Western Endeavour

The Western Endeavour was the first steam locomotive hauled train to operate across from Sydney on Australia's east coast to Perth on the west coast in 1970.

Western Endeavour
Overview
Service typeSpecial service
First service22 August 1970
Last service12 September 1970
Former operator(s)New South Wales Rail Transport Museum
Route
StartSydney Central
EndEast Perth
Distance travelled5,000 miles (8,000 km)
Average journey time22 days
Service frequencySpecial Tour
Line(s) usedMain Western
Broken Hill
Trans Australian
Eastern Goldfields
Technical
Rolling stock3801
3813
New South Wales Government Railways non-airconditioned

History

Following the completion of a project to convert the Sydney to Perth railway line to standard gauge in February 1970, the New South Wales Rail Transport Museum operated a steam locomotive hauled special across Australia in August and September 1970.

The special was the first steam locomotive hauled service to operate from the East to West coasts of Australia. At this time steam locomotives were being phased out of service, and had already ceased operating on some parts of the journey traversed.[1] The train was hauled by 3801, with 3813 assisting as far as Port Augusta.[2]

The train consisted of 8 sleeping carriages (5x TAM, 3x MAL), 2 FS cars (for Day Trippers that journeyed to Bathurst only), a dining car (AB90), a first class lounge carriage (BV931) and a crew/storage car (VHO1816). Water gins SWT 5 & 6 were picked up from Broken Hill. All carriages and both locomotives were overhauled and repainted at the Eveleigh Railway Workshops. Several trial runs were made with the full train as far as Goulburn. Both locomotives had their buffers removed as they would operate on railway systems where rolling stock did not have buffers.

The Western Endeavour departed Sydney Central on the 22 August 1970, arriving at East Perth on 28 August.

A water gin was added at Menindee, and the train left hauled only by 3801, the bridges of the plains not to be trusted with the weight of two 38 class locos. A second gin was added at Broken Hill, where doubleheading resumed. An air conditioned dining car was added at Port Pirie with an assist by a diesel, CL3, added at Port Augusta.[2]. During its time in SA, 3813 was used for various local tours.

The return journey departed Perth on 6 September, arriving on 12 September.

In April/May 1988, 3801 repeated the journey during the Australian Bicentenary,[3] while LNER 4472 Flying Scotsman made the journey in September/October 1989.[4]

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gollark: That was mysteriously abandoned at some point.

References
  1. "Locomotive, Steam 3801". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage.
  2. "3801 A Legend in Steam". YouTube. 15 July 2015.
  3. "3801 West" Railway Digest July 1988 page 250
  4. "Flying Scotsman" Railway Digest November 1989 page 386
  • Bayley, William (1972). Steam Triumph on Railway Across Australia. Bulli: Austrail Publications.
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