<< Back | Home | Site Map

Timetables 1971 to 1980

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 Vinelander" and "The Sunraysia"

* An upgrading was implemented in 1972. Four new sleeping cars were built for the The Over-land; four older sleeping cars were transferred to VR and were repainted blue. The train was named the The Vinelander, following a public competition. The train was displayed in Melbourne on Tues.8.8, and made its first northbound run that night. In the first year patronage increased by 13 300.

* Following the cancellation of Melbourne - Canberra through-carriage working in 1974, the two VAC sleeping & sitting cars were placed on broad gauge in 1976-77 and were used on the Vinelander occasionally. Following a year in which 100 000 passengers were carried, two BS carriages were rebuilt as MRS mini-buffets with a lounge section. They entered service from Mon.18.7.77 (northbound) and Tues.19.7 (southbound). A new Mildura station building was constructed through 1977 (occupied from Oct.-Nov.). Part of the former building was incorporated, with a new roof and external brickwork. The VACs were rebuilt as 16-berth sleeping cars in 1978, and were used until 1988-89.

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 Public Timetables and Working Time Tables (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.