The East Hills line timetables- Part 2, 1987- (Part 1!)

This timetable, dated 31st May 1987, is the last timetable prior to the opening of the extension to Glenfield. It's also in a new style. I must admit that of all the timetables published before and after, this style is my favourite. There is something about the snaky coloured line on the front with the major station names, and the 'East Hills Line' title in the format of the station signs of the time that screams 1980s. Perhaps its also that I was 14 at the time and it's probably my earliest real memory of carrying one of these things around.

The map is also my favourite of all the styles of State Rail/ CityRail maps published before and after. I've pointed out it's flaws on my website before, especially the ambiguous junctions at Blacktown and Cabramatta, but despite this it remains simple, clear and kinda funky. I also have fond memories of the perspex maps on the carriage walls above the side windows in the S and R sets (and can recall ripping a few off in a miss-spent youth).

Anyway, into the timetable we go, and its basically the 1985 timetable  tweaked a bit, with a few curiosities. The basic 15 minute clock face timetable remains, along with the few weekday peak hour limited stops runs, most of which have had their stopping patterns slightly adjusted. There are also a few services that terminate at Central with an asterix beside the time but no explanation of what that means. Presumably it refers to the fact that they terminate in the country platform but we are left to speculate and the 'Explanation of Symbols' is of no assistance.  There is also a 'Days' column across the top, despite it remaining quite blank all through the timetable.

And what do I see at 6:53pm on weekday nights? A St James terminator!

The rear cover has lost the fares and phone number information, too bad if you need help. But here we see the start of political spin, a list of looming new trains and improvements- the XPT is coming, so are 520 (yet to be named) Tangaras. Not sure about the 140 luxury air-conditioned interurban carriages, maybe the once proposed Inter-Urban Goninan Tangara variant that never came off (more on this in another post). $2,500 million in upgrades etc, in 1987 dollars (whew!). $2,500 million sounds like so much more than $2.5 billion. It was of course the last days of Barry Unsworth.

Next.... the opening of the Glenfield extension.