Bride trains explained

In 1945 and 1946 several "bride trains" were run in Australia to transport war brides to or from ships.

These trains included:

• September 1945: A train from Perth to Brisbane, where the women and their children were to embark on a ship bound for the United States. The war brides endured cramped and uncomfortable conditions during the first leg of this trip.^[1]
• September 1945: A train travelling directly from Melbourne to Brisbane carrying 230 women and 70 children (including those who had embarked at Perth) bound for the United States.^[2]
• September 1945: A special train from Sydney to Brisbane carrying more than 254 women and 85 children bound for the United States.^[3]
• October 1945: A train carrying Canadian war brides departed Brisbane for the southern states.^{[4] [5]}
• February 1946: A train carrying 495 women and children from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.^[6]
• April 1946: A train carrying British war brides from Melbourne to Sydney^[7]
• April: A train carrying 41 women and 17 children to Brisbane where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.^[8]
• May 1946: A train carrying women and children from Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne to Sydney where they boarded a ship bound for the United States.^[9]
• June 1946: A train carrying 80 women and 46 children bound for the United States.^[10]

The 2004 single Bridal Train by The Waifs is about the experiences of women who travelled on the Bride Trains.

References

Citations

Works consulted

• Web site: Arrowsmith . Robyn Anne . Australian WWII war brides in America: their memories and experiences . PhD Thesis . Macquarie University . 2010.

Notes and References

1. News: Hysteria as bride train leaves . . 2212 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 September 1945 . 8 August 2018 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: AMAZING SCENE AS BRIDE-TRAIN LEAVES . . LXIII . 21,972 . Western Australia . 8 September 1945 . 8 August 2018 . 4 (FIRST EDITION) . National Library of Australia.
3. News: Hysterical mothers chase U.S. bride train . . VI . 43 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 September 1945 . 8 August 2018 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. News: BRIDE TRAIN FOR SOUTH. . . 13,616 . Queensland, Australia . 22 October 1945 . 8 August 2018 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
5. News: Overland Was Bride Train . . 45 . 6,938 . South Australia . 26 October 1945 . 8 August 2018 . 3 . National Library of Australia.
6. News: "Strike" By Mothers Delays Bride Train . . X . 284 . New South Wales, Australia . 18 February 1946 . 8 August 2018 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
7. News: Husband Travels On Bride Train . . XI . 26 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 April 1946 . 8 August 2018 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
8. News: Red Cross Service for Bride Train . . 21,688 . New South Wales, Australia . 9 April 1946 . 8 August 2018 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
9. News: Mothers, Babies Ill On Bride Train. . . 11,335 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 May 1946 . 8 August 2018 . 5 (LATE FINAL EXTRA) . National Library of Australia.
10. News: SPECIAL BRIDE TRAIN FOR W A . . 31,142 . Victoria, Australia . 24 June 1946 . 8 August 2018 . 3 . National Library of Australia.