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Withdrawn from service: 1966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