I notice that the flyer says that Yarra car will be attached . . .  "the only main line carriage with a viewing platform".
What has happened to State Car No 4?

What does that even mean - Tambo is Main line certified  (heading to Swan Hill in May) and it has a viewing platform.

Sounds like a great tour though!

BG

I notice that the flyer says that Yarra car will be attached . . .  "the only main line carriage with a viewing platform".
What has happened to State Car No 4?

Who knows Valvegear but it would be nice if some of these special service vehicles got an airing occasionally?

Is it the 'real' SoP dining car or is it Avoca? For some reason I thought that the original SoP dining car had been murdered.
Not that it matters other than a point of accuracy. Personally, I would prefer Avoca as the SoP dining car always appeared 'somewhat bland' to me.

What does that even mean - Tambo is Main line certified  (heading to Swan Hill in May) and it has a viewing platform.

Sounds like a great tour though!

BG

It looks like a fantastic tour!

I notice that the flyer says that Yarra car will be attached . . .  "the only main line carriage with a viewing platform".
What has happened to State Car No 4?

Is it the 'real' SoP dining car or is it Avoca? For some reason I thought that the original SoP dining car had been murdered.
Not that it matters other than a point of accuracy.

The original SoP dining car was renamed "Murray" and sometimes replaced a VRS on the SG Spirit.
It was painted two tone grey for the 1988 Royal Train.
It is back in blue and I think it was relettered "Dining Car" for the 70th Anniversary run to Albury in September 2007.
The 70th Anniversary train was entirely made up of original "Spirit" cars including the brake van, dining car and parlor car.
It is possible that one or more of the sitting cars on the 70th anniversary might not have been on the original train in 1937 since a couple of extra cars were built. A number of sitting cars had buffets added as type BRS.

But as far as I know Murray is still roughly as built (ie a 48 seat dining car - i think the kitchen has been updated a couple of times).

The last time I saw "Avoca" it was painted red for the Train of Knowledge, and I'm not sure who has it now.

I don't think State Car 4 has ever been run on a public train and it had a polycarbonate sheet effectively enclosing the open platform from the rear.

Peter

State Car No.4 was used in October 2010 on push-pull shuttles between Seymour and Mangalore with R761 and a T-class.

I don't think State Car 4 has ever been run on a public train and it had a polycarbonate sheet effectively enclosing the open platform from the rear.

Unfortunately, somebody has misled you. I have acted as a Train Officer on many occasions in State Car No 4 in the previously balmy days at SRHC. The rear platform was always accessible to passengers, and as far as I know, still is.

I don't think State Car 4 has ever been run on a public train and it had a polycarbonate sheet effectively enclosing the open platform from the rear.

Unfortunately, somebody has misled you. I have acted as a Train Officer on many occasions in State Car No 4 in the previously balmy days at SRHC. The rear platform was always accessible to passengers, and as far as I know, still is.

I can definitely vouch for that! Some cold times spent out on State Car 4's balcony and Yarra.

As others have mentioned, the advertising is rather misleading. Tambo, based at the VGR will be on Steamrail's Swan Hill Overlander Saturday week (6th May) it has an open viewing platform and will be available to the public as it has been the past few years on Echuca tours ex Castlemaine.

Regards,
Lionel.

I notice that someone at SRHC has extracted the digit and discovered that Yarra has the two cousins mentioned above, because the wording on the trip brochure has been altered.