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

Hi List What memories Louises enquirey brings back. I travelled around the country by train for a number of years when working in the shearing sheds taking both the Southern Aurora and Daylight. How different rail travel was in those days with the rail gauge being different in each state so had to change trains at the border in Albury where they also had a very nice dining room for sit down meals between trains. Then going west from Sydney catching the train to Bourke with a meal stop at the Dubbo Dining Room, funny thinking about it now but the train would pull into Dubbo late at night and half the train would empty into the cafeteria for hot drinks and food. In the train cabins they had lead like pillows on the floor the gave out heat, I thought they were full of acid to maintain the heat. Does anyone know how they worked?? The other thing I particularly remember was the drink bottles in each cabin, a carafe type glass bottle with a 'plug top' full of water and two glasses fixed high on the wall near the windows, Would anyone share glasses in public like that today?? and sorry Louise my memory has faded but I'm sure the Daylight had a counter as described and the Aurora had the white table clothes and sleeper accom. as overnighter and was much more expensive then the Daylight. Regards Rod Sunshine Coast QLD ----- Original Message ----- From: "Louise Reynolds" <louise@planetlighting.com> To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 9:28 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 >

Sorry LKouise forgot to add that the Daylight Express was the 'Blue train' as I remember it Rod Sunshine Cost Qld ----- Original Message ----- From: "RODNEY MCDONALD" <rodofoz@iprimus.com.au> To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, January 09, 2007 4:49 AM Subject: Re: [ANS] Trains from Sydney to Melbourne > Hi List > What memories Louises enquirey brings back. I travelled around the country > by train for a number of years when working in the shearing sheds taking > both the Southern Aurora and Daylight. How different rail travel was in > those days with the rail gauge being different in each state so had to > change trains at the border in Albury where they also had a very nice > dining > room for sit down meals between trains. Then going west from Sydney > catching > the train to Bourke with a meal stop at the Dubbo Dining Room, funny > thinking about it now but the train would pull into Dubbo late at night > and > half the train would empty into the cafeteria for hot drinks and food. In > the train cabins they had lead like pillows on the floor the gave out > heat, > I thought they were full of acid to maintain the heat. Does anyone know > how > they worked?? The other thing I particularly remember was the drink > bottles > in each cabin, a carafe type glass bottle with a 'plug top' full of water > and two glasses fixed high on the wall near the windows, Would anyone > share > glasses in public like that today?? and sorry Louise my memory has faded > but > I'm sure the Daylight had a counter as described and the Aurora had the > white table clothes and sleeper accom. as overnighter and was much more > expensive then the Daylight. > Regards > Rod > Sunshine Coast QLD > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Louise Reynolds" <louise@planetlighting.com> > To: <aus-nsw-sydney@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 9:28 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 >> > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >

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 > >

Aha! Louise, Besides doing Family History i also am a Train buff and collect Australian Railway Magazines, Than goodness for a room set aside for this ! My records show that to Melbourne The" Southern Auroa" had two Carriges set aside for feeding the Passengers one with a counter for the cheap fares and the other for the more excutive fares. In the early days of Train travel to Melbourne there would be a stop at Albury due to Differant size tracks and when the tracks were made the same all the way to Melbourne Sleeping cars were added. See how this goes ? John T. Brown Sutherland Sydney NSW. ----- 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: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/620 - Release Date: 8/01/2007 4:12 PM > >