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Passenger Services 1960-1969

Woomelang to Mildura

Milestones 1960 -1969

1960

Up and down Mildura Sunlight's cross at Litchfield on 6-1-1960. Photo: Peter Charrett

On 26-1-1960, the 7.50 a.m. Down "Mildura Sunlight" with B63, lost about an hour and half in running between Maryborough and Watchem. At Watchem B63 was taken off and steam locomotive A2 828 off the 8.00 a.m. Up Mildura goods, took over and ran tender first to Woomelang. Engine N424 then completed the run to Mildura, the arrival being 3¼ hours late.

The Queen's Birthday long weekend in June proved to be a popular time for rail travellers to Mildura. Four trains arrived at Mildura on Saturday 11-6-1960. There were two special trains, one with 150 Marching Girls and the other with members of the Holiday Train Association; and two divisions of the normal passenger train, with 175 and 91 passengers respectively.

The four passenger trains used four different routes to Mildura:

7.20 p.m. via Castlemaine and Maryborough (Holiday Train Association)

7.25 p.m. via Geelong and Ballarat

9.00 p.m. via Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat

9.05 p.m. via North Geelong loop and Ballarat

Two additional passenger trains were scheduled to depart Melbourne on Friday 23-12-1960 at 9.00 p.m. and 9.05 p.m. (via Geelong) to bring Christmas holiday passengers to Mildura. They were scheduled to arrive at 7.20 a.m. and 8.20 a.m. the following day. Another special train was scheduled to depart Melbourne on Saturday afternoon 24-12-1960, at 1.00p.m. to arrive at 10.30 p.m. the same day.

A special train was provided on 24-12-1960 from Mildura at 12.45 p.m., to reach Melbourne at 10.40 p.m..

From Mildura a train was scheduled to depart at 8.55 p.m. on Christmas Day and there wasn't another train until the 9.10 a.m. Mildura Sunlight service on Tuesday 27-12-1960.

1961

The 9.10 p.m. Up "Mildura Sunlight" from Mildura on 25-1-1961 had a variety of motive power in its 54 mile run between arriving at Tempy and departing from Birchip. At Tempy, B66 became defective and steam locomotive N468 was taken off a ballast train at Speed. When N468 arrived at Woomelang it was replaced by R705 and ran the train as far as Birchip after which B77 off the 7.50 a.m. Down "Mildura Sunlight" from Melbourne, ran the train to Melbourne where the arrival was 2½ hours late. R705 then took the Down "Mildura Sunlight" through to Mildura. The defective diesel B66 was taken through to Maryborough for repairs. Litchfield, 23 miles on the Up side of Birchip is the normal crossing place for the two "Mildura Sunlight" trains.

Due to lack of patronage, Ouyen refreshment rooms were closed on 12-2-1961 causing alteration to the timing of the overnight sleeping car trains to Mildura. Trains would depart Ouyen 10 minutes earlier in each direction but would still depart and arrive in Melbourne at the same times with some intermediate timings altered.

Easter holiday traffic to Mildura was the busiest time for additional passenger traffic. Train from Melbourne were scheduled on Easter Thursday 30-3-1961 at 7.10 p.m., 9.00 p.m. and 9.40 p.m., to arrive in Mildura the following morning at 6.05 a.m., 7.30 a.m. and 8.35 a.m..

Trains from Mildura on Easter Thursday were scheduled to depart at 9.10 a.m. and 8.55 p.m..

An additional train was scheduled from Melbourne on Monday 3-4-1961 at 9.00 p.m. There were no trains scheduled from Melbourne on Tuesday 4-4-1961.

Trains were scheduled from Mildura Friday 31-3-1961 at 8.55 p.m., Sunday 2-4-1961 at 8.55 p.m., Monday 3-4-1961 at 8.25 p.m. and 8.55 p.m. and on Tuesday 4-4-1961 at 8.55 p.m..

The Mildura Stationmaster (Mr. S. Gurd) was reported in the local press on 14-6-1961 highlighting the increased use of air-conditioned carriages on Mildura line passenger trains. He indicated that the train leaving Mildura for Melbourne on Monday 12-6-1961 (Queen's Birthday holiday weekend) consisted of eight air-conditioned carriages.

Cr. Nat Barclay M.L.A. decided to make the Mildura railway service a target in his election campaign policy speech delivered on 23-6-1961. Cr. Barclay claimed the service was more like "1861 than 1961" and went on to say "In fact the services are so bad one wonders whether the Railway Commissioners want any passengers at all" and "As far as catering goes, the service is shocking and it is getting worse". Cr. Barclay said he would press for the restoration of discontinued catering services and the establishment of more services along the line. He also wanted second class sleeping carriages included in the service.

The Commissioners' inspection tour of the north-west was in July and their travel arrangements brought them to Mildura to meet a deputation from Mildura City Council on Tuesday 18-7-1961. At the council meeting on 13-7-1961, the councillors complained that it was an insult that only 55 minutes had been allowed by the Commissioners for their stop at Mildura as they had a number of important matters to discuss with them. These issues included:

* A protest against the decision of the Commissioners to close the level crossing at Tenth Street if the City Council insists on Eleventh Street being opened up to give more direct access to the River Road to Merbein;

* A request to shift the railway yards from its present site to an area near the Benetook Avenue level crossing and for a technical officer to be sent to investigate the proposal;

* Another night train to and from Melbourne for the convenience of business people and others who find daylight travel time-wasting or inconvenient, and a passenger carriage to be attached to the "Fruit Flier" to provide "fast business specials".

The Commissioners met with the councillors at 9.15 a.m. at the Civic Buildings on 18-7-1961. The Chief Commissioner Mr. E.H. Brownbill, fielded the following responses:

* It was the policy of the Victorian Railways to eliminate level crossings. If it was not acceptable to council to close an existing level crossing council would have to provide an overpass;

* There was "Buckley's Hope" of getting a technical officer to visit Mildura as they were all engaged on the Standard Gauge project (Albury to Melbourne). Mr. Brownbill also stated "And no move will be made while I am Chairman of Commissioners".

* Mr. Brownbill stated that, if the railways took a realistic view of the "Fruit Flier", they would take it off the run. The response to it had been dreadful and the same could be said of the daylight train. The average goods train paid at the rate of about four pounds a mile, but the Fruit Flier was only returning about fifteen shillings a mile. He said that they had considered cutting out the daylight train altogether and attaching carriages to the "Fruit Flier" but the 3.30 a.m. time of arrival in Melbourne was unsuitable for passengers. It would not be practical to retain the daylight and add passenger carriages to the "Fruit Flier". The daylight was averaging about 25 passengers a trip from Mildura. Sometimes the number was as little as eight. These passengers were travelling at rate of less than two pence per mile.

Mr. Brownbill did not leave the poor old councillors completely devoid of some hope. He offered to hear back from council after they had considered his remarks about passenger cars being attached to the "Fruit Flier" express goods train.

Mr. Brownbill also received a deputation from the President of the Mildura Tourist Development Committee (Mr. C.E. Neville), who requested improved refreshment facilities for the daylight train, as the present trolley service and meals obtainable at the Ballarat and Ouyen refreshment rooms were inadequate. Mr. Neville suggested either a buffet car or sandwich bars in each carriage of the train.

The Chairman of the Commissioners asked Mr. Neville if his Tourist Committee was prepared to guarantee the losses that would incur with his suggestions. He then cited the losses currently being experienced with buffet cars: On the Mildura line - £7,000 a year; the Horsham and Bairnsdale lines - about £2,500 a year, the "Spirit of Progress" - about £10,000 a year and the Bendigo line - "almost breaking even".

Mildura City Council at its meeting on 26-10-1961 considered and endorsed a proposal from Mildura Chamber of Commerce for changes to the current passenger train arrangements. The proposal was for the Tuesday Mildura Sunlight day train to become an overnight service, arriving in Melbourne on Wednesday morning and the Wednesday Mildura Sunlight from Melbourne to be altered to an overnight train, arriving in Mildura Thursday morning. The proposal also included a request for a six months trial of a buffer car on all services. The proposals did not include any reference to attaching passenger carriages to the "Fruit Flier" goods service.

1962

Mildura City Council considered the response from the Commissioners at its meeting on 25-1-1962. The Commissioners replied that previous experience of a mid-week night operation did not offer any hope of additional patronage to offset increased costs, and the buffet car had been looked into on a number of occasions and would be most uneconomic.

The Mayor, Cr. W. Smith, summed up the response by saying "This is just the kind of reply I expected from the railways - just a row of no's".

The Editor of "Sunraysia Daily" travelled on the Friday night overnight service from Mildura to Melbourne on 8-3-1962 and gave a report of the journey in his column "The Way I See It".

"THE WAY I SEE IT"

BY GEORGE TILLEY

The problem created by the lack of refreshments on the railway station at Ouyen were clearly illustrated last Friday night. Admittedly it was an unusual night, because of the holiday weekend and the number of fruit pickers returning home after the work on the harvest.

There were about 400 sitting passengers on the train, and many of them would have been glad of a cup of tea or coffee by the time they got to Ouyen. But the railway Commissioners have closed the refreshment rooms so there was nothing.

* * *

By the time the train arrived at Birchip, the official refreshment stop, there were about 200 passengers wanting refreshments. Two girls in the refreshment room tried to cope with the mad scramble. They ran out of coffee in no time, and in the 15 minutes of the stop, it is doubtful if 100 people were served.

Whether the refreshment room's staff was advised from this end of the line that the train was packed is not known to me, but if the staff was told, nothing much was done about it.

* * *

At the best of times Birchip is too far along the line for a refreshment stop. When the train is crowded and there is only 15 minutes allowed for refreshments, it is impossible for everyone to get served.

Even if the word was sent on to Birchip that the train was fully loaded, I doubt whether the facilities at Birchip would be adequate enough to cope with the demand.

* * *

There was one conductor to look after eight carriages of the train. The returning harvest workers who boarded the train at Mildura were looked over carefully. Anyone who looked as if he had too much to drink was not allowed on the train. At Red Cliffs the supervision was not nearly so good. The result was that some passengers on the train were not as sober as they might have been. Once upon a time they used to have a policeman on board the train. It was wonderful the way the conductor got through his work with the policeman standing beside him as he checked tickets.

But one conductor among 400 passengers, some of them beyond caring, has a mammoth job to do if he's on his own.

To add to all these worries of Friday night, the train was about 1½ hours late arriving in Melbourne. Not altogether a good advertisement at a time when Mr.Ansett is rubbing his hands together about how well his flying coach service has taken on!

A Victorian Country Party conference held on 12-4-1962, was told that Sunraysia needed a mid-week night train service. Mr. W. Burgess of Red Cliffs told the conference that it was possible to fly to England faster than to go to Melbourne and return by train from Mildura. It took 30 hours flying time from Sydney to London. The Acting Minister for Transport (Mr. E.R. Meagher M.L.A.) in a response to the Party in July 1962, rejected the restoration of mid-week night trains due to the higher cost of operating expenses.

Additional trains were scheduled for the Queens Birthday holiday weekend. On Friday 1-6-1962 one train was scheduled to depart at 9.20 p.m. and a second at 9.25 p.m. (via Geelong), to arrive the following morning in Mildura at 7.40 a.m. and 8.20 a.m. respectively.

There were no trains on Saturday and normal services between Melbourne and Mildura operated on Sunday 3-6-1962.

On Monday 4-6-1962 an additional service was scheduled to depart Melbourne at 9.20 p.m., and arrive in Mildura the following morning at 8.00 a.m.. From Mildura, there were two trains scheduled. The first at 11.45 p.m., to arrive in Melbourne at 9.50 p.m. A second train to depart at 8.55 p.m., and arrive the following morning in Melbourne at 7.05 a.m..

"Sunshine Tour" tickets were issued from 1-6-1962 until 30-9-1962 promoting rail travel to Mildura. Tickets were on sale at all metropolitan stations and were supported by promotional

material. The return portion of a "Sunshine Tour" ticket was available for return three months after purchase.

A 1962 press advertisement promoting "Sunshine Tour" rail tickets to Red Cliffs, Irymple or Mildura. Source: Bruce McLean Collection

To provide sleeping car accommodation for 61 people on a weekend tour from Melbourne to Mildura, organised by the Victorian Government Tourist Bureau, three extra sleeping carriages were attached to the Melbourne to Mildura train on Friday 10-8-1962. This made a total of five sleeping cars on the train - the most in the history of the Mildura train service. The five sleepers were also on the return train to Melbourne on Sunday 12-8-1962.

The Commissioner's tour of inspection brought them to Mildura on 4-9-1962 where they were met by deputations from Mildura City Council, Mildura Shire Council and Mildura Chamber of Commerce.

The President of the Mildura Chamber of Commerce (Mr. F. Clarke) told the Chairman of Commissioners (Mr. E.H. Brownbill), that local business houses had withdrawn their support from the railways and transferred it to the airways. The Chamber advocated at least one night train service, preferably on Wednesday nights from Mildura. In response, Mr. Brownbill told the deputation that while the daylight service was not a paying proposition, it did not lose as much as a mid-week night service.

Mildura Shire Council told the Chairman of concerns they had with the state of the Karadoc Avenue level crossing at Irymple. Mr. Brownbill had a brief look at the crossing when his train travelled from Mildura to Redcliffs later that day.

The departure time for night trains to Melbourne from Mildura was altered from 8.55 p.m. to 8.50 p.m. with five minutes earlier times for all stations down the line. The change was intended to be effective from Sunday 4-11-1962, but as there was a lack of publicity for the alteration, the Sunday night train departed at the former time of 8.55 p.m.. The change was then effective from Friday 9-11-1962.

Lack of patronage in past years was given as the reason for not running a train from Mildura to Melbourne on Christmas Eve, 24-12-1962. A train was run from Melbourne to Mildura that night.

The Mildura Sunlight hauled by B64 arriving at Ballarat, Christmas 1962. Note the red, wooden bodied car. Non air-conditioned rolling stock continued to be used on Mildura trains to meet traffic requirements until their withdrawal. Photo: Neville Gee, courtesy Train Hobby Publications

1963

Easter rail patronage to Mildura was heavy as usual. To cater for the extra traffic, three overnight trains were scheduled from Melbourne and one extra overnight train was scheduled from Mildura on Easter Thursday 11-4-1963. On Easter Monday 15-4-1963, two additional overnight night trains departed from Mildura and one additional overnight train was scheduled from Melbourne.

A new timetable was introduced from 4-8-1963 with train times adjusted for Mildura services.

The departure time of the Mildura Sunlight from Melbourne on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday remained unaltered at 7.50 a.m. but the arrival time in Mildura was altered to 6.05 p.m. - ten minutes later.

The Mildura Sunlight services from Mildura on the same days were altered to depart five minutes earlier at 9.15 a.m. with the arrival time in Melbourne unaltered at 7.10 p.m..

The overnight service from Melbourne to Mildura on Friday and Sunday was altered to depart at 8.10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., with arrival the next day in Mildura at 7 a.m. The overnight train from Mildura was scheduled to depart at 8.50 p.m. and arrive in Melbourne at 7.05 a.m..

The Railway Commissioners toured the area in October 1963 and during the course of their inspections they met a deputation from the Shire of Mildura at Redcliffs on 29-10-1963. The Shire had once again sought a buffet car on Mildura services and the Chairman of the Commissioners, Mr. E.H. Brownbill, reaffirmed that a buffet car was right out of the question. He added that the Mildura passenger service was probably the biggest financial loser in the State.

Three additional trains were scheduled to cater for Christmas holiday traffic. One train was scheduled to depart Melbourne at 9.50 p.m. on Friday 20-12-1963, and another on Christmas Eve, 24-12-1963. From Mildura, an overnight special was scheduled to depart on 5-1-1964 at 9.30 p.m..

1964

Additional train services were provided for Australia Day weekend passengers. Two trains were scheduled to leave Melbourne on Friday 24-1-1964 - the usual service at 8.10 p.m. followed by a special at 9.50 p.m.. On Sunday, trains ran as usual, and on Monday 27-1-1964 an additional train departed Mildura at 8.50 p.m..

Holiday traffic from Melbourne to Mildura required four trains on Easter Thursday, 26-3-1964. The scheduled times for all passenger trains during the Easter holiday period were as follows:

Easter Thursday 26-3-1964

From Melbourne: Depart 7.50 a.m., arrive Mildura 6.05 p.m. (Mildura Sunlight)

Depart 6.55 p.m., arrive Mildura 6.15 a.m. (Good Friday)

Depart 8.10 p.m., arrive Mildura 7.00 a.m. (Good Friday)

Depart 9.40 p.m., arrive Mildura 8.15 a.m. (Good Friday)

From Mildura: Depart 9.15 a.m. (Mildura Sunlight)

Depart 8.50 p.m. (additional service)

Good Friday 27-3-1964

From Melbourne: Depart 8.10 p.m., arrive Mildura 7.00 a.m. (Easter Saturday)

From Mildura: Depart 8.50 p.m. (normal service)

Easter Sunday 29-3-1964

From Melbourne: Depart 8.10 p.m., arrive Mildura 7.00 a.m. (Easter Monday)

From Mildura: Depart 8.50 p.m. (normal service)

Easter Monday 30-3-1964

From Melbourne: Depart 8.10 p.m., arrive Mildura 7.00 a.m. (additional service)

From Mildura: Depart 8.50 p.m. (additional service)

Depart 9.25 p.m. (additional service)

Easter Tuesday 31-3-1964

From Melbourne: Depart 7.50 a.m., arrive Mildura 6.05 p.m. (Mildura Sunlight)

From Mildura: Depart 9.15 a.m. (Mildura Sunlight)

Depart 9 p.m. (additional service)

"Mildura Sunlight" departure times from Mildura on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were altered from Tuesday 30-6-1964. The departure time was altered from 9.15 a.m. to 8.15 a.m. and the arrival time to 5.55 p.m. instead of 7.05 p.m.. The journey time was reduced by ten minutes and the 70 minutes earlier arrival in Melbourne would allow a connection to be made with the Spirit of Progress to Sydney. There was no alteration to Mildura Sunlight departure times from Melbourne. The Up "Mildura Sunlight" would now cross the Down "Mildura Sunlight" at Cope Cope instead of Litchfield.

The buffet car issue once again became the subject of attention for Mildura Shire Council. At their meeting on 2-7-1964, Cr. N.W. Fisher took up the complaint of two female ratepayers who had travelled on the train from Melbourne and the only meal they could get was two cold pies at Birchip. The councillors complained that the long run between Melbourne and Mildura deserved better and a buffet car was the answer. According to a newspaper report of the Shire meeting the Railway Commissioners were described "as a law unto themselves, but it was time they learned that the public was entitled to what the public requested". The Shire Secretary (Mr. A.D. Harvey) was instructed to prepare a case for presentation to the Commissioners for a buffer car on the Mildura service. The critical report was endorsed by council and was sent to every member of the Victorian parliament as well as the Minister for Transport, the Railway Commissioners and the Shires of Walpeup, Karkarooc and Birchip.

To illustrate the inconvenience of the refreshment services provided for Mildura line travellers, "Sunraysia Daily" carried a story on 10-8-1964 describing the conditions at Ouyen. Train passengers purchased refreshments at a kiosk on the platform and then either ate on the train or at a table set up on the platform between the kiosk and the waiting room. Sugar basins on the table had lids to keep out dust and flies and often there was dust swirling around passengers as they ate and drank.

The Mildura Shire Secretary's report was also sent to the Shire of Walpeup, prompting Cr. J.H.C. Black to comment on 13-8-1964 that "once you could get steak and kidney at the Railways refreshment room at Birchip, but now you could get only pies and these were the worst in Victoria". The Shire of Birchip was also a recipient of the Mildura Shire report, but the councillors of that Shire had a different reaction. They attacked the claims of poor food and conditions for travellers at Birchip station and claimed the attack was planned merely to boost the case for a buffet car for Mildura line trains.

Cr. A.R. Mansell M.L.C. reported to Mildura City Council's meeting on 13-8-1964 that there was no spare buffet car available and that was the main reason there was no buffet service on the Melbourne to Mildura line.

The Secretary for Railways (Mr. W. Walker) responded to the buffet car campaign in a letter to Councils sent in September 1964. The Secretary indicated that a study into the means of providing refreshment facilities on Mildura line trains at reasonable cost was being undertaken, and made the following points:

* The food trolley service which operates between Melbourne and St. Arnaud helps in some measure but does not represent the complete answer;

* For a buffet car service to be provided, two buffet cars would be needed;

* It was impossible to justify the extremely high cost of constructing the required cars in view of the small passenger tallies on the trains and the heavy staff costs inflated by excessive travelling and waiting time costs in a three-days-a-week operation;

* The services are costly to operate and unless the revenue earned comes reasonably close to meeting expenses, the losses offset any advantage the service may offer as an inducement to travel by rail.

Mr. Walker also addressed the suggestion by the Walpeup Shire Council that a single buffet car would provide a satisfactory service between Melbourne and St. Arnaud with service available on the forward journey from 7.50 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and on the return trip from 1.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.. Mr. Walker suggested that these hours of business would not attract patrons anxious to obtain meals at acceptable hours.

The Member for Mildura (Mr. M. Whiting M.L.A.), in the Legislative Assembly on 30-9-1964, asked the Minister for Transport (Mr. R. Meagher) to reconsider the decision not to provide buffet services on the Mildura Sunlight services. The Minister reaffirmed that the provision of a buffet car was one of economics, there was not a buffet car available, and he had requested the Commissioners to investigate some other way of providing meals on Mildura line trains. A letter with a similar response was also sent by the Minister to the Mildura City and Shire Councils.

The Mildura Sunlight train service once again attracted the attention of Cr. A.R. Mansell M.L.C. at Council's meeting on 22-10-1964. Cr. Mansell had travelled on the train that day and he was concerned that several services had been eliminated. He pointed out that:

* When the service first started, passengers were given a commentary over the public address system by the conductor with details of times of arrival at refreshment stations and were told about places of interest on the trip;

* The train had travelled via Geelong as usual but passengers were told nothing about the route taken to Mildura;

* Each seat pocket contained a folder with literature about Sunraysia and other major centres along the line, but there was only a paper bag to be sick in and that wasn't good publicity for a train ride;

On the positive side, Cr. Mansell said the Mildura Sunlight was a good, fast, clean train. The conductors and refreshment attendants were pleasant and courteous, and really hot tea was served from the trolley. The service at Ballarat refreshment rooms was good but there was a big rush and crowding at Birchip. He praised the quality of the food and staff at Birchip.

The Commissioners met a deputation of Mildura Shire councillors on 24-11-1964 during their annual tour of inspection of the north-west. Chief Commissioner Brownbill, when pressed on the buffet car issue, told the councillors that if they paid the cost of putting a buffet car on the Mildura line, then not only would the car be put on, but council could also have the profits. He also added that he knew that the car would run at a very big loss. Mr. Brownbill also told the councillors that a simplified type of buffet car where passengers could collect their food and take it to their seats was being investigated.

Mildura Shire Council refused to give in on the issue and wrote to the Minister suggesting that the buffet cars should be taken off the short Bendigo line run and placed on the Mildura line. The Minister response, considered at the Shire meeting on 17-12-1964, rejected the notion on the grounds that passenger volumes on the Bendigo line were "far heavier" than the Mildura line.

1965

Two trains were scheduled to arrive in Mildura for the Queen's birthday weekend. The normal Friday night service on 11-6-1965 was due to arrive at 6.45 a.m. and a special train was scheduled to depart Melbourne at 9.05 p.m. and arrive in Mildura at 8 a.m..

Driver G. Cullen prepares to take over the controls of B62/B67 at the head of the down Mildura Sunlight at Ouyen on 2-11-1965. Photo: Courtesy George Cullen

The Victorian Railways Commissioners arrived in Mildura on 23-11-1965 for their annual tour of inspection. Chairman of Commissioner (Mr. E.H. Brownbill), Commissioner E.P. Rogan and 14 senior railway officials were present when the Chief Commissioner asked Mr. Rogan to announce that a mini-buffet would be introduced on the Mildura Sunlight service.

The new concept had evolved after a report by Mr. Rogan following an overseas tour. The mini-buffet would be situated in one of the train's air-conditioned carriages and would have table accommodation for 15 passengers. A waitress service at the tables would provide passengers with tea and coffee and various types of light refreshments including salad dishes. Passengers could also purchase soft drinks, confectionary, cigarettes and tobacco, and light refreshments to take back to their carriage seats. The food storage and preparation section of the mini-buffet would have a refrigerator, pie-warmer, toaster, milk and coffee urns and sink heater. To cater for an each-way service, two compartment-type air-conditioned carriages were converted at Newport Workshops.

Following a complaint by a rail traveller that a number of passengers had difficulty in finding their seats on a Melbourne-bound train at Redcliffs on 28-8-1964, the Minister for Transport advised Mr. M. Whiting M.L.A. that Mildura line passenger trains would carry booking car identification throughout the journey.

From 5-12-1965, the Sunday and Friday overnight trains from Mildura to Melbourne would stop at Footscray station at 6.55 a.m. the following day.

1966

The mini-buffet service commenced on 15-2-1966 following a trial run to Bendigo during the previous week with the four employees engaged to staff it. The Mildura Sunlight on-train trolley service was discontinued and the refreshment facilities at Birchip and Ouyen closed.

Mrs. G. White (left) and Mrs. P. Cumming, both Mildura waitresses, are acting as customers for their Melbourne counterparts, Mrs. V. McGregor (with tray) and Mrs. E. McLean, in the mini-buffet dining section during a test run to Bendigo, before commencement of the new service on the Mildura Sunlight on 15-2-1966. Source: Victorian Railways Newsletter

With the introduction of the mini-buffet on-train service and the elimination of refreshment stops at Birchip and Ouyen, the Mildura Sunlight times were altered to reflect the time savings. Commencing from 15-2-1966, Mildura Sunlight services on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would arrive in Mildura 30 minutes earlier at 5.35 p.m. and depart from Mildura 30 minutes later at 8.40 a.m.. Overnight trains would depart Mildura at 9 p.m. on Sunday and Friday and overnight trains from Melbourne would arrive at 6.45 a.m. on Saturday and Monday.

Now that they had successfully achieved a buffet service on the Mildura Sunlight, the Mildura City Council decided to seek complete replacement of the daylight service with night trains or at least, for a mid-week overnight sleeper service to and from Melbourne. The Deputy Chairman of Commissioners (Mr. G. Brown), at a meeting with civic leaders during the Commissioners annual tour of inspection to Mildura on 12-10-1966, said there would "probably be a scream right down the track" if the daylight service was removed. Mr. Brown told the councillors that they could not have both - it was one service or the other. He reminded them that the daylight trains had been instituted at the requests of the two Mildura councils to help tourist traffic.

The Mallee Regional Committee wrote to the Shire of Mildura seeking support for night trains. The letter was supported at the Shire meeting on 20-10-1966.

1967

For the Australia Day long weekend, additional trains were added to the normal service:

Friday 27-1-1967 Melbourne to Mildura: 8.10 p.m. (normal service)

Melbourne to Mildura: 9.05 p.m. (additional service)

Mildura to Melbourne: 9.00 p.m. (normal service)

Sunday 29-1-1967 Melbourne to Mildura: 8.10 p.m. (normal service)

Mildura to Melbourne: 9.00 p.m. (normal service)

Monday 30-1-1967 Melbourne to Mildura: 8.10 p.m. (additional service)

Mildura to Melbourne: 9.00 p.m. (additional service)

A TP refrigerated van was attached behind the CE brakevan on the Down Sunday night passenger train from Melbourne to Mildura. In the opposing direction, another TP van trailed the CE van, and in addition, a BP, VP or BMF van fitted with lamp brackets and tail disc. The TP refrigerated van service was discontinued in July 1967 due to lack of patronage.

On 12-1-1967, "Sunraysia Daily" reported that they had contacted the office of the Victorian Railways Commissioners and were told by a spokesman that the Commissioners were considering restoration of night services based on whether it would be an economic proposition. The Secretary of the Mildura Shire Council (Mr. A. D. Harvey) reported to the council meeting on 19-1-1967 that night trains would probably be restored from 1-3-1967. The Mildura Stationmaster (Mr. D. Kennedy) advised on 8-2-1967 that a night train service was in the preliminary planning stage but locomotive utilisation and goods train schedules had to be revised before anything could eventuate. The Shire Secretary advised that he had been notified on 31-3-1967 that night trains would replace the Mildura Sunlight from 1-5-1967. The change was made official by an announcement by the Minister for Transport (Mr. R. Meagher) on 11-4-1967.

The overnight sleeping car service was restored on 1-5-1967. Trains were scheduled to operate on Sunday to Friday nights inclusive (with the Up train running via North Geelong), in each direction with the following departure times: From Mildura, 9.30 p.m. and from Melbourne, 9.05 p.m. Monday to Thursday; and 9.20 p.m. Friday and Sunday. Bogie vans for parcels traffic were attached to the sleeping car trains. Arrival in Mildura was scheduled for 8.00 a.m.. Passengers from Melbourne to Donald and stopping stations beyond to Mildura could reserve seats. Passengers from Mildura to Donald, as well as those from the Pinnaroo line travelling to Melbourne, could reserve sleeping berths or seats. There would be no buffet facilities on the trains. Trains would stop for 12 minutes at Ballarat on the journey to Mildura and for 8 minutes on the journey to Melbourne. Passengers from Melbourne to Donald and stopping stations beyond to Mildura could reserve seats. Passengers from Mildura to Donald, as well as those from the Pinnaroo line travelling to Melbourne, could reserve sleeping berths or seats. There would be no buffet facilities on the trains. Trains would stop for 12 minutes at Ballarat on the journey to Mildura and for 8 minutes on the journey to Melbourne.

The Minister said that local municipal and tourist interests between Donald and Mildura had been canvassed and it was disclosed that the majority favoured overnight trains. The Minister's announcement also referred to the Mildura Sunlight service which had operated since 3-9-1957, being the first country passenger train to include air-conditioned saloon carriages. However, the service had proved to be controversial with the Mildura community. Passengers visiting Melbourne using the daylight service could not avoid an absence from their business or home for at least two days whereas the overnight service would involve a minimum absence of only one day. Tourist interests however, claimed the daylight service was more suited for people coming to the area to holiday.

A motor trolley service that ran from Mildura to Merbein on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (the days that there was no goods service on this line), was cancelled from 4-7-1967. The trolley service took mail and newspapers from Mildura to Merbein and had been providing the service since the cancellation of the Mildura to Merbein suburban rail motor service in 1928.

The timetable for Mildura to Melbourne trains was altered from 4-9-1967. The departure time from Mildura was brought forward to 9.20 p.m. instead of 9.30 p.m. but there was no change to the arrival time in Melbourne of 8.07 a.m.. The alteration was made to allow the Mildura bound and Melbourne bound trains to cross at St. Arnaud, instead of Sutherland.

The train from Melbourne to Mildura was altered to arrive at Mildura 20 minutes later at 8.20 a.m.

The Victorian Railways Commissioners commenced their inspection of the north-west railways on Monday 30-10-1967 and met a deputation of Mildura City and Shire representatives in Mildura on 31-10-1967. The issues discussed included:

* Uncomfortable seating arrangements in first class sitting cars for overnight travel;

*Provision of modern sleeping cars and use of the old sleeping cars for second class passengers.

The timetable for Mildura to Melbourne trains was once again altered, this time to allow time for loading heavy goods at Irymple and Redcliffs. From 12-11-1967, the departure time was brought forward to 9.00p.m. instead of 9.20 p.m., effectively adding another half hour to the journey since 4-9-1967. The arrival time in Melbourne remained unaltered. This change was scheduled to remain until 5-5-1968.

1968

An additional train was scheduled from Melbourne to Mildura on Friday 26-1-1968 for the Australia Day weekend. It was scheduled to depart from Melbourne at 8.10 p.m. and arrive at 6.30 a.m. the following morning. The normal service was also run that night, leaving Melbourne at 9.20 p.m. and arriving in Mildura at 8.15 a.m. the following morning. There were no extra trains scheduled from Mildura to Melbourne, however additional carriages were attached to normal night trains on Sunday 28-1-1968, Monday 29-1-1968 and Tuesday 30-1-1968.

Victoria and South Australia joint stock first class AJ sitting cars were noted on Mildura line trains in February and March 1968. 2AJ was noted on 10-7-1968 and 17-2-1968 and 1AJ was noted on 18-3-1968.

TP refrigerated vans reappeared on the Up and Down Sunday night Mildura passenger trains in March 1968, most likely to attract fresh table grape traffic.

Special trains were scheduled for the Queens Birthday holiday weekend. In addition to the normal overnight train from Melbourne, a special train departed at 8.10 p.m. on 7-6-1968. This train usually catered for Marching Girl teams coming to Mildura for an annual carnival. A special train was scheduled from Mildura on Monday 10-6-1968 at 12.30 p.m., in addition to the normal 9.20 p.m. train.

A trial run of a Motorail service was conducted at Mildura on 5-8-1968. A special car carrying wagon with a capacity for six motor vehicles was attached to the 9.20 p.m. overnight passenger train from Melbourne to Mildura on 4-8-1968 for the trial. A portable car ramp had been sent forward to Mildura some days beforehand. The trail was a success and it was announced that the Motorail service would be a feature on Mildura trains from Friday 16-8-1968.

A railway department car is used to test the ramp provided at the down end of Mildura platform for loading and unloading of the new Motorail wagon AX8 on 5-8-1968. AX8 has been fitted with marker lights and a tail disc to travel at the rear of the overnight train to and from Melbourne. Only the bottom deck of the wagon was used initially. Photo: Victorian Railways

The Railway Commissioners advised that the original suggestion for taking cars on the train had come from Mildura district residents and they agreed to test public reaction to the idea. Passengers were required to travel on the same train as their car and to book car space by 4.30 p.m. the day prior to travel. In Melbourne, Motorail passengers had to take their car to the Spencer Street station south concourse at least 50 minutes before train departure. They could then join the train's departure platform directly from the concourse. In Mildura, passengers had to until 35 minutes before train departure time to have their cars parked at the down end of the platform for loading. When the train reached Spencer Street or Mildura, the cars would be unloaded and available close to the train.

Brochure promoting the new Motorail facility on Mildura passenger trains from 16-8-1968. Source: Bruce McLean Collection

The initial Motorail service was only available on the 9.05 p.m. overnight trains from Melbourne on Monday and Wednesday and 9.20p.m. train on Friday. From Mildura the service was available on trains leaving at 9.20 p.m. on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Commission indicated that extension of the service to other days of the week would depend on patronage. The cost for a car was $10.00 each way in addition to the passenger fare. Passenger fares were:

Early reports indicated that a young family man was the main user of the Motorail service in deference to the opinion of the railway department that the main users would be the elderly or business people. A second wagon was required during the September 1968 school holidays, however only the bottom deck was being used on the wagons at that time because of unloading difficulties at the Melbourne end.

The success of the Motorail service led the Commissioners to allow cars to be forwarded unattended at a cost of $15.00 per car. By mid-October an additional two wagons were added to the fleet.

On 23-10-1968 the Down passenger train from Melbourne to Mildura consisted on B77, 8AX (Motorail), "Malkari" (joint stock sleeping car off "The Overland"), Sleepers 1, 2, 4, 2BZ, 1AZ, 15CE. This was the first use of a steel sleeping car from "The Overland" on a Mildura train, although AJ cars had been used previously. About 65 sleeping berth passengers were on the train.

An amended timetable was introduced on 11-11-1968 for overnight trains from Mildura to Melbourne. This annual adjustment was to allow more time between Mildura and Ouyen for loading of citrus and other soft fruits during the period to May the following year. The departure time was put forward by 20 minutes to 9.00 p.m..

A special train for Christmas holiday travellers was scheduled from Melbourne to Mildura on Christmas Eve 24-12-1968, arriving at 7.15 a.m.. The normal train was also scheduled to arrive at 8 a.m..

1969

The Mildura Chamber of Commerce suggested to the Victorian Railways that a coin operated hot drink vending machine be installed on Mildura trains. The idea was rejected in January 1969 as there was insufficient electric power available to operate the machines.

The Mildura Motorail service was extended to all overnight trains from 24-3-1969. Ramps for loading and unloading cars were provided at Melbourne and Mildura to enable the top deck of the AX wagons to be used. It was reported that Broken Hill residents were making good use of the service by driving between Broken Hill and Mildura and then taking their car with them on the train journey between Mildura and Melbourne.

In a rare editorial on 18-4-1969, "Sunraysia Daily" newspaper commented on the airline services to Mildura. The action of Ansett Airlines of Australia of replacing their Fokker Friendship aircraft on their Melbourne to Mildura service with antiquated DC3 aircraft was "an insult to Mildura". The editorial claimed that regular air travellers would turn to the railways as their means of getting to Melbourne in comfort - if the railways had sleeper compartments more comfortable than a DC3. The recent use of a sleeping car off "The Overland" was seen by the editorial as a "wonderful opportunity" for the railways to make it a permanent feature of the train service.

Special trains were put on for the May 1969 school holidays. An additional train from Melbourne was scheduled to arrive in Mildura at 8.15 a.m. on Saturday 10-5-1969. On Sunday18-5-1969 an additional train departed Mildura at 8.40 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive in Melbourne at 6.23 a.m. the following morning.

Mildura Chamber of Commerce responded to "The Overland" experience and wrote to the Victorian Railways seeking improved sleeping cars on the Mildura line. The Chamber was told in a response received in August 1969, that the department was negotiating with the South Australian Railways for the purchase of its equity in some of the sleeping cars on "The Overland" (jointly owned by the Victorian and South Australian Railways). These cars would be replaced by an improved design on the heavily patronised interstate train. The response also indicated that it would be some time before the cars could be transferred to Victorian use as the replacement vehicles were yet to be constructed.

Mr. M. Whiting M.L.A. asked the Minister for Transport (Mr. V. Wilcox) in parliament on 24-9-1969 when an improvement in the sleeping cars could be expected. He was advised that arrangements had been made to purchase the South Australian equity in two roomette and two twinette sleeping cars and these would replace the existing sleeping cars some time in 1971. The Chairman of the Victorian Railways Commissioners (Mr. G. Brown), in Mildura for an inspection of railway facilities on the north-west of the State, confirmed that Mildura line passengers "would have luxurious sleeping accommodation, equal to the best in the world". This was a fairly questionable statement considering that cars in question were constructed in 1948 and would be virtually hand-me-downs when placed on Mildura line trains.

T331 stands at the head of Mildura overnight train at Platform 5 Spencer Street. Note the wooden air-conditioned sleeping cars behind the Motorail wagon. This scene was typical during the period when T Class locomotives were rostered to run the train right through to Mildura. Photo: Chris. Wurr

Commencing on Sunday 9-11-1969 until March 1970, the overnight passenger train from Mildura was scheduled to depart 20 minutes earlier at 9 p.m. instead of 9.20 p.m.. This annual alteration was made to allow for more time at Irymple, Redcliffs, and Carwarp for the loading of fresh fruit. The normal schedule applied from Ouyen and the arrival in Melbourne was unaltered at 8.05 a.m..

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