Railways and Tramways of Australia

Tasmania’s foremost train

 

The Tasman Limited made its inaugural journey on 5 April 1954.

 

Passenger trains served Tasmania since the first trains began in 1871, generally providing a basic level of comfort. But the Tasman Limited became the state’s foremost train.

 

Services were initially formed by DP Class railcars, built by Commonwealth Engineering and entering service in 1950. Three separate two-car railcars operated on the Tasman Limited from Hobart, Launceston and Wynyard, all meeting at Western Junction (18 km from Launceston) to enable passengers to change trains.

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The Tasman Limited became a locomotive-hauled train in 1955. Northbound and southbound trains operated between Hobart and Wynyard, with a railcar connection running between Western Junction and Launceston. Steel articulated passenger carriages were purpose-built at Launceston railway workshops. The carriages were finished in Queensland maple and featured wide windows. Extensive use of rubber in the bogies helped provide smooth riding comfort.

 

From its beginning the Tasman Limited was popular with passengers. It provided meals, recorded music and a commentary regarding places of interest along the journey. Although introduced as a limited-stop service, the withdrawal of other passenger services in 1956 and 1957 led to numerous additional stops being added. Changes were made to the timetable to enable time for the additional stops, and further alterations provided better connection with Bass Strait ferry services. It continued to operate successfully throughout the 1960s and early 1970s.

 

Difficult economic conditions in the 1970s brought increasing losses for the train. In addition, competition from airlines, coach services and private motor cars led to declining passenger numbers.

 

The Tasman Limited operated in both directions for the last time on 28 July 1978. Additional carriages were added to enable passengers to farewell Tasmania’s foremost train.

 

View

A short promotional film about the Tasman Limited:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73xIEzhaVnY

 

Bibliography

HJW Stokes, ‘The rise and fall of the Tasman Limited’, Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin, no. 493, November 1978, pp 237–4.

‘The Tasman Limited’, Railways of Australia Network, vol. 1, no. 5, October 1964, p 3.