Historical information

The Overland was a direct Melbourne to Adelaide interstate train, running as a daylight service (no sleeper carriages), operating twice weekly in each direction.

The train departed Spencer Street Station (Southern Cross Station) to Adelaide on Mondays and Fridays and departed Adelaide Parklands Terminal to Melbourne on Thursdays and Sundays.

There were two classes for passengers to choose from, the Red Standard Class with reclining seats and cafe access and the Red Premium Class with wider seats, extra legroom, dedicated dining carriage with meals included.

The journey time was 10 1/2 to 12 hours.

This train service is still operating and remains the only passenger rail link between the two cities.

It is one of Australia’s oldest continuously named interstate trains (the name dates to 1926, with roots back to the Adelaide Express of the 1880s). Some media reports refer to it generically as “The Melbourne – Adelaide Train", but the official service name "The Overland" remains unchanged.

This picture shows the S302 and another S class locomotive haul "The Overland" bound for Spencer Street, Melbourne, as it crosses the Kororoit Creek Bridge, west of Sunshine and was taken back in the days before the tracks were duplicated between Sunshine and Deer Park West, and well before the line between Melbourne and Adelaide was standardised, resulting in the diversion of interstate trains away from this section of line.

Significance

The Overland was a popular slight for the local Albion, Ardeer, Deer Park, Sunshine & Sunshine West residents as it travelled along the Melbourne to Adelaide trainline, blowing its whistle at the various road and pedestrian crossings and spectators along the route.

Physical description

Digital black & white photograph

Inscriptions & markings

S302 VR S302