Re: Pacific Coast Aurora

[John Coyle <John_member@newsranger.com>]

In article <WslC6.3792$482.16630@newsfeeds.bigpond.com>, Phil @big pond says...
>
Hello Phil,

Although I cant recall the exact year the "Aurora" and "spirit of Progress"
stopped running, it was around 1982, I think. Getting old, ha ha. Anyhow, before
that time, the "Southern Aurora" and the "spirit" were combined into one train.
So, the train, which had the stupid name of Sydney Express Northbound, and
Melbourne Express, Southbound, had about five or six sleeping cars, a dining
car, longe car, and some sitting cars. I mentioned the "2oth Century Limited".
Well, a similar thing happened to THAT train, before it was cut out altogether,
way back in the late 1960's. I have suggested that there should be a QUALITY
train service from Brisbane to Adelaide, so that people who want AFFORDABLE
"economy" class sleeping berths CAN have at least a weekly train. GSR have
IGNORED the idea! Many RAIL FANS fly between Brisbane and Sydney instead of
suffering the XPT! 



>Morning to the group .
>1 Pardon my ignorance ( as I am not a dedicated rail fan/nut)  But do like
>train travel
>2 The Aurora  title has been confusing the heck out of me over here in WA
>3 I agree with Mark  it WAS the premier train  and a delight to travel on
>as you arrived in melb  with most of your corro up to date  right in the
>centre of the city and could hit the ground running business wise.
>4 There was an interesting card school on board in the old days with some
>very heavy and well known players .
>Now what the heck is this Aurora you chaps are talking about ?
>is it the same carriages  etc or  just the name has been lifted .
>
>Oh while on a roll with 20 questions   what happened to the old spirit of
>Progress  also not a bad train in its day ?
>Thanks look forward to catching up on this data
>
>kindest regards
>Phil
>
>--
>http://cleaver.freeyellow.com/sad.html
>and also   http://cleaver.freeyellow.com/caption2.html
>
>THE NEW ADD YOUR OWN FACILITY http://www.angelfire.com/ab3/caption/link
>"John Coyle" <John_member@newsranger.com> wrote in message
>8O3C6.6444$FY5.511714@www.newsranger.com">news:8O3C6.6444$FY5.511714@www.newsranger.com...
>In article <B6FDE392.258E%markbau@earthlink.net>, Mark Bau says...
>>
>
>I agee 100%, Mark! I worked for the old NSWGR from 1971 til 1988. In 1974 I
>PAID
>my fare on the "Southern Aurora" TEN TIMES between Melbourne and Sydney! If
>I
>had the cash "up front", I WOULD have obtained a yearly ticket, which WERE
>available, in thos days! Southbound, I used the "South Mail" out of Sydney
>on a
>Thursday or Friday night. I would often ride a Southern NSW branch line, and
>then the "Intercapital Daylight" to Melbourne, to visit my parents. The
>"Aurora"
>was a 100% sleeping car train, with a dining car, and lounge car. The train
>was
>up there, with other great trains, including the NYC "20th Century Limited".
>My
>most intersting trip on the "Aurora" was when it run into Sydney via Moss
>Vale-Woolongong line! I also rode the "Spirit" via the Mittagong-Picton loop
>line, but that's another story.
>
>
>
>>I really wish people would stop calling this train "Aurora" The Aurora no
>>longer runs, it was IMHO, Australia's premier train and it ran overnight
>>between Melbourne and Sydney.
>>
>>Mark
>>
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