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Timetables 1903 to 1930

This section includes a major contribution from Roderick B. Smith, Editor of "Rail News Victoria" and includes timetables collected over many years from a variety of sources including Jack McLean, Roderick B. Smith, Bob Whitehead and Des Jowett.

Timetable and Service Overview

Contributed by Roderick B. Smith

* The Donald line was extended in stages to: Birchip 28.3.1893; Woomelang 18.9.1899; Hattah 15.1.1903; Nowingi 25.5.1903; Yatpool 30.9.1903 and Mildura 27.10.1903. At each stage existing mixed trains from/to Maryborough were extended further north.

In 1904 the first four V&SAR E-type sleeping carriages were built, allowing the transfer of a V&SAR Mann boudoir carriage to the Mildura line. This was 03, becoming "Mildura". One 2-berth compartment had been converted to a buffet. It ran coupled to ABC59, which had been converted to have a walk-through connection. The December1905 timetable showed: Maryborough dep. 13.05 Tuesday and Friday, Mildura arr. 5.55; Mildura dep. 17.35 Monday and Wednesday, Maryborough arr. 10.00. A sleeping car was available; there was no mention of on-train refreshments; refreshment stops were made at St Arnaud (15.26-16.01 down; 7.15-35 up). The May 1907 timetable was similar. The May 1908 times were similar, but with extra trains: Mary-borough dep. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday; Mildura dep. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

* 02 & "Mildura" were rebuilt as combined sleeping (12 berths) and dining (12 seats) carriages "Avon" and "Kiewa", entering service in June 1908 (Gould) or in 1911 (plans book). The 8.12.1908 carriage roster showed the 13.05 Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday ex Maryborough, and Monday, Wednesday and Friday. ex Mildura as ABAB5-ABC59-"Mildura", with a standby train of ABAB6-ABC50. Special car "Edinburgh" was rebuilt as 24-seat dining car "Mitta Mitta" in 1910, possibly as a standby for Mildura trains.

* The Dec.1915 timetable was: Maryborough dep. 13.05 Monday-Friday, 21.56 Saturday; Mildura arr. 7.00 Tuesday-Saturday, 8.30 Sunday. Mildura dep. 8.00 Monday, 18.00 Monday-Friday; Maryborough arr. 17.42 Monday, 10.00 Tuesday-Saturday.

*The Jan.1917 timetable was almost identical. It stated that a dining car was provided between Maryborough and Mildura daily. To achieve this with two dining cars would require shunting from the 8.00 up to the 13.05 down on Mondays at Donald or St Arnaud.

* Ouyen refreshment room was opened in the period 1917-21.

* By 1920 Maryborough departure was at 21.56 Monday-Saturday; Mildura departure was at 7.30 Monday-Saturday; the trains crossed at Yatpool. In December1922, Mildura departure was at 7.35, with the arrival at 8.40. In December 1923 the times were 7.35 and 7.50; the cross was at Irymple. The on-train refreshment service was inadequate for the increasing number of travellers. The 1920 annual report promised an improved dining car. Instead, a refreshment room was built at Birchip, opening on Monday 25.8.1923. It had only a takeaway counter, which was insuf-ficient. A dining room was added by February 1924. Concurrently VR built two E-type sleeping cars "Wando" (1923) and "Buchan" (31.8.23). They replaced "Avon" and "Kiewa" in August1923; but the dining cars were returned to service temporarily until the dining room at Birchip was added.

*The March1924 timetable still had a day train south-bound, with a lunch stop at Birchip and dinner at Maryborough. December1924 introduced day and night trains south from Mildura; northbound, the day service still terminated at Woomelang. The December1926 timetable showed the overnight service leaving Mildura only on Tuesdays. Three new sleeping cars were built: "Werribee" (14.4.28), "Indi" (14.4.28) and "Ovens" (24.8.28). The October1929 timetable showed that the southbound service was a day service, with an overnight train leaving Mildura on Sundays and Tuesdays.

*The May 1930 timetable still showed the southbound as a day service, with an overnight train leaving on Mondays and Wednesdays. The sleeping car at last worked through to Melbourne, via Castle-maine; sitting passengers continued to change.

References:

* DD: Divisional Diary; NL: VR News Letter; RT: Railway Transportation.

* Poole `VR passenger rollingstock' in Feb.54 ARHS Bulletin (many mistakes).

* Smith `VR airconditioned carriages' in Aug.74 Newsrail.

* Insall `Cheers to the Vinelander' in Sept.93 Newsrail.

* Gould Century of rail; History of rail services Birchip and district 1893-1993 (Sunnyland Press, 1993).

* Isaacs et al Railway refreshments in Victoria (Australian Association of Timetable Collectors, 1992).

Timetables

The following timetables have been extracted from the privately published Bradshaw's Guide,

Public Timetables and Working Timetables (Internal operating documents) published by the Victorian Railways and its successors. The timetables shown are representative of the train services for the lines covered in this history.

Note: The reference "Public" indicates Public Timetable source; "WTT" indicates the source is an internal Working Time Table document.