Fruit Flyer

Fruit Flyer
Overview
Service typeFreight train
First service13 October 1958
Former operator(s)Victorian Railways
Route
TerminiMildura
Dynon Freight Terminal
StopsIrymple
Red Cliffs
Carwarp
Hattah
Distance travelled566 kilometres
Average journey time10 hours
Service frequency6 x weekly (Sun-Fri)
Line(s) usedMildura
Serviceton
Technical
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)
Operating speed110 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 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]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Express Freight Service" Railway Gazette 14 November 1958 page 592
  2. ^ "Express Freight Service" Railway Gazette 2 January 1959 page 8
  3. ^ ”Fruit Flyer” Railway Gazette 14 April 1961 page 417
  4. ^ ”By Fruit Flyer” The Age 28 November 1969 page 20
  5. ^ ABC-TV (Australia); Terry Gallagher (1960), Mildura fruit flyer, retrieved 10 June 2023
  6. ^ Australian Geographical Society (31 October 1963), "MILDURA'S BIG DAY (31 October 1963)", Walkabout, 29 (11), Australian National Travel Association: 7, ISSN 0043-0064