Service type Restaurant train Last service 31 May 2008 Ends North Fremantle, Toodyay | Status Ceased First service 18 October 2002 | |
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Former operator(s) South Spur Rail Services Start East Perth railway station | ||
The Spirit of the West was a restaurant train that operated out of Perth, Western Australia. It was the brainchild of South Spur Rail Services (SSRS) and began using four restored coaches hired from the Australian Railway Historical Society (ARHS) and a power car purchased from the ARHS and restored to running condition and modified by SSRS.
Contents
The train operated under the old Midland Railway Company name, an offshoot of South Spur Rail Services.
The train ran regular Sunday lunch and Saturday dinner trips from East Perth into the Avon Valley, running to West Toodyay and return.
Evening services to Leighton and return via Fremantle were halted due to vandalism on the Forrestfield to Cockburn section of the railway line.
The service received two Gold Plate awards for "Best Tourist Restaurant".
Duration
The first revenue service was on 18 October 2002. The Spirit of the West restaurant train ceased operation on 31 May 2008.
Rollingstock
The consist of the train usually involved a combination of the following:
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 shunter 8112, Specialised Container Transports Forrestfield shunter H5, and other locomotives from the South Spur Rail fleet: D48, D49, K206, K210, KA212. D48 was painted similar to K205.