Caves Express

The Caves Express was an Australian special passenger rail service that operated between 1929 and 1942 on the

Blue Mountains Line in New South Wales.^[1] The name was derived from the nearby Jenolan Caves

Introduction

The railway from

Knapsack Viaduct

. An effect of the improved road was to take some traffic away from the railway.

In order to stem the decrease in passengers taking place and with a desire to even improve patronage beyond previous figures, the New South Wales Government Railways introduced the Caves Express on 11 November 1929.^[2] The journey from Sydney to Mount Victoria took 2 hours 30 minutes, the timing being achieved by the train being limited to five carriages with a total weight of just 125 tons and the elimination of many intermediate stops.

In November 1931 the

C36 class

.

In 1942 as a wartime economy measure, the Caves Express was suspended. It had a mediocre revival between 1953 and 1956 when it re-appeared in the timetables for Fridays and Saturdays only, running to a semi-fast schedule in the westbound direction only.

Preservation

Car RBR 1049, previously used on the Caves Express, has been restored with blue and gold livery. It is preserved and on display at Valley Heights Rail Museum^[3]

References

^ "The Caves Express" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin November 1995 pages 315-321
^ Full Steam across the Mountains Phil Belpin
^ "Large Exhibits: RBR passenger car". Valley Heights Rail Museum. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[1] "The Caves Express" Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin November 1995 pages 315-321

[2] Full Steam across the Mountains Phil Belpin

[3] "Large Exhibits: RBR passenger car". Valley Heights Rail Museum. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

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