On 17 November 1937, at Spencer Street Station in Melbourne, Victorian Premier Albert Dunstan took a special gold key and opened the door of a brand-new world-class train – the ‘Spirit of Progress’. Launched in a blaze of publicity the new all steel train ushered in unheard of levels of comfort on the express run from Melbourne to Albury.
In April 1962 the NSW standard gauge line was extended into Victoria which allowed the Spirit of Progress to travel all the way from Melbourne to Sydney for the first time. The train ran nightly in each direction. By the mid-1980s, with the development of better roads and cheaper airfares, the overnight express trains had become obsolete. The ‘Spirit’ ran her last runs in August 1986 and never returned to NSW.
34 years later, on 22 March 2021, the Spirit of Progress leaves Sydney for her exciting and historic express run to Albury and Melbourne. Departing Sydney Terminal, you’ll settle back in one of the original compartment seating cars. You might also like to visit the Parlor Car for a drink with friends as the countryside rolls by on the way to Junee for lunch at the historic Station Café before arriving at Albury for your overnight stay.
Two nights are included at the glamorous Savoy Hotel on Little Collins, with a gala dinner to celebrate the return of the ‘Spirit’. There’s an entire day to explore Melbourne as you wish before flying home the following day.
We invite you to be part of history – all aboard!