Spirit of the West (train)
Restaurant train that operated in Perth, Western Australia from 2002 to 2008
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The Spirit of the West was a restaurant train operated by South Spur Rail Services out of Perth, Western Australia from 2002 until 2008.
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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 | 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) |
History
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
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. 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.