Hi Hilda, You're correct. The Indian Pacific didn't go Sydney via Melbourne to Perth. Just reminiscing about dining cars!! Sorry for the confusion. Cheers, Maureen ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hilda Cooper" <wynford@westnet.com.au> To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [ANS] Trains from Sydney to Melbourne > Could someone correct me if I am wrong but...........I don't think the > Indian Pacific goes to Perth via Melbourne. My late husband helped build > the Indian Pacific and I always thought it went out west......via Broken > Hill. Hilda. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Maureen" <maureen@autoinspirations.com.au> > To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 10:07 AM > Subject: [ANS] Trains from Sydney to Melbourne > > >> Hi Louise and all, >> >> Sorry I don't think I'm going to be of much help. I caught the "Spirit >> of >> Progress" in the early 70s, but travelling with four small children I >> went >> the cheapest possible route - 2nd class seats and a bag of food and >> drinks. >> I don't think I even saw the dining facilities, wouldn't dare with my >> hungry >> lot!! >> >> Recent trips (last year and 2005) I travelled on the night train, economy >> and 1st class, and they announce the meals to chose from, an attendant >> comes >> around and takes your order, and then another announcement that your meal >> is >> ready, you pick it up and take it back to your seat. Nothing fancy at >> all >> these days. The same on the Sydney to Brisbane trips. >> >> What your partner experienced sounds like the 1st class dining on the >> Indian >> Pacific. Very much in the vogue of the old-fashioned European trains >> we've >> seen in movies - you almost expect Hercule Poirot to saunter down the >> aisle. >> I do think, however, that in the 60s there was more of a class >> distinction >> than there is today. So sorry again Louise, I can't help. >> >> Now, if we're talking old trains and Rod would probably remember the old >> carriages they called 'dog boxes.' I remember going with my aunt to >> Coonamble when I was about 3 or 4 (definitely pre school), so the year >> would >> have been about 1944/45 and we travelled in one of these 'dog boxes.' A >> long carriage, but with individual 'boxes' one could only get into via a >> door that opened onto the platform. Long seats that faced each other and >> I >> think the toilet facility was behind a panel that was accessed by lifting >> one of the seats and opening a door. Another train trip I remember, >> getting >> stranded around midnight in Brisbane in 1976 on my way home from >> Townsville >> (definitely 2nd class!) and they shunted an old 'dog box' into the >> station >> so that the passengers who had missed their connection to Sydney could >> sleep >> on the seats. Someone came around about 6am the next morning and woke up >> as >> they had to shunt the train away from the station. What an experience!! >> >> Sorry folks, it all comes flooding back. Must be my age giving me away!! >> >> Cheers, Maureen >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Louise Reynolds" <louise@planetlighting.com> >> To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:28 PM >> Subject: [ANS] Trains from Sydney to Melbourne >> >> >>> Good evening all, >>> >>> Perhaps someone can help me on this. I know people on this list are >>> amazing for this sort of thing....Maureen, you must know.... >>> >>> We moved from Sydney to Melbourne in 1968. As I recall it, we travelled >>> up to Sydney in the holidays on the "Spirit of Progress" which was a >>> daytime train. You could also do an overnight trip and I think that was >>> the "Southern Aurora". Am I right? One of these was a blue coloured >>> train. >>> >>> We are arguing here at home tonight about the "dining car". I recall a >>> carriage with a long formica counter-top, serving chicken curry, etc. >>> My >>> partner remembers individual clothed tables. Who is right?, >>> Personally, >>> I think he has been watching too many James Bond films....However, he is >>> 14 years older than me, and it might have been different in his youth. >>> He >>> is maintaining there was no 1st/2nd class dining car differentiation. >>> >>> We both think we were travelling in 1st class at the time, but that may >>> have been wishful thinking. >>> >>> Any advice would be welcome. >>> >>> Louise >>> Melbourne >>> >>> >>> >>> ------------------------------- >>> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >>> AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >>> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >>> >>> >>> -- >>> No virus found in this incoming message. >>> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>> Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/620 - Release Date: 1/8/2007 >>> >>> >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without >> the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> -- >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG Free Edition. >> Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/620 - Release Date: 1/8/2007 >> >> > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-NSW-SYDNEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.410 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/620 - Release Date: 1/8/2007 > >