Train of Knowledge

Train of Knowledge
Manufacturer Victorian Railways
Specifications
Track gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm)

The Train of Knowledge was an Australian school camp on wheels, allowing students and teachers to visit multiple locations around Victoria without having to organise accommodation or transport.

The first run was organised by Macleod High School, who chartered a train in March 1958 with 200 students from Melbourne, running to Warrnambool, Hamilton, Portland, Stawell, Bendigo, Echuca, Kyabram and back to Melbourne.[1]

The Victorian Railways operated the train through to 1976, then VicRail and the Public Transport Corporation operated the service until 1989, when the train was withdrawn. All of the carriages were preserved and most ended up with the Seymour Rail Heritage Centre, who continued to run tours on occasion until 2004.[2]

Rollingstock

The train was formed originally with whatever rolling stock was available, but within a few years it had settled to a standard consist made up to carry between 80 and 90 school children, 6 teachers and four railway staff members.

As of 1976, the consist used up to five of the six available E type sleeping cars, each with 20 berths, plus the shower car Carey, formerly a horsebox, Melville, a former royal carriage used to provide power for lighting, heating and cooking, 43BPL (a former sitting carriage) used as a classroom, and Avoca as the dining car for the train, with 48 seats allowing serving the whole train meals in two sittings.

In 1984 the train was refurbished, and the six sleeping cars had their former names reapplied.

From the mid 1980's dining cars were no longer needed on most of Victoria's country passenger services, because of the introduction of the BRN and BRS cars with buffet modules fitted. That freed Moorabool, the buffet car previously allocated to The Gippslander (1952-1980), for use on the Train of Knowledge. The car was transferred to Ballarat Workshops in November 1983 and the existing internals removed. It was then converted to an open-plan interior and repainted red (with a tan roof) at a cost of $200,000, and it was released to service in May 1984, replacing the worn-out 43BPL.[3][4]

Circa 1988-89, it is known that at least Coliban had been fitted with end-of-train marker lights and a lamp bracket.[5]

Tour descriptions

Students and school staff members were expected to supply their own bedding for fitting to the carriage berths,[6] but much of the rest of the requirements were provided as part of the service. Circa late 70's, VicRail (as it then was) provided an insurance cover of $1,000,000 against personal injury, included in the cost of the trip.

Post-1976, four Monday to Friday tour options were offered:

Tour 1, South West

The first tour covered Victoria's western and south western districts, with stops at Maldon and Castlemaine, the Great Western winery, Tower Hill reserve, Port Campbell coastline, Warrnambool, the Grampians, Port Fairy and various Geelong industries. Students were charged $107 each.

Tour 2, Central North

The second tour covered Victoria's central northern region, with stops at Maldon and Castlemaine, Ballarat with the Eureka Stockade, Sovereign Hill and the Mine tour, Bendigo with the Epsom pottery, the talking tram, Sandhurst town and Lake Weroona, Swan Hill including the Pioneeer Settlement (with the Sound & Light tour), a paddlesteamer cruise, the Clock Museum, the Tyntyndyer Homestead and The Big Grape.

Tour 3, Gippsland

The third tour explored Victoria's eastern region, running to Sale RAAF base, Bairnsdale, the Buchan caves, a timber mill at Nowa Nowa and the town of Lakes Entrance, along with a cruise to Metung, the Morwell open cut mine, Gippstown folk museum and the Glenmaggie Weir.

Tour 4, Central North

The fourth tour covered Victoria's upper northern region, with stops at Maldon and Castlemaine, Bendigo's talking tram, Dai Gum San wax museum and Epsom pottery, Swan Hill's Pioneeer Settlement (with the Sound & Light tour), a paddlesteamer cruise, the Fairfield Winery and the Clock Museum, the Tyntyndyer Homestead and the Military Museum, and Kerang's Mohair goat farm, Korina bird park and Oakway Quarterhorse Stud.

Other trips

In mid-1987, the train ran at least once into South Australian territory.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.victorianrailways.net/vr%20history/history.html
  2. ↑ https://www.railpage.com.au/f-p542611.htm#542611
  3. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/c-j-b/5844742513/
  4. ↑ Newsrail May 1997
  5. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/dermis50/albums/72157650243648510
  6. ↑ http://wiki.prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/VPRS_12800_P1_H_5532
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