Test your knowledge of railway and tramway history in Western Australia with this 20 question quiz:

https://www.railtram.com.au/wa-history-quiz

Excellent quiz but not so good on the success on my part 45%

Not bad, got 65%

I don't know if I agree with the answer to number 17 though. (What two locations did electric services start running in 1991).

As far as I was aware, the first use of Electric Railcars on the Perth network in passenger service was the Royal Show between Perth and the Showgrounds in 1991, but I could be wrong.

Not bad, got 65%

I don't know if I agree with the answer to number 17 though. (What two locations did electric services start running in 1991).

As far as I was aware, the first use of Electric Railcars on the Perth network in passenger service was the Royal Show between Perth and the Showgrounds in 1991, but I could be wrong.

Thanks for the feedback 8077 and steve_w_1990.


I have added the word “regular” to question 17 to clarify that it was asking about the first regular electric train services in Perth.


My main source for that question was Transit Australia, January 1992, page 3. You are correct steve_w_1990 in that special demonstration runs for the public operated between Perth and the Showgrounds on 28 September. But even before that on 26 September there was an official launch trip carrying politicians, and another run for 40 children from Leederville Primary School, the children becoming the first official members of the public to ride on an electric train in Perth.


Regular electric train services commenced on 7 October 1991 between the locations identified as the correct answer to Question 17.

Fair enough, thanks for the response.

I'm not quite up to date on how the electrification in Perth unfolded, as I was barely 11 months old in October 1991, and I didn't arrive in Perth until May 2012, so most of the information I've got I either got of Wikipedia, talked with people who were familiar with the topic, or I've taken an educated guess to fill in the blanks.

I was always under the impression that regular electric services on all three heritage lines started at the same time. I know that electric railcars, diesel railcars and loco hauled trains ran in conjunction until about 1993, which I'm assuming was when the last of the 43 A series trains were delivered and commissioned.

The Joondalup line didn't come online until 1992 I believe. There is a photo floating around of a diesel railcar on the Joondalup line, however, weather they ever operated up there in regular service in the beginning I don't know.

Thanks for taking the time to put these quizzes together, they do provide a good bit of entertainment and have proven that I can make a fairly good educated guess from time to time! (There's also been a few trick questions that have caught me out as well!)

I was already aware that I knew very little about the WA railways, and a score of 30% proved it! None the less, it was great fun, and thanks again to spletsie.

Fair enough, thanks for the response.

I'm not quite up to date on how the electrification in Perth unfolded, as I was barely 11 months old in October 1991, and I didn't arrive in Perth until May 2012, so most of the information I've got I either got of Wikipedia, talked with people who were familiar with the topic, or I've taken an educated guess to fill in the blanks.

I was always under the impression that regular electric services on all three heritage lines started at the same time. I know that electric railcars, diesel railcars and loco hauled trains ran in conjunction until about 1993, which I'm assuming was when the last of the 43 A series trains were delivered and commissioned.

The Joondalup line didn't come online until 1992 I believe. There is a photo floating around of a diesel railcar on the Joondalup line, however, weather they ever operated up there in regular service in the beginning I don't know.

Thanks for taking the time to put these quizzes together, they do provide a good bit of entertainment and have proven that I can make a fairly good educated guess from time to time! (There's also been a few trick questions that have caught me out as well!)

The book Marble Bar to Mandurah: a history of passenger rail services in Western Australia, by Geoffrey Higham, Rail Heritage WA, Perth, 2007, p. 235, provides more information:

Perth’s electric trains were first introduced during Royal Show week in September 1991 with regular services beginning on the Armadale line on 7 October 1991. The Midland and Fremantle lines were energised in July 1991 and electric services on these routes began in December, which saw the end of locomotive-hauled trains. On 5 April 1992 the last diesel railcar services were withdrawn and another era closed, reducing the variety for interested train-watchers, but again not missed by most paying customers.


So loco-hauled trains, diesel railcars and electric trains were used at the same time, but only up to April 1992.


Transit Australia, August 1992, p. 191, says that there was an official launch of the all-electric network on 11 April 1992 with free train travel. Train naming ceremonies took place at Perth, Fremantle, Armadale and Midland.



The Joondalup line was officially opened on 20 December 1992. Limited free public services began the following day. Full services began 21 March 1993. The line was extended to Currambine on 8 August 1993, Clarkson on 4 October 2004, and Butler on 21 September 2014.

Thanks for the feedback about the quizzes.

I was already aware that I knew very little about the WA railways, and a score of 30% proved it! None the less, it was great fun, and thanks again to spletsie.

Thanks again for your feedback, Valvegear.