Far West Express

Last updated

Far West Express
HPF 954.jpg
Overview
Service typePassenger train
StatusCeased
First serviceDecember 1957
Last serviceSeptember 1975
Former operator(s) Public Transport Commission
Route
Termini Dubbo
Bourke
Cobar
Coonamble
Line(s) used Main Western
Technical
Rolling stock DEB set railcars

The Far West Express was an Australian passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways from December 1957 until September 1975 from Dubbo to Bourke, Cobar and Coonamble. [1]

It connected at Dubbo in the morning with the overnight Western Mail from Sydney, returning in the afternoon to connect with the return Mail in the evening. The train was formed of an air-conditioned DEB set with a van off the train from Sydney attached to the rear. It operated to Bourke thrice weekly, Cobar once weekly and Coonamble twice weekly. [1] [2]

It ceased in September 1975 when the Public Transport Commission introduced a fleet of six Denning road coaches to operate the services radiating from Dubbo. [1] [3]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobar</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Cobar is a town in central western New South Wales, Australia whose economy is based mainly upon base metals and gold mining. The town is 712 km (442 mi) by road northwest of the state capital, Sydney. It is at the crossroads of the Kidman Way and Barrier Highway. The town and the local government area, the Cobar Shire, are on the eastern edge of the outback. At the 2016 census, the town of Cobar had a population of 3,990. The Shire has a population of approximately 4,700 and an area of 44,065 square kilometres (17,014 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevertire</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Nevertire is a rural village in New South Wales, Australia. It is located at the junction of the Mitchell Highway and the Oxley Highway, in Warren Shire. Nevertire is about 496 kilometres northwest of Sydney, 78 km north-west of Narromine and about 107 km from Dubbo. It is about 20 km south-west of Warren on the western end of the Oxley Highway. At the 2011 census, Nevertire had a population of 225 people.

<i>Daily Liberal</i>

The Daily Liberal is a daily newspaper produced in the city of Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. The news stories published relate particularly to the city of Dubbo and the surrounding district. The newspaper was first printed in 1875. The current price for the daily editions is A$2.00. It has previously been published as The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate and The Daily Liberal and Macquarie Advocate.

The Division of Darling was an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales. The division was proclaimed in 1900, and was one of the original 65 divisions to be contested at the first federal election. From 1901 until 1922 it was based on Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Coonamble and Gilgandra. From 1906, it also included Dubbo. The 1922 redistribution increased the number of voters in some rural electorates and as a result the division of Barrier was abolished with most of its population, including the large mining town of Broken Hill, Wentworth and Balranald, was absorbed by Darling along with Hay from Riverina. Dubbo was transferred to Gwydir in 1922 but returned to Darling in 1934. In 1948, Dubbo, Gilgandra and Coonamble were transferred to the new division of Lawson and Hay and Balranald were transferred to Riverina. In 1955 Coonamble returned to Darling. In 1977 it was abolished with Broken Hill and Wentworth going to Riverina and Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan and Coonamble going to Gwydir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Division of Parkes</span> Australian federal electoral division

The Division of Parkes is an Australian electoral division in the state of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Link</span> Australian airline

Air Link Pty Ltd is an airline and air charter company based in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It operates air charter services and recommenced regular passenger services in November 2019. As of 2024, Aviation Logistics Holdings (ALH) who owns Air Link, Air Med and Chart Air, employs nearly 300 staff and owns and operates 70 aircraft across it's 7 bases in 4 states. Aviation Logistics Group operates one of Australia's largest fleet of general aviation aircraft across its subsidiaries and associated companies. Air Link has bases in Dubbo, Brisbane (Archerfield), Sydney (Bankstown) and Melbourne (Essendon).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geurie, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Geurie is a small village in central-west New South Wales, Australia in the local government area of Dubbo Regional Council. It is between Wellington and Dubbo in the Orana Region of the State. It is on the Main Western railway line and served by a daily NSW TrainLink XPT service between Sydney and Dubbo. At the 2016 census, Geurie had a population of 755.

Group 11 is a rugby league competition in the surrounding areas of Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. The competition is played in four grades, these being First-Grade, Reserve-Grade, Under 19s and Ladies League Tag.

The Main Western Railway is a major railway in New South Wales, Australia. It runs through the Blue Mountains, and Central West regions. It is 825 kilometres (513 mi) with 484 kilometres (301 mi) operational & 341 kilometres (212 mi) under construction & repairs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byrock, New South Wales</span> Town in New South Wales, Australia

Byrock is a small village in north western New South Wales, Australia in Bourke Shire. In 2016, Byrock had a population of 50 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ABC Western Plains</span> Radio station

ABC Western Plains is an ABC Local Radio station based in Dubbo, New South Wales. The broadcast region stretches from Wellington north to Goodooga and west from Coonabarabran to Wilcannia. The station covers the top half of the Far West region and part of the Orana region of New South Wales. This includes Dubbo City and the towns of Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Walgett, Mudgee, Lightning Ridge, Gilgandra, Coonamble and Warren

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 900/800 class railcar</span>

The 900/800 class railcars were diesel multiple units built by the New South Wales Government Railways between November 1951 and November 1960.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New South Wales 600/700 class railcar</span>

The 600/700 class railcars were a class of diesel multiple unit built by the New South Wales Government Railways. They were built to operate on branch lines from 1949 with low traffic volumes later being transferred to Newcastle and Wollongong to operate suburban services until withdrawn in 1994. However, one 600 class railcar was converted to solar operation for use on the Byron Bay Train service. The upgraded train entered service on 16 December 2017 and is believed to be the world's first solar-powered train.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NSW TrainLink</span> Operator of passenger rail services in New South Wales

NSW TrainLink is a train and coach operator in Australia, providing services throughout New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, along with limited interstate services into Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. Its primary intercity and regional services are spread throughout five major rail lines, operating out of Sydney's Central railway station.

The Western Mail was an Australian passenger train that ran from Sydney to Dubbo and Parkes from 1973 until November 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubbo railway station</span> Railway station in New South Wales, Australia

Dubbo railway station is a heritage-listed railway station and bus interchange located on the Main Western line in Dubbo in the Dubbo Regional Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The station serves the city of Dubbo and was opened on 1 February 1881. The station is also known as Dubbo Railway Station and yard group. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. The station and associated yards were designed by the office of the Engineer-in-Chief of the NSW Government Railways, under the direction of John Whitton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bourke railway station</span> Former railway station in New South Wales, Australia

Bourke railway station is a heritage-listed disused railway station and present-day coach terminal in Bourke, in the Far West region of New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canbelego</span> Village in New South Wales, Australia

Canbelego is a village in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. It is now virtually a ghost town but was once a much larger settlement associated with the Mount Boppy Gold Mine. The name also refers to the surrounding rural locality identified for postal and statistical purposes. At the 2021 census, the population of Canbelego, including its surrounding area, was 54, up from 39 in 2016, but the village itself had only four residents in early 2020. Between 1907 and 1917, the population was around 2,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Boppy Gold Mine</span>

Mount Boppy Gold Mine was a gold mine at Canbelego, New South Wales, Australia. The original Mount Boppy Gold Mine operated from 1901 to 1922. It was, at the time, regarded as being the largest gold producer in New South Wales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrightville</span>

Wrightville was a mining village in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. Once it was a significant settlement, with its own municipal government, public school, convent school, post office, police station, four hotels, and railway connection. At its peak, around 1907, its population probably reached 2,000 people. Its site and that of the adjacent former village of Dapville are now an uninhabited part of Cobar.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Cooke, David (1984). Railmotors and XPTs. Australian Railway Historical Society NSW Division. ISBN   0-909650-23-3.
  2. A brave experiment Eumungerie Railway 4 October 2012
  3. "900 Class frame". www.railmotorsociety.org.au. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2020.