Southern Aurora type carriages

Southern Aurora Type Carriages

The Southern Aurora was an overnight express passenger train that operated between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. First-class throughout, including the dining facilities, the Southern Aurora featured all-sleeper accommodation. The train first ran on 13 April 1962 after the opening of the North East standard gauge line from Melbourne to Albury, eliminating the break-of-gauge between the capital cities.

The carriages used featured fluted sides and consisted of roomette and twinette sleepers, lounge cars and diners, with the Southern Aurora carriages being owned when new jointly by the New South Wales Government Railways and Victorian Railways, and both the Brisbane Express and Gold Coast Motorail carriages being owned by the New South Wales Government Railways.

Seven-0-Seven Operations rollingstock fleet consists of 7 Southern Aurora style carriages, including 3 NAM style twinettes, 2 LAN style roomettes and 2 PHA/PHN power vans.

NAM 2336

NAM 2336 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in September 1961 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora on 16 February 1962. NAM 2336 was one of 19 NAM twinette sleeping cars were constructed across five batches from 1959 to 1971. Like all carriages on the train, NAM 2336 was owned and operated jointly between the Department of Railways New South Wales and the Victorian Railways.

Each car had a side hallway, serving an attendant's compartment at pone end plus ten individual compartments. Each of these could seat three passengers in day mode, but were only fitted with two berths (in a bunk arrangement) for night travel. The berths were set up while passengers were in the dining room for dinner, and restored to seating format following breakfast each day. The name "twinette" indicates two people per sleeping compartment.

NAM 2336 as our Premium Twin cabin features:

A three-seater lounge by day that is converted into two comfortable bunk beds each evening by our friendly team
A private panoramic window to enjoy the stunning Victorian scenery
A private ensuite (including shower, toilet and vanity)
High quality linen, towels and amenities
Full air-conditioning
240V power outlet (CPAP suitable) in every compartment
Complimentary drinking water
Shelving and hanging closet.

Since retirement in 1994 from mainline operations, NAM 2336 has had a varied career before becoming part of Seven-0-Seven Operations fleet in 2017 following conversion to broad gauge and restoration activities. NAM 2336 is a feature on our broad gauge Slow Rail Journey tours.

NAM 2373

NAM 2373 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in May 1963 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora 18 October 1963.

NAM 2373 is currently being upgraded and restored to full operational status to provide additional capacity on our broad gauge Slow Rail Journey tours.

See our In the workshop page for more information in NAM 2373 restoration.

NAM 2380

NAM 2380 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in July 1963 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora in the same month.

NAM 2380 is currently being upgraded and restored to full operational status to provide additional capacity on our broad gauge Slow Rail Journey tours.

See our In the workshop page for more information in NAM 2380 restoration.

LAN 2352

LAN 2352 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in August 1961 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora on 20 March 1962. Like all carriages on the train, LAN 2352 was owned and operated jointly between the Department of Railways New South Wales and the Victorian Railways.

Each LAN carriage originally included 20 uniquely designed single berth sleepers. Compartments are located on either side of a "zig-zag" shaped isle with beds that fold down running parallel to the carriage.

LAN 2352 forms part of our Premium Single Cabin, featuring fully restored, your private cabin for one features everything you would expect for an enjoyable journey.

Each LAN cabin features:

A comfortable recliner chair that is converted each evening by our friendly team into to a single bed
A private panoramic window to enjoy the stunning Victorian scenery
A mirror and vanity (bathroom and shower facilities are available at the end of each carriage)
High quality linen, towels and amenities
Full air-conditioning
240V power outlet (CPAP suitable) in every compartment
Complimentary drinking water
Shelving and hanging closet.

Shower and bathroom facilities are located at either end of the carriage.

Since retirement in 1994 from mainline operations, LAN 2352 was used for some time by Transport Heritage NSW as volunteer accommodation before LAN 2352 was loaned to Seven-O-Seven Operations in 2020. This is first time a Transport Heritage NSW asset had been loaned to an organisation in another state.

Following transfer to Seven-0-Seven Operations Newport Depot, the interior and exterior fully restored by Seven-0-Seven Operations volunteers and returned to service to compliment the other ‘Southern Aurora’ carriage stock on sleeping car trains on broad gauge.

LAN 2352 features on our Slow Rail Journey weekend trains.

LAN 2354

LAN 2354 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in September 1961 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora on 20 March 1962. Like all carriages on the train, LAN 2355 was owned and operated jointly between the Department of Railways New South Wales and the Victorian Railways.

LAN 2354 forms part of our Premium Single Cabin, featuring fully restored, your private cabin for one features everything you would expect for an enjoyable journey.

Each LAN cabin features:

A comfortable recliner chair that is converted each evening by our friendly team into to a single bed
A private panoramic window to enjoy the stunning Victorian scenery
A mirror and vanity (bathroom and shower facilities are available at the end of each carriage)
High quality linen, towels and amenities
Full air-conditioning
240V power outlet (CPAP suitable) in every compartment
Complimentary drinking water
Shelving and hanging closet.

Shower and bathroom facilities are located at either end of the carriage.

Since retirement in 1994 from mainline operations, LAN 2354 has resided in Victoria and became part of Seven-0-Seven Operations fleet in 2018.

LAN 2354 features on our Slow Rail Journey weekend trains.

PHN 2362 and PHA 2395

Three PHN power vans were initially built for the Southern Aurora, to provide head end power for air conditioning and on-train lighting as well as an additional 6 tons of luggage capacity. The vehicles were PHN 2361, 2632 and 2363. A further three vehicles were built in 1962 for the Spirit of Progress when that was transferred across to standard gauge, and numbered 2369, 2370 and 2371. The six entered service respectively in December 1961, then February and March of 1962, with all three of the Spirit vans entering service in April 1962.

The vans were fitted with three engine mounting points, and weighed 48 tons with two fitted or 51 tons with all three.

In 1984 five further vans were built for the Gold Coast Motorail service to a similar design, but with deeper skirts and other minor finish differences, this was due to these vans being built by A Goninan & Co instead of Commonwealth Engineering who built all the other stainless steel cars. These vans became PHA 2392 to 2396.

PHN 2362 was delivered from Commonwealth Engineering, Granville in December 1961 and commenced operational service on the Southern Aurora on 27 February 1962. PHA 2395 was delivered in November 1984 and commenced service on the Gold Coast Motorail service in the same month.

See our In the workshop page for more information in PHN 2362 and PHA 2395 restoration. Both power cans in future will be used to support our broad and standard gauge trains.