Spirit of the West (train)

Restaurant train that operated in Perth, Western Australia from 2002 to 2008

Spirit of the West

K205 leads the Spirit of the West down the Avon Valley in April 2006

Overview
Service type| Restaurant train
Status| Ceased
Locale| Western Australia
First service| 18 October 2002
Last service| 31 May 2008
Former operator(s)| South Spur Rail Services
Route
Termini| East Perth
Leighton
West Toodyay
Technical
Rolling stock| Ex Commonwealth Railways
Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

The Spirit of the West was a restaurant train operated by South Spur Rail Services out of Perth, Western Australia from 2002 until 2008.

## History

[edit]

In 2001, the Midland Railway Company was formed by the South Spur Rail Services (SSRS), taking the name of the former Western Australian operator.[1] On 18 October 2002 it commenced operating under the Spirit of the West brand with two services; the City to Port Indulgence and The Avon Experience.[2]

The City to Port Indulgence operated on Friday and Saturday evenings as a dinner service from East Perth via the Eastern Railway to Woodbridge before proceeding south via the Kwinana line to Canning Vale and then north over the Fremantle line to Leighton.[3][4] It ceased in 2005 after being vandalised on the Forrestfield to Cockburn section.

The Avon Experience operated as a Sunday lunch service from East Perth via the Eastern Railway to West Toodyay.[5]

The service received two Gold Plate awards for Best Tourist Restaurant.[6][7] It last ran on 31 May 2008.[8]

## Rolling stock

[edit]

The service commenced with SSRS' K205 hauling a power van and three restored carriages hired from Rail Heritage WA that had been restored for the Centenary of the Federation of Australia.[9][10] A further three carriages were acquired between 2003 and 2005.[11][12] All carriages had been built for the Commonwealth Railways to operate on the Trans-Australian Express. The SSRS owned stock was painted in a maroon and cream livery, the hired Rail Heritage WA stock brown and cream. All were of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) and were stabled at the Midland Railway Workshops.[13]

The consist of the train usually involved a combination of the following:

Number | Builder | Year built | Notes | Image

|
|
|
|

K205 | English Electric, Rocklea | 1966 | South Spur Rail Services locomotive, ex Westrail |
HRGA96L| | Niedrsachsische Waggonfabrik, West Germany | 1952 | Power van purchased from Rail Heritage WA mid-2002[14] |
BRBF1 | Clyde Engineering, Sydney | 1915 | Sleeping carriage named the Federation Carriage, donated by Australian National to Rail Heritage WA in 1995 and restored[15] |
26AF | Port Augusta Works | 1917 | Timber lounge car named the Heritage Carriage, built on the frame of flat wagon RA668, donated by Australian National to Rail Heritage WA in 1995 and restored[16] |
D20 | A Pengelly & Co, Adelaide | 1918 | Dining carriage named the Colonial Carriage, donated by Australian National to Rail Heritage WA in 1995 and restored[17] |
DD136F | Commonwealth Engineering, Sydney | 1963 | ex the MurrayLander kitchen/dining car named the Regency Carriage[18] |
AFB137V | Commonwealth Engineering, Sydney | 1963 | ex Australian Railroad Group, named the Imperial Carriage, used for cocktail and corporate functions[19] |
EI84 | Wegmann & Co. Kessel, Germany | 1952 | Observation car ex Australian Railroad Group, named the Regal Carriage[20] |

Due to the occasional motive power shortage, the Spirit of the West was sometimes hauled by another locomotive. Such rare workings included Pacific National's Kewdale Freight Terminal shunter 8112, Specialised Container Transport's Forrestfield shunter H5, and other locomotives from the South Spur Rail fleet: D48, D49, K206, K210, KA212.[21] D48 was painted similarly to K205.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Current details for ABN 49 098 960 591 Australian Business Register
2. ^ "Rail News" The Westland issue 215 December 2002 page 15
3. ^ New rail restaurant service launched Archived 10 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Minister for Planning & Infrastructure 30 October 2002
4. ^ City to Port Indulgence Spirit of the West
5. ^ The Avon Experience Spirit of the West
6. ^ Gold Plate Winners 2004 Catering Institute of Australia (WA)
7. ^ Gold Plate Winners 2007 Catering Institute of Australia (WA)
8. ^ "Transwa/regioal passenger services" The Westland issue 261 2008 page 16
9. ^ Locomotive & Carriage History Spirit of the West
10. ^ Federation Train Rail Heritage WA
11. ^ History Spirit of the West
12. ^ "ARG Cars sold" The Westland issue 233 June 2004 page 12
13. ^ "Rail News" The Midland issue 214 November 2002 page 15
14. ^ HGRA96 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
15. ^ ABP1 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
16. ^ AF26 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
17. ^ D20 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
18. ^ DD136 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
19. ^ AFB137 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
20. ^ ARF84 Chris' Commonwealth Railways Information
21. ^ "News from Around the State" The Westland issue 234 July 2004 page 9

## External links

[edit]

* Spirit of the West website