SYDNEY TO BRISBANE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16098, 11 December 1915, Page 8

SYDNEY TO BRISBANE.

NEW EXPRESS SERVICE.

LUXURIOUS SPEED TRAIN.

The Brisbane-Sy-Iney express train which recently commenced running in addition to the ordinary daily mail train reduces the time of the journey by nearly three hours. Special engines have been built, capable of travelling at a speed that will ensure the reduction in time. It is claimed by those who feupervised their construction that their work on the road has proved them to be equal to any locomotive in the world. The express is being hauled by two of these engines, and the average load will be about 250 tons, which, considering the grade on parts of the journey, is a stiff one.

Probably no train in Australia, says the Sydney Daily Telegraph, is doing such long non-stop runs as tie Brisbane express. The train departs from Sydney at ' 6.50 p.m., and runs through to Hornsby (21 miles), where it is dne at 7.28 p.m., leaving again two minutes later. From there it goes on to Werris Creek, 234 miles, without a halt. A**' Werris Creek ! engines are changed, and then the express j goes on to Armidale, a ran of 104 miles, J reaching there at> 6.15 a.m. Again new en?" is take charge of the train. From there a run is made to Glen Innes, 64 miles, without stoppage, and the train is , due there at 8.16 a.m. A stay of 20 mini utee ia allowed passengers for breakfast, ' and after Glen Innes ,the express does 69 miles to the border without stopping. It arrives there a few minutes behind the ordinary mail train, which leaves Svdney j at 4 p.m.—nearly three hours before the , express The express arrives in Brisbane at 8.20 p.m. The carriages which make up the express are elaborate. A feature of the sleepers is the number of two-berth compartments. These berths are fitted up with electric reading lamps, electric fans, and hot and cold water. Spring mattresses are used in the beds, and the lamps are so arranged that the person sleeping on the upper berth may read without disturbing the occupier of the lower one. Another improvement is the installation of a now type of ventilator, which provides a cool breeze and at the same time prevents coal dust or cinders entering the carriage. Several apartments are set off as sittingrooms for women. They carry a number of cane chairs upholstered in blue plush with carpets to match. What is probably the best of the cars-that form part ° the train is that knewn as the CAM. It is 75ft long, and contains a number of sleeping berths, a general saloon, and a smoking saloon; and, in the opinion of some railway officials, is equal to anything of its kind in the world Other cars provide both two and fourberth compartments.