| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Freight train |
| First service | 13 October 1958 |
| Former operator(s) | Victorian Railways |
| Route | |
| Termini | Mildura Dynon Freight Terminal |
| Stops | Irymple Red Cliffs Carwarp Hattah |
| Distance travelled | 566 kilometres |
| Average journey time | 10 hours |
| Service frequency | 6 x weekly (Sun-Fri) |
| Line(s) used | Mildura Serviceton |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) |
| Operating speed | 110 km/h |
The Fruit Flyer was a fast overnight freight train operated by the Victorian Railways to bring fruit produce from the Mildura district to the Melbourne Markets. It first ran on 13 October 1958. [1]
It departed Mildura at 17:00, loading at Irymple, Red Cliffs, Carwarp and Hattah before running express to Dynon Freight Terminal arriving at 03:00. To allow it to operate at the line speed of 70 mph (110 km/h), the wagons were fitted with bogies similar to those fitted on passenger carriages. [1]
It initially operated three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, but within a few weeks this had increased to four times. [1] [2] By 1961 it was running six times a week, Sunday to Friday. [3] [4] [5] [6]