Intercapital Daylight
 RUB carriage at Broadmeadow Locomotive Depot in December 2012 | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger train |
| Status | Ceased |
| First service | 26 March 1956 |
| Last service | 31 August 1991 |
| Former operators | State Rail Authority V/Line |
| Route | |
| Termini | Sydney Melbourne |
| Distance travelled | 956 kilometres (594 mi) |
| Service frequency | Once daily in each direction |
| Train numbers | SL65 and SL66 |
| Lines used | Main South, NSW North East, Victoria |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | RUB sets |
The Intercapital Daylight was a passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne from March 1956 until August 1991.
History
[edit]Until April 1962, the line between Sydney and Albury was of a different gauges to that between Albury and Melbourne, requiring passengers to change trains.[citation needed]
On 26 March 1956, the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways introduced connecting daytime services named the Sydney–Melbourne (Melbourne–Sydney) Daylight Express.[1] From Sydney, a three times per week service was introduced, returning from Albury the following day. From Melbourne, a three times per week non-stop service operated in the morning, returning in the evening.[citation needed]
From 24 September 1956, both were extended to operate daily Monday to Saturday. Total journey time between the capitals was 13 hours and 20 minutes.[2][3] The New South Wales train consisted of a 42 class locomotive hauling a nine carriage air-conditioned RUB set. The Victorian portion had a B class locomotive hauling eight air-conditioned S and Z carriages including the round-ended car ex Spirit of Progress, formerly known as Parlor car and renamed to Lounge car but later Club car, attached to the rear.[3]
Following the completion of the standard gauge to Melbourne, the New South Wales train was extended to Melbourne from 16 April 1962.[2] Named Inter-Capital Daylight, the train was formed of a nine carriage New South Wales Government Railways RUB set later extended to eleven carriages. The trains were initially hauled by New South Wales 44 class and the Victorian S class locomotives. During the 1970s the 422 class became the rostered power in New South Wales while the X class shared the Victorian duties with the S class.[3][4]
A typical consist in the late 1980s would be Locomotive-HFZ-VFK-VFK-ABS, or Locomotive-RS-BDS-SDS-SDS, with either a PHN or PHS power van attached.[5]
From 1982, through working was introduced with the 422 class rostered to operate the services throughout.[6] Class 442s occasionally operated the service in the mid-1980s during the time they were permitted to operate in Victoria. Other mainline locomotives were regularly used. Following a ban being placed by the Victorian branch of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen on non-air-conditioned locomotives in Victoria, from February 1990 the service was rostered for 81 class and G class locomotives.[3] The superior power of these locomotives was negated by them being limited to 100 km/h (vs 115 km/h) in Victoria due to the condition of the track. By this stage the journey time was 12 hours 30 minutes.[3]
The train length varied from seven to 13 carriages, with V/Line Z type carriages also appearing from February 1990.[3][4] A motorail facility was introduced in October 1987 but due to low loadings withdrawn in 1990 on the train.[4][7]
Since mid-1990, the State Rail Authority and V/Line had been discussing the replacement of the stock with an XPT from 1993. However, with deregulation of the Australian airline industry, patronage dropped to around 30%. A decision was made to cancel the service with the last service operating on 31 August 1991.[3] Appropriately, the last services were hauled in New South Wales by 44 class 4458/27 on the Melbourne bound service and 4465/69 on the Sydney bound service, while X class X37 handled the Victorian duties.[8]
In December 1994, a daylight service between Sydney and Melbourne was reintroduced with New South Wales XPT trains, by extending the Riverina Express from Albury.[9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ The Intercapital Daylight 1956–1991 Banger, Chris Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, June;July 2001 pp203–219;243–267
- ^ a b Leo J Harrigan (1962). Victorian Railways to '62. Public Relations and Betterment Board. p. 261.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Intercapital Daylight" Railway Digest November 1991 page 396
- ^ a b c Julian Insall (October 1992). "A reflection on the Intercapital Daylight". Newsrail. Australian Railway Historical Society (Victorian Division). pp. 316–319.
- ^ Newsrail November 1990, pg190
- ^ "ARHS Railway Museum: Victoria 1950 – Now". ARHS Railway Museum. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 5 February 2008.
- ^ "Motorail on Daylight" Railway Digest December 1987 page 393
- ^ "The end of the Daylight" Railway Digest November 1991 page 402
- ^ "Sydney–Melbourne Daylight XPT Commences This Month" Railway Digest December 1994 page 7
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