from Melbourne reached Albury, the VR diesel locomotive was detached and NSWGR C38 class 4-6-2
s 3813 and 3830 completed the journey from Albury to Sydney.
. The Spirit of Progress now stopped at intermediate stations not served by the Aurora, such as Goulburn, New South Wales
.
The Spirit of Progress conveyed a through car between Melbourne and Canberra
, three days per week in each direction from 1962 to 1974. The through car was detached at Goulburn
and conveyed to Canberra
attached to a mixed train
.
The Spirit could no longer be considered a high-speed train service, with a timetabled 13 hour 45 minute journey from Sydney to Melbourne. It had also effectively ceased being a streamliner
when hood unit
X class
diesel electrics began hauling it after 1966, and rolling stock such as sleeping cars and power vans from other trains with different liveries began to appear in consists.
The sitting car compartment style accommodation offered by the Spirit of Progress, while exceptionally comfortable by 1937 standards for a 3¾ hour journey to Albury, was less than luxurious by 1962 standards for a 13¾ hour overnight journey to Sydney. Key features of the original Spirit of Progress consist, including the dining car and observation car, were not included in the new standard gauge service, arguably decreasing its amenity and prestige.
The following consist was recorded for a Spirit of Progress service that arrived in Melbourne on 30 April 1977:
ran for the last time. Rolling stock from both services was merged into a single train service, simply referred to as the Sydney Express or Melbourne Express
according to destination. This service was subsequently replaced in 1993 by the 160 kilometre per hour CountryLink XPT
service using new rolling stock and locomotives based on the British Rail
InterCity 125
.
It is perhaps a measure of the high standard of speed set by the Spirit in 1937 that even 70 years later, the timetabled running time of the morning XPT service between Albury and Melbourne was, at 3 hours 23 minutes, only 17 minutes faster than the timetabled 3 hour 40 minute journey time of the 1937 steam-hauled Spirit of Progress service.
Much of the original Spirit of Progress rolling stock remained in use on regular long distance intrastate service for VR and its successor, V/Line
, and for a period of time the private rail operator West Coast Railway
. It is perhaps a measure of the high standard of the Spirit of Progress rolling stock that the last of the "BS" class of compartment cars was only retired by V/Line in July 2006, almost 69 years after their introduction, and with a boom in V/Line patronage a set comprising five BS carriages was re-introduced to service from late September, 2007.
A number of special commemorative runs of the Spirit of Progress have operated since the end of the train. The first, on 14 November 1987 marking the 50th anniversary of the first train, was organised by the Australian Railway Historical Society
. With the original 1937 S type carriage
s still in regular service with V/Line (and painted in V/Line's tangerine
livery) the 50th anniversary train instead consisted of the last remaining set of air-conditioned blue and gold E cars
then operated by V/Line
, hauled by Victorian Railways R class
R 707, with Parlor Car "Norman" the only vehicle in the train from the original Spirit of Progress consist. For the 60th anniversary, on 22 November 1997 a second commemorative service ran, running in a mix of liveries with nine S type carriages from West Coast Railway
and V/Line, and two S class
diesels hauling the train.
For the 70th anniversary VicTrack
, the Department of Infrastructure, and the Victorian Government
funded the restoration of the remaining carriages for use on a special train. Eight original carriages were assembled; and Parlor Car, Dining Car, brake van 1 CS, and diesel locomotives S303 and B74 were repainted into the original liveries. The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
operated train ran from Melbourne
to Albury
on 25 November 2007.
, November, 1987 pp241–247
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, running from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to the Victorian border, and later through to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
.
Route
From its introduction in November, 1937 until April, 1962 the train service ran on 5 ft 3 in (1600 mm) broad gaugeBroad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
tracks out of Melbourne's Spencer Street Station and terminated at Albury
Albury railway station, New South Wales
Albury railway station is the station serving the New South Wales border town of Albury on the main Sydney-Melbourne railway line. The station is from Central railway station in Sydney.- History :...
, on the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
- Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
border, where passengers changed to a New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
train (the Melbourne Limited Express), running on standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
track to complete their journey to Sydney. From the introduction of standard gauge passenger services between Melbourne & Sydney in April, 1962 until the demise of the Spirit of Progress in 1986, the service ran the complete distance between the two capital cities.
Broad Gauge service (1937-62)
Token (railway signalling)
In railway signalling, a token is a physical object which a locomotive driver is required to have or see before entering onto a particular section of single track. The token is clearly endorsed with the name of the section it belongs to...
apparatus to allow continuous high speed running between track sections, introduction of high-powered three cylinder Pacific
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
locomotives, and the testing of air conditioning plant in passenger rolling stock. Such was the commitment of VR Chief Commissioner Harold W Clapp
Harold Winthrop Clapp
Sir Harold Winthrop Clapp KBE was a transport administrator who over the course of thirty years had a profound effect on Australia's railway network...
to introducing a world-class train service to Victorian Railways, virtually no detail was overlooked. Legend has it that VR engineers went as far as road testing the new dining car by placing a full bowl of soup on one of the tables and checking that none spilt as the train took curves along the route at over 60 mph (96 km/h). Harold Clapp could not however take credit for the name for the service; when discussing with his wife his proposed Royal Victorian name (inspired by the LMS Royal Scot), Mrs. Clapp suggested, on the spur of the moment, Spirit of Progress.
Design & Innovation
When introduced, the train featured many innovations new to Australian railway practice, such as streamliningStreamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
, full air-conditioning, and all-steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
carriage construction. Its overall exterior and interior design reflected the latest Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style, and interior fittings used materials such as stainless steel and native Australian blackwood veneers. The luxurious new train also featured a dining car with a modern galley kitchen modelled after the most up-to-date hospital kitchens of the period and, at the rear, a round-ended parlour/observation car
Observation car
An observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
offering panoramic views of the Victorian countryside as it disappeared into the distance.
Motive Power
VR's three cylinderGresley conjugated valve gear
The Gresley conjugated valve gear is a valve gear for steam locomotives designed by Sir Nigel Gresley, chief mechanical engineer of the LNER, assisted by Harold Holcroft...
S class
Victorian Railways S class
The S class was an express passenger steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1928 to 1954. Built when the VR was at its zenith and assigned to haul premier interstate express passenger services, the S class remained the VR's most prestigious locomotive class until the advent of diesel...
4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
steam locomotives were assigned to haul the train, which could have a trailing load of up to 600 long tons (609.6 t), over the 1 in 50 gradients
Slope
In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line describes its steepness, incline, or grade. A higher slope value indicates a steeper incline....
between Melbourne and Albury. Although these locomotives had been in service since 1928, their appearance was dramatically altered with the addition of streamlining and royal blue and gold livery designed to seamlessly match the train carriages. The locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s were also equipped with enormous tenders
Tender locomotive
A tender or coal-car is a special rail vehicle hauled by a steam locomotive containing the locomotive's fuel and water. Steam locomotives consume large quantities of water compared to the quantity of fuel, so tenders are necessary to keep the locomotive running over long distances. A locomotive...
with enough water and coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
capacity to enable the train to travel the entire 191 miles (307.4 km) journey between Albury and Melbourne non-stop at an average speed of 52 miles per hour (23.2 m/s), which was the fastest (and longest non-stop) regularly scheduled train journey in Australia. Until the conversion of the S class locomotives to oil firing (which commenced from February 1951) the locomotive fireman was charged with the formidable task of shovelling six to seven tons of coal into the firebox during the course of each journey in order to generate enough power to maintain the schedule.
Launch
Albert Dunstan
Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan, KCMG was an Australian politician. A member of the Country Party , Dunstan was the 33rd Premier of Victoria. His term as Premier was the second-longest in the state's history, behind Sir Henry Bolte...
opened the Parlor Car with a gold key.
300 invited guests joined the train for the inaugural run, ranging from Attorney-General of Australia
Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
former Railways Minister Robert Menzies
Robert Menzies
Sir Robert Gordon Menzies, , Australian politician, was the 12th and longest-serving Prime Minister of Australia....
to Mr. A O Henty, descendant of Edward Henty
Edward Henty
See also Western District Edward Henty ,was a pioneer and first permanent settler in the Port Phillip district , Australia....
, the Victorian pioneer after whom the train's locomotive was named. During the return leg of its journey, the train reached a new official Australian rail speed record of 79.5 mph (128 km/h) between Werribee
Werribee, Victoria
Werribee is a city in Melbourne, Australia, 32 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Werribee had a population of 36,641. Statistically, Werribee is considered part of Greater Melbourne.Werribee is...
and at Laverton
Laverton, Victoria
Laverton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Laverton had a population of 4508.-History:...
before speed was cut to avoid stray livestock on an unprotected level crossing
Level crossing
A level crossing occurs where a railway line is intersected by a road or path onone level, without recourse to a bridge or tunnel. It is a type of at-grade intersection. The term also applies when a light rail line with separate right-of-way or reserved track crosses a road in the same fashion...
.
(While not officially acknowledged, the steam-hauled Spirit of Progress is reported on occasion to have reached speeds as high as 86 mph (138 km/h) while in regular service. Flaman speed recorder
Flaman Speed Indicator and Recorder
The Flaman Speed Indicator and Recorder was a device patented in 1901 by Nicolas Charles Eugène Flaman of France for indicating the current speed of a vehicle and recording it on a paper tape that could be unrolled and examined at the end of a run to provide evidence of the speeds attained on the...
paper tape records were taken for every journey.)
Regular Service
After the successful launch of the service, the train settled into a routine that remained relatively unchanged for the next fifteen years. It departed Spencer Street Station at 6:30pm each evening, arriving at Albury at 10:20pm. As well as cleaning of carriages and servicing of the locomotive, staff would also reverse the train back across the Murray RiverMurray River
The Murray River is Australia's longest river. At in length, the Murray rises in the Australian Alps, draining the western side of Australia's highest mountains and, for most of its length, meanders across Australia's inland plains, forming the border between New South Wales and Victoria as it...
bridge to a turning triangle at Wodonga. This ensured that the locomotive and parlour car were facing their correct respective directions for the return trip to Melbourne, which departed at 7:55am the following morning and arrived at Spencer Street Station at 11:35am.
(At the Melbourne end, the train was reversed at the balloon loop near what used to be the Melbourne Hump Yard).
Typical Consist of steam-hauled Spirit of Progress
When the Spirit of Progress began service in November 1937, it ran the following consist:- S class 4-6-24-6-24-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
steam locomotive - guard's van (later classed "CS")
- four second class cars (later classed "BS")
- dining car (later named "Murray")
- four first class cars (later classed "AS")
- parlor car (later named "Norman")
An additional first class car and a bulk mail van (later classed "DS") were built in April 1938. One second class car was removed from the standard consist to make way for the mail van. This left one spare sitting car of each class.
From 1941, the Spirit was occasionally hauled by VR's H class
Victorian Railways H class
The H class was an express passenger steam locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1941 to 1958. Intended to eliminate the use of double heading A2 class locomotives on Overland services on the steeply graded Western line to Adelaide, wartime restrictions led to only one locomotive being built...
4-8-4
4-8-4
Under the Whyte notation classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification: 2D2...
in the event of one of the S class locomotives not being available. Although the H class was limited to a maximum 60 mph (96 km/h) top speed, its superior performance climbing steep gradients along the route reportedly compensated for its reduced top speed and allowed it to maintain the timetable.
Conversion to diesel-electric power
From 1956, some key changes to the consist occurred. The VR and NSWGR introduced a new daylight connecting service between Melbourne and Sydney, the Daylight, and the Parlor Car was removed from the Spirit and transferred to the new daylight train. At the same time, the VR introduced open, 'saloon' style 'Z' class carriages which later began to supplement the original compartment carriages of 1937 in the Spirit consist.
From 1957 onwards, the Spirit of Progress was also hauled by a new S class
Victorian Railways S class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways S class mainline diesel electric locomotive were built from 1957 by Clyde Engineering for the Victorian Railways of Australia...
of 1800 hp diesel electric locomotives (EMD A7) which inherited the class designation and also carried over the names and numbers of the former S class steam locomotives.
Standard Gauge service (1962-86)
In April 1962, the Spirit of Progress moved to the newly built Albury-Melbourne standard gaugeStandard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line and began through running to Sydney. In the process two (2) train consists were formed to provide the overnight service in each direction.
The final run of the broad gauge Spirit of Progress and the inaugural run of the standard gauge service saw a brief return of steam power on the train. Veteran A2 class
Victorian Railways A2 class
The A2 class was an express passenger locomotive that ran on Victorian Railways from 1907 to 1963. A highly successful design entirely the work of Victorian Railways' own design office, its long service life was repeatedly extended as economic depression and war delayed the introduction of more...
locomotives A2 995 and A2 996 hauled the final broad gauge Spirit from Seymour to Melbourne on 16 April 1962. When the inaugural standard gauge Spirit of Progress from Melbourne reached Albury, the VR diesel locomotive was detached and NSWGR C38 class 4-6-2
4-6-2
4-6-2, in the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle .These locomotives are also known as Pacifics...
s 3813 and 3830 completed the journey from Albury to Sydney.
Secondary Role
From April 1962, the Spirits role as the premier train on the route was usurped by the new, stainless steel, all-sleeping car limited express, the Southern AuroraSouthern 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...
. The Spirit of Progress now stopped at intermediate stations not served by the Aurora, such as Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
.
The Spirit of Progress conveyed a through car between Melbourne and Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, three days per week in each direction from 1962 to 1974. The through car was detached at Goulburn
Goulburn, New South Wales
Goulburn is a provincial city in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Goulburn Mulwaree Council Local Government Area. It is located south-west of Sydney on the Hume Highway and above sea-level. On Census night 2006, Goulburn had a population of 20,127 people...
and conveyed to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
attached to a mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
.
The Spirit could no longer be considered a high-speed train service, with a timetabled 13 hour 45 minute journey from Sydney to Melbourne. It had also effectively ceased being a streamliner
Streamliner
A streamliner is a vehicle incorporating streamlining in a shape providing reduced air resistance. The term is applied to high-speed railway trainsets of the 1930s to 1950s, and to their successor "bullet trains". Less commonly, the term is applied to fully faired recumbent bicycles...
when hood unit
Hood unit
A hood unit, in railroad terminology, is a body style for diesel and electric locomotives. On a hood unit, the body of the locomotive is less than full-width for most of the locomotive's length, with walkways on the outside of the locomotive. In contrast, a cab unit has a full-width carbody for...
X class
Victorian Railways X class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways X class mainline diesel electric locomotives were built by Clyde Engineering from 1966, with a further two orders being placed in 1970 and 1975...
diesel electrics began hauling it after 1966, and rolling stock such as sleeping cars and power vans from other trains with different liveries began to appear in consists.
The sitting car compartment style accommodation offered by the Spirit of Progress, while exceptionally comfortable by 1937 standards for a 3¾ hour journey to Albury, was less than luxurious by 1962 standards for a 13¾ hour overnight journey to Sydney. Key features of the original Spirit of Progress consist, including the dining car and observation car, were not included in the new standard gauge service, arguably decreasing its amenity and prestige.
Typical Consist of 1970s Spirit of Progress
- X 50Victorian Railways X class (diesel)The Victorian Railways X class mainline diesel electric locomotives were built by Clyde Engineering from 1966, with a further two orders being placed in 1970 and 1975...
(EMD G26CEMD G26The G26 is a General Motors diesel-electric locomotive built in the USA by Electro-Motive Diesel for export and in Australia by Clyde Engineering under licence. The G26 was developed to increase traction capacities on the tracks which supported lesser axle loadings...
Co-Co diesel electric locomotive) - VP 110 (VR freight louvre van)
- PHN 2361 (V&NSWGR joint stock power/brakevan)
- LAN 2344 (V & NSWGR joint stock roometteRoometteA roomette is a type of sleeping car compartment in a railroad passenger train. The term was first used in North America, and was carried over into Australia and New Zealand...
sleeping car) - NAM 2375 (NSWGR twinetteTwinetteA twinette is a sleeping-berth compartment for two persons in a train. The term "twinette" is in common use only in Australia and New Zealand ; thus the double-berth compartments described here are those found in trains in Australia or New Zealand.The width of each twinette compartment is...
sleeping car) - VBK 4 (VR first class saloon sitting car)
- VFS 1, VFX 2 (VR second class compartment sitting cars)
- VRS 1 (VR 27 seat buffet car)
- VFK 3, VFK 5, VFK 4 (VR second class saloon sitting cars)
- VFR 1 (VR second class sitting compartment car with auxiliary buffet compartment)
- VHN 1 (VR guard's van)
Withdrawal
On the 3rd August 1986, in the face of declining passenger numbers due to increased competition from road and air travel, the Spirit of Progress and Southern AuroraSouthern 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...
ran for the last time. Rolling stock from both services was merged into a single train service, simply referred to as the Sydney Express or Melbourne Express
Sydney/Melbourne Express
The Sydney/Melbourne Express was an intercapital passenger train service that operated between the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney between 1986 and 1993...
according to destination. This service was subsequently replaced in 1993 by the 160 kilometre per hour CountryLink XPT
CountryLink XPT
The XPT is the main long-distance passenger train used in regional New South Wales, Australia. It operates on key eastern seaboard routes including the Sydney-Melbourne and Sydney-Brisbane services...
service using new rolling stock and locomotives based on the British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
InterCity 125
InterCity 125
The InterCity 125 was the brand name of British Rail's High Speed Train fleet. The InterCity 125 train is made up of two power cars, one at each end of a fixed formation of Mark 3 carriages, and is capable of , making the train the fastest diesel-powered locomotive in regular service in the...
.
It is perhaps a measure of the high standard of speed set by the Spirit in 1937 that even 70 years later, the timetabled running time of the morning XPT service between Albury and Melbourne was, at 3 hours 23 minutes, only 17 minutes faster than the timetabled 3 hour 40 minute journey time of the 1937 steam-hauled Spirit of Progress service.
Much of the original Spirit of Progress rolling stock remained in use on regular long distance intrastate service for VR and its successor, V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
, and for a period of time the private rail operator West Coast Railway
West Coast Railway (Victoria)
West Coast Railway was the trading name of The Victorian Railway Company Pty Ltd, a railway company operating in Victoria, Australia. The company operated passenger services between Melbourne and Warrnambool from 1993 to 2004.-History:...
. It is perhaps a measure of the high standard of the Spirit of Progress rolling stock that the last of the "BS" class of compartment cars was only retired by V/Line in July 2006, almost 69 years after their introduction, and with a boom in V/Line patronage a set comprising five BS carriages was re-introduced to service from late September, 2007.
Commemorative services
Australian Railway Historical Society
The Australian Railway Historical Society was founded in Sydney in 1933 as The Australasian Railway and Locomotive Historical Society. It aims to foster an interest in the railways, and record and preserve many facets of railway operations. Membership now exceeds 2,500, with Divisions in every...
. With the original 1937 S type carriage
S type carriage
The S type carriages are a compartment layout passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. The carriages were constructed by the Victorian Railways in 1937 for use on the Spirit of Progress, with additional carriages built until the 1950s for other trains.Two major types of...
s still in regular service with V/Line (and painted in V/Line's tangerine
Tangerine (color)
Tangerine is an orange color hue used to give the impression of the tangerine fruit. Just like there are a variety of shades of tangerine fruit, there are a variety of color mixes employed to give the impression...
livery) the 50th anniversary train instead consisted of the last remaining set of air-conditioned blue and gold E cars
E type carriage
The E type carriages were wooden express passenger carriage used on the railways of Victoria, Australia. Introduced by Victorian Railways Chairman of Commissioners Thomas James Tait and based on Canadian carriage design, the class remained in regular service for 85 years.-Design:Carriages on...
then operated by V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
, hauled by Victorian Railways R class
Victorian Railways R class
The R class was an express passenger steam locomotive that ran on Australia's Victorian Railways from 1951 to 1974. A long overdue replacement for the 1907-era A2 class 4-6-0, their development and construction was repeatedly delayed due to financial constraints caused by the Great Depression and...
R 707, with Parlor Car "Norman" the only vehicle in the train from the original Spirit of Progress consist. For the 60th anniversary, on 22 November 1997 a second commemorative service ran, running in a mix of liveries with nine S type carriages from West Coast Railway
West Coast Railway (Victoria)
West Coast Railway was the trading name of The Victorian Railway Company Pty Ltd, a railway company operating in Victoria, Australia. The company operated passenger services between Melbourne and Warrnambool from 1993 to 2004.-History:...
and V/Line, and two S class
Victorian Railways S class (diesel)
The Victorian Railways S class mainline diesel electric locomotive were built from 1957 by Clyde Engineering for the Victorian Railways of Australia...
diesels hauling the train.
For the 70th anniversary VicTrack
VicTrack
VicTrack is the Victorian Government agency which owns all railway and tram lines, associated rail lands and other related rail-related infrastructure in the state of Victoria, Australia....
, the Department of Infrastructure, and the Victorian Government
Government of Victoria
The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...
funded the restoration of the remaining carriages for use on a special train. Eight original carriages were assembled; and Parlor Car, Dining Car, brake van 1 CS, and diesel locomotives S303 and B74 were repainted into the original liveries. The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
Seymour Railway Heritage Centre
The Seymour Railway Heritage Centre is a railway preservation group based in Seymour, Victoria, Australia. The volunteer non-profit incorporated association was established in 1983 to restore and preserve locomotives and rolling stock as used on the railways of Victoria.The group is an accredited...
operated train ran from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
on 25 November 2007.
See also
- History of VictoriaHistory of VictoriaThis article describes the history of the Australian state of Victoria.-Aboriginal history:The state of Victoria was originally home to many indigenous nations that had occupied the land for tens of thousands of years...
- Southern AuroraSouthern AuroraThe 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...
- Intercapital DaylightIntercapital DaylightThe Intercapital Daylight was a named passenger train that operated between the cities of Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, running during the daytime making intermediate stops between Sydney and Albury, but running express between Albury and Melbourne.-History:On the Victorian side the train was...
- Sydney/Melbourne ExpressSydney/Melbourne ExpressThe Sydney/Melbourne Express was an intercapital passenger train service that operated between the Australian cities of Melbourne and Sydney between 1986 and 1993...
- The Overland
External links
- victorianrailways.net AS first class air con. pass. car Details of Spirit of Progress rolling stock - retrieved 9 October 2006
- Spirit of Progress demonstration trip to Geelong, at South Kensington, Melbourne, November, 1937 (National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, John L. Buckland collection) - Spirit of Progress demonstration trip to Geelong, at Newport (Public Record Office Victoria)
- Locomotive S300 Matthew Flinders leads southbound Spirit of Progress out of Albury in 1939 (National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, John L. Buckland collection) - The Spirit of Progress being hauled by Victorian locomotive S301 Sir Thomas Mitchell, departing Albury, early 1940s (National Library of AustraliaNational Library of AustraliaThe National Library of Australia is the largest reference library of Australia, responsible under the terms of the National Library Act for "maintaining and developing a national collection of library material, including a comprehensive collection of library material relating to Australia and the...
, John L. Buckland collection)
Further reading
Half a Century of Spirit of Progress, Buckland, John Australian Railway Historical Society BulletinAustralian Railway History
Australian Railway History , is the premier magazine covering railway history in Australia...
, November, 1987 pp241–247