Cooma Mail

Cooma Mail

Overview
Service type	Passenger train
Status	Ceased
First service	May 1889
Last service	31 May 1986
Former operator(s)	State Rail Authority
Route
Termini	Sydney Cooma
Distance travelled	435 kilometres
Service frequency	daily in each direction
Train number(s)	SL12/SL13
Line(s) used	Main South Bombala

The Cooma Mail was an Australian passenger train that operated from May 1889 until May 1986 between Sydney and Cooma.

History

The Cooma Mail commenced operating following the opening of the line from Michelago to Cooma in May 1889. The service ran overnight departing Sydney at 21:00 arriving in Cooma at 10:30 the following morning.^[1]

In 1912, the service was upgraded to run as a passenger train throughout. It had previously operated as a mixed train south of Queanbeyan, and accelerated departing Sydney at 20:25 and arriving at 07:00. In March 1927, a Canberra portion was added.^[1]

In June 1981, the Sydney bound services was altered to operate as a daylight service departing Cooma at 08:50.^[1] On 31 May 1986, the Cooma Mail was withdrawn.^[2]

References

1. Stokes, HJW (1984). Railways of the Canberra and Monaro Districts. Canberra: Australian Railway Historical Society, ACT Division. pp. 17, 19, 29.
2. "New Services from 1 June" Railway Digest July 1986 page 204