Collections at the National Railway Museum

South Australian Railways

Broad Gauge

Class operators                                                   South Australian Railways; Australian National Railways

Condition                                                             Good (not operational)

Entered service                                                   1947

Entered the museum                                           28/6/1988

Number in class                                                  1

Ownership                                                          Port Dock Station Railway Trust

Provenance                                                        South Australian Railways

Withdrawn                                                          1984

Built by the South Australian Railways at the Islington Works in 1947, the broad gauge Cafeteria Car was the first of a new generation of passenger vehicles introduced to the State. It spent most of its life on the ‘East West Express’ between Adelaide and Port Pirie enabling the elimination of the traditional refreshment stops. After a few years on hire to the Victorian Railways, it was withdrawn in 1984 and stored until purchased by the museum in very poor condition. A major refurbishment, costing many thousands of dollars, restored it to its authentic 1940s decor.