<\/p>\n
The\nSouthern Aurora <\/span>train<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe parcel van end of the Southern Aurora heads south across the Edward Street level crossing in Wagga. The train was running very late when Ian McIlwain captured this photo in 1962. Note the illuminated sign, and that the parcel van is closest to Sydney – which made the transfer of luggage to\/from the parcel office at Central Station quicker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was a first class premium sleeper only service, that ran\nbetween Sydney and Melbourne. <\/span>The\nservice started in April 1962, and due to various reasons, <\/span>finished in August 1986. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe Aurora\nwas scheduled as an overnight train, running daily. <\/span>One train <\/span>headed north from Melbourne\u2019s Swanson Street\nstation (now Southern Cross), and the southbound train left Sydney Central. <\/span>They crossed generally north of Junee on the\ndouble track.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBoth trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe parcel van end of the Southern Aurora heads south across the Edward Street level crossing in Wagga. The train was running very late when Ian McIlwain captured this photo in 1962. Note the illuminated sign, and that the parcel van is closest to Sydney – which made the transfer of luggage to\/from the parcel office at Central Station quicker<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was a first class premium sleeper only service, that ran\nbetween Sydney and Melbourne. <\/span>The\nservice started in April 1962, and due to various reasons, <\/span>finished in August 1986. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe Aurora\nwas scheduled as an overnight train, running daily. <\/span>One train <\/span>headed north from Melbourne\u2019s Swanson Street\nstation (now Southern Cross), and the southbound train left Sydney Central. <\/span>They crossed generally north of Junee on the\ndouble track.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBoth trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was a first class premium sleeper only service, that ran\nbetween Sydney and Melbourne. <\/span>The\nservice started in April 1962, and due to various reasons, <\/span>finished in August 1986. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe Aurora\nwas scheduled as an overnight train, running daily. <\/span>One train <\/span>headed north from Melbourne\u2019s Swanson Street\nstation (now Southern Cross), and the southbound train left Sydney Central. <\/span>They crossed generally north of Junee on the\ndouble track.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBoth trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
The\nSouthern Aurora was a first class premium sleeper only service, that ran\nbetween Sydney and Melbourne. <\/span>The\nservice started in April 1962, and due to various reasons, <\/span>finished in August 1986. <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe Aurora\nwas scheduled as an overnight train, running daily. <\/span>One train <\/span>headed north from Melbourne\u2019s Swanson Street\nstation (now Southern Cross), and the southbound train left Sydney Central. <\/span>They crossed generally north of Junee on the\ndouble track.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBoth trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
The Aurora\nwas scheduled as an overnight train, running daily. <\/span>One train <\/span>headed north from Melbourne\u2019s Swanson Street\nstation (now Southern Cross), and the southbound train left Sydney Central. <\/span>They crossed generally north of Junee on the\ndouble track.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBoth trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Both trains\nwere not timetabled to stop at Wagga Wagga, so I never got to ride on\nthem. <\/span>For Wagga passengers wanting an\novernight service, the railways provided the Spirit Of Progress, a train I got\nto ride frequently in the late 1970s, and 1980 \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThe\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
The\nSouthern Aurora was always diesel hauled. \n<\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nPHN power van attached to train #66, (not the Southern Aurora), heading north, has just passed the Urana Street Level Crossing. Picture by Ian McIlwain Dec 13, 1961<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nSouthtbound and late running Southern Aurora running extra late, and stopped as someone had dropped the staff which needed to be found. Sept 13th, 1962. Three pictures by Ian McIlwain<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nCarriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Carriages\nused.<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nBoth NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Both NSW,\nand Victoria co-operated on the building of the stainless steel carriages, which\nare modified Pullman designs (for the loading gauge differences between\nAustralia, and USA) <\/span>There were 7 main\ndesigns<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
PHN Power\nVan. <\/span>6 were built initially,\nwith one additional Power van in 1970 (after Violet Town accident destroyed PHN\n2370)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nMHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
MHN Brake\nvans <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
BCS Lounge\ncars <\/span>3 were initially\nconstructed, with one replacement in 1970 to replace BCS 2355, destroyed in\nVoilet Town accident in Feb 1969)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nRMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
RMS Dining\ncars <\/span>3 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nDAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
DAM\nsleeping car <\/span>These are deluxe\ntwinnette. <\/span>2 were constructed<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
NAM\nsleeping car <\/span>Twinette. 9 were\nconstructed for the Aurora service, <\/span>2 as\nlate as 1971 to replace Voilet Town destroyed NAM 2339, and NAM 2343. <\/span>(Note 5 \n<\/span>additional NAMs were built from 1959, and used on the Brisbane Limited,\nand 3 were used on the Spirit Of Progress)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nLAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
LAN\nsleeping car <\/span>Roomette cars,\nwith a curving corridor. <\/span>11 constructed\n\u2013 three in 1970 and 1971 to replace those destroyed at Voilet town (numbers\n2345, 2346 & 2350). <\/span>(Note 6 <\/span>additional LAMs were built from 1959, and\nused on the Brisbane Limited)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
(Thanks to\nIan Black for much of the above information, the rest from Wiki)<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nWhen the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
When the\nSouthern Aurora train ceased, were the carriages scrapped?<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nFortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Fortunately,\nmost of the carriage fleet was sold, or donated to various groups, and\nmuseums. <\/span>It is still possible to see,\nand ride on them.<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nA preserved Southern Aurora passed through Wagga in 2012. (picture from the internet)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Modelling\nthe Aurora carriages.<\/o:p><\/span><\/b><\/p>\nIgnoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Ignoring\nthe earlier out of scale, and generic stainless steel corrugated carriages\nproduced by Triang\/Hornby, Lima produced models of both the Indian Pacific, and\nSouthern Aurora sleeping cars in the 1970s. \n<\/span>The Southern Aurora cars were different from the Indian Pacific, in the\ndesign of the sides, but otherwise they used the same roof, and carriage ends. <\/span>These models were made in quantity, <\/span>to go in their trainsets, along with NSW diesel\n <\/span>4469, or their horrid VR S variant,\nwhich I will say no more). <\/span>The carriage\nwas a fairly basic model, but a train of these did capture the feel of the\nAurora. <\/span>However, <\/span>being a basic model, the carriages were\nlacking details. <\/span>Casula Hobbies sold me\nan underframe kit, which improved the look, by adding battery boxes, airtanks\nand clutter. <\/span>Replacement of the couplers\nfinished my improvements. <\/span>Other simple\nupgrades were replacement RP25\/100 wheels\/axle (to replace the Lima cookie\ncutter wheels), and I undertand there was a flushglaze window kit. <\/span> <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLima Aurora carriage, with underframe fitted. Similar to the NAM sleeper in the window style. The “railways of australia” decal is obviously a hangover from the Indian Pacific<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe underframe was a single piece of cast resin, glued or screwed to the base of the coach<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nModelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Modelling\nthe aurora train with Lima coaches was not that convincing for the purist, in\nthat Lima didn\u2019t include the dining, lounge, or parcel vans. <\/span>Lima later did introduce a power car for the\nIndian Pacific, although that again used the same roof as the coaches, and none\nof the exhaust openings. <\/span>Both Hanovale\nModels, and Hawksmoor produced kits for specific coaches for the Aurora. <\/span>I bought the Hawksmoor PHN power van, but\nhave not assembled it<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe Hawksmoor PHN kit included flush windows, bogies, and cost me $81. Being a resin casting, the sides have bowed slightly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n
<\/span><\/p>\nSome other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Some other\nmodellers went much further. <\/span>Ian Black\u2019s\nseries of Lima improvements, finally appeared in a series of articles starting\nwith issue 294 (June 2012) in the Australian Model Railway Magazine (AMRM) on\nmodifying the Lima cars to make up an entire Aurora train. <\/span>For the dedicated kitbasher, these articles\nare highly recommended for the techniques, and ideas employed. <\/span><\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nIn 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
In 2010,\nTrainBuilder, a Victorian based company, sold a limited number of Aurora sets ,\nmade in China, RTR in brass. <\/span>Their sets\nof 7 coaches (DAM, NAM, LAN, PHN, BCS, RMS, & MHN) <\/span>were priced at $3800, with individual extra\nsleeping carriages around $550 each. <\/span>I\nam not aware if this set has been rerun<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nThen in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Then in\n2016, Auscision brought out a 10 car Southern Aurora set, in RTR plastic for\n$1400, (sets with an additional $100 for a period specific lit \u201cSouthern\nAurora\u201d sign on the parcel van, and power cars were also available). <\/span>These sets sold out quickly, and I was happy\nto secure one set. <\/span>Auscision\u2019s rerun of these\nsets in 2023, and at time of writing, <\/span>are still available. Cost now $1500 ( or $1600\nwith the sign) <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNeither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Neither the\nTrain Builder, or Auscision sets have been reviewed in AMRM. <\/span>Thus an opportunity exists to do another\nquick review<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nPicture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Picture\nreview of Train Builder Aurora set<\/o:p><\/span><\/u><\/p>\nI recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
I recently\nwas successful through an online auction of obtaining a Train Builder Southern\naurora 10 car set. <\/span>On receipt of the\nset, there were 2 RMS dining cars, and no MHN parcel van. <\/span>The previous owner had also replaced the\nbrass Train Builder bogies, with Auscsion bogies for better running qualities. Trainbuilder have fitted lighting to all coaches, and a switch underneath can turn it on or off. This only works with the brass bogies (that I don’t have). I didn’t weigh the coaches, but they are more weighty than the Auscision set<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\nNote. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Note. Click on an image for a bigger view. The pipework on these coaches is very impressive, and the thumbnail image doesn’t do it justice<\/span><\/p>\nBCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
BCS Lounge Car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\nRMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
RMS dining car by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nThe dining car was the only carriage in the Trainbuilder set that has an interior. <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\nPHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n <\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
PHN Power van by Trainbuilder<\/i><\/p>\n
<\/o:p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
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<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n![](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiVkYZexjm9fvbUN1kD2ItZPyCGCJUPLSByteFOlRZ7NS9GQUefF-NxR2zNp7pkbBELpEIlvTbXKLxpN0CLCSpmI69uf3Zwitd590GSvXUMU06oHlXzrC34ahx-RbodS7HOmE9ZY2WTaAifYuMLZceqYYPASyiZyw4o3ppVGc5evnSbe2tjHLdcS-9JkOQ\/s3660\/PHN%202363%20(3).jpg\"){kind=link}