Re: novelist research - Sydney/Melbourne travel in 1939

[David Bromage <dbromage@omni.com.au>]

David Bennetts wrote:
> Back in 1939 there were two separate legs of the journey, as NSW had
> standard gauge and Victoria Irish gauge.  There were two trains operated,
> the Spirit of Progress was the Victorian train.   This was very modern by
> standards of the day, with streamlined locos and air conditioned steel
> sitting carriages. NSW was somewhat traditional, the Melbourne Express (if
> it were running in that direction) or the Sydney Express running north
> employed venerable wooden bodied sleepers with steel underframes, with some
> compartment style cars for the sitting passengers, hauled by 36 class steam
> locos.  The trains always terminated at Spencer Street, and ran daily.

I think the Melbourne Express and the Melbourne Limited Express were two
different trains. The MLE was the all sleeper train connecting with the
Spirit, and the Melbourne Express connected with something else (the
Albury Express?).

Cheers
David