Service type Passenger train Last service February 1990 Former operator(s) State Rail Authority | Status Ceased Successor Unnamed XPT service Start Sydney Central | |
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The Brisbane Limited was an Australian passenger train operated by the New South Wales Government Railways between Sydney and Brisbane from 1888 until February 1990.
History
The Brisbane Limited originally operated from Sydney via the Main Northern line to Wallangarra. A change of gauge required passengers to change here for a narrow gauge Queensland Railways train on its Southern line to complete the journey to Brisbane.
Following the extension of the North Coast line to South Brisbane, in September 1930 it was rerouted shaving six hours off the journey time, even allowing for the need for the train to be taken over the Clarence River by barge pending the completion of the Grafton Bridge. This occurred in May 1932. Its headcode was NL1/NL2.
In the early 1950s, it began to be worked by diesel locomotives and from January 1960 was hauled by 46 class electric locomotives south of Gosford. Also in 1960 stainless steel sleeping carriages were introduced.
From June 1984, it was hauled by electric locomotives to Broadmeadow, and in June 1986 was extended at its northern end over the Merivale Bridge to Roma Street. It was withdrawn in February 1990 to be replaced by an unnamed XPT service.