This is a PHA-class power van, a vital component of the Southern Aurora, the luxury overnight express that once connected Sydney and Melbourne. Manufactured in 1961, six of these vans were built to supply power to the train’s air conditioning, lighting, and other onboard services. The ribbed stainless steel exterior, still coated in decades of dust, was designed for durability, reflecting the streamlined aesthetic of the era.
Beyond the power van, a sea of carriage roofs stretches under the skeletal framework of the Eveleigh Paint Shop. The domed, weathered surfaces of older wooden cars contrast with the rigid lines of stainless steel, each telling a different story of rail travel. Some of these carriages, including those of the Southern Aurora, carried passengers in first-class luxury, offering sleeper compartments and dining cars for overnight journeys.
Despite its prestige, the Southern Aurora met a tragic moment in history. On February 7, 1969, it was involved in the Violet Town railway disaster, a catastrophic head-on collision with a freight train that claimed eight lives. By 1986, declining passenger numbers led to its final run, merging with the Spirit of Progress into the Sydney/Melbourne Express. Now at rest, this power van is a surviving relic of an era when overnight train travel was the height of comfort, an enduring reminder of the engineering and craftsmanship that powered the golden age of rail.
This print is perfect for those passionate about Australian railway history, capturing the elegance and tragedy of the Southern Aurora and the legacy of Eveleigh Paint Shop.