nswgr

Its rather curious that the promote tours to the blue mountains and newcastle with a victorian train.

Mich Read the brochure, it's for people in Victoria.

The larger of the warships on the right looks rather familiar.

grahamH Well OK, but in those days, the "Spirit of Progress" would only take them as far as Albury.

Mich True... As a child I walked and was carried across the platform at Albury.

1929 was the year the express service was launched, hauled by 36 class steam locos. It looks like a 36 on the front. Perhaps it's the first run? From Wiki - The Northern Commercial Limited and the Inter City Express were the names given to the trains, the latter of which eventually became known as The Newcastle Express.

This photo predates the introduction of the NCL and ICE Expresses,w hich began operation on 11 Novemer 1929. Those trains were hauled by 32 class locomotives for the first few years and the carriages were different to those shown here, being a 6 car end platform tourist set for the first two months before being replaced by a six car CUB set. 36 class locomotives only began operating these trains from October 15, 1934.

I think this photo is at Wondabyne

Back in those amazing days when train windows opened I expect? Lovely photo!

The carriage which they are standing in front of is CT681, formerly the 1884 built AB class state car.

Comment from reader T. Edmonds: The kitchen staff are posed with car 681, the kitchen car from the Commissioner’s Train (see pic 15309_a015_000012). This indicates the kitchen car was being used for meal preparation for the loyalists.