The glory days of the Southern Aurora came roaring back for more than 100 passengers who hopped on the restored train on Monday for a trip down memory lane.
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In fact they were bound for Victoria on a six-day tour organised by Saint James Rail, owned by Owen Johnston-Donnet and wife, Takako. The journey starts and ends in Goulburn and takes in Albury, north eastern Victoria, Ararat, the Grampians and the Great Ocean Road, partly thanks to some deviations by coach.
The 14-car train, hauled by diesel locos, includes 10 original Southern Aurora carriages, and is serviced by 24 staff. It’s a hark back to another era for Mr Johnston-Donnet when the train was regarded as a classy means of overnight transport between Sydney and Melbourne.
He said the “gleaming, stainless steel Southern Aurora” pioneered luxury overnight rail travel on the single gauge line when it started running in 1962. Up until 1986, it provided a unique experience with its comfortable lounge, bar and restaurant cars.
Several of those have been restored by Transport Heritage NSW which operates and maintains the train at the NSW Rail Museum at Thirlmere, including the bar and lounge carriages.
“I’m trying to get Rail Heritage NSW to restore the sleeping cars,” Mr Johnston-Donnet said
“I’ve been doing these tours for 25 years. Sleeping cars are available in a lot of other countries and we have the opportunity to do it here. I’d like people to have that opportunity. It’s great for regional tourism.”
But passengers aren’t complaining too much. During the day they enjoy breakfast and lunch cooked by three professional chefs, morning and afternoon tea, all served in the plush dining cars.
When The Post interviewed Mr Johnston-Donnet he was enjoying a glass of wine, awaiting a lunch of king prawns and avocado.
“What I enjoy about doing the tours is giving people the opportunity to see parts of Australia that otherwise wouldn’t be possible,” he said.
“People enjoy having a moving motel and meeting friends…It’s very satisfying to see them building friendships.”
Mr Johnston-Donnet worked with State Rail from 1986 to 1995 as an executive officer to David Hill and Ross Sayers. But he started organising rail tours in 1981 at Sydney’s Saint James’ Church, taking people to Bathurst and Newcastle Cathedrals. He said in 1988 he brought 2000 people to Goulburn on two trains to witness the Archbishop of Canterbury bless the bells at Saint Saviour’s new tower.
“These kinds of trips are great for regional tourism,” he said.
Some 104 people joined the tour, among them six Goulburn residents and former local, Wesley Smith. Mr Smith worked with the RTA in Goulburn from 1972 until his retirement in 2015. Now living in Maclean in the Northern Rivers region, he regularly goes on rail tours, most recently a three-week ‘cherry blossom’ trip in Japan, also organised by Mr Johnston-Donnet.
“I just love travelling on trains,” before jumping on the Southern Aurora.