Rawlinna, Western Australia

Rawlinna was a replenishment stop for freight trains and the Commonwealth Railways passenger train, the Great Western Express, which was inaugurated in 1917 (when the line was opened) and its successor, the Trans-Australian. Before 1951, when diesel locomotives were introduced, steam locomotives needed frequent replenishment with water. On the Trans-Australian Railway, frequent servicing was also required because of poor water quality; Rawlinna was one of four major stations that had workshops and facilities such as a food store and bakery operated by the Commonwealth Railways, and a school which took part in an annual inter-school sports day alongside students from Cook and Tarcoola. Diesel-hauled passenger trains only need to stop to refill water in the passenger cars. That factor, combined with changed technologies – such as concrete sleepers, modern rail fastenings, continuous welded rail and mechanised track maintenance by contractors – eliminated the need for local employees. With trains travelling faster – passenger, freight – train crews no longer rested at Rawlinna, staying instead at Parkeston and Cook. About 10 buildings remain. When the entire Sydney–Perth line was converted to standard gauge in 1970, the passenger train service was re-named the Indian Pacific. ==References==