This small carriage was originally built as Travelling Post Office Van 018 for use on the Intercolonial Express that ran between Adelaide and Melbourne. It was jointly owned by the Victorian and South Australian Railways, and was first used in January 1887.
The many identities of Van 018
When new larger Travelling Post Office vans were constructed for the Melbourne Express in 1908 this van was removed from joint stock service and became the exclusive property of the South Australian Railways. It was then given the new number 258.
Having little use for a mail van, 258 was rebuilt in 1916 into a Commissioner’s Inspection car and was renamed Murray. In 1934 a new Commissioner’s car was built and given the name Murray, so the old inspection car was then renamed Willochra.
Retirement years
After being condemned in 1966, Willochra was used as accommodation on a farm at Jabuk in the Murray Mallee, South Australia. Willochra was eventually sold again and ended up on display at Old Tailem Town Historic Village at Tailem Bend, South Australia. In June 1991 it was acquired by the National Railway Museum, where it has been restored as far as possible to its original 1887-1908 Travelling Post Office appearance.
Details
Built by: South Australian Railways
Operators: Victorian and South Australian Railways,
South Australian Railways
Number in class: 3
Entered service: January 1887
Withdrawn from service: 1966
Entered the Museum: 27th June 1991
Metric Imperial
Broad gauge: 1,600 mm 5’3″
Length: post 1935, 10.38 m 35’4½”
Weight: post 1935, 19 tonnes 18 tons 14 cwt
28/01/1952. Tailem Bend WILLOCHRA originally Post Office Van 1886 Ex Joint Stock Intercolonial ! Later Murray then Officers Car 28/01/1952. Tailem Bend WILLOCHRA originally Post Office Van 1886 Ex Joint Stock Intercolonial ! Later Murray then Officers Car – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, General Print Collection (RA06312.jpg)27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 exterior (275-373-p1080009) 27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 exterior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 exterior (275-373-p1080008) 27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 exterior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior (275-373-p1053367_24) 22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 interior (275-373-p1080006) 27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 interior (275-373-p1080007) 27.3.2010 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van O18 interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior (275-373-p1053367_23) 22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior (275-373-p1053367_22) 22.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra (275-373-p1053143) 6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra (275-373-p1053142) 6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra (275-373-p1053141) 6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra (275-373-p1053140) 6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra (275-373-p1053139) 6.9.2008 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office Van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.12.2006 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia SAR Post office van Willochra (275-373-p1031691) 16.12.2006 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia SAR Post office van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.12.2006 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia SAR Post office van Willochra (275-373-p1031685) 16.12.2006 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia SAR Post office van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)26.08.2003 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide car Willochra being lifted of bogies by road crane – turning body – post office van – rf#11842 (124-1338-n008-23) 26.08.2003 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide car Willochra being lifted of bogies by road crane – turning body – post office van – rf#11842 – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Ron Fluck Negative Collection (CRS 124-1338)1910 Wasleys-Hamley Bridge section SAR loco S134 on a passenger train with dog boxes & Post Office van on a Pt Pirie-Gladstone bg transfer 1910 Wasleys-Hamley Bridge section SAR loco S134 on a passenger train with dog boxes & Post Office van on a Pt Pirie-Gladstone bg transfer – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, General Print Collection (AR07726.jpg)c 1900 Largs Jetty English Mail boat train on Largs Jetty – view showing passenger carriages and English Mail Travelling Post Office van and bulk mail van behind locomotive c 1900 Largs Jetty English Mail boat train on Largs Jetty – view showing passenger carriages and English Mail Travelling Post Office van and bulk mail van behind locomotive – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, General Print Collection (ACY07573.jpg)26.6.1966 Moss Vale – New South Wales Dynamometer car on turntable (330-1405-66-24-09) 26.6.1966 Moss Vale – New South Wales Dynamometer car on turntable – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Graham Ahern Slide Collection (CRS 330-1405)14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra (275-373-p1010514) 14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior (275-373-p1010513) 14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior (275-373-p1010512) 14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior (275-373-p1010511) 14.1.2004 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia post office van Willochra interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)23.11.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Willochra car Post Office van (275-373-p1005613) 23.11.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Willochra car Post Office van – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)23.11.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Willochra car Post Office van (275-373-p1005612) 23.11.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Willochra car Post Office van – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)7.10.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia work being done on Willochra car Post Office van (275-373-p1005428) 7.10.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia work being done on Willochra car Post Office van – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)7.10.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia work being done on Willochra car Post Office van (275-373-p1005427) 7.10.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia work being done on Willochra car Post Office van – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration (275-373-p1004778) 6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration (275-373-p1004777) 6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration (275-373-p1004775) 6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration (275-373-p1004774) 6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration (275-373-p1004773) 6.8.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van Willochra car restoration – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003093) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003092) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003091) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003090) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003089) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies (275-373-p1003088) 16.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car bogies – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior (275-373-p1003084) 9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior (275-373-p1003082) 9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior (275-373-p1003081) 9.3.2002 National Railway Museum – Port Adelaide – South Australia Post Office van – Willochra car interior – National Railway Museum, Port Adelaide, Chris Drymalik Digital Camera Photos (CRS 275-373)
