Two trains named the Inter City Express and the Northern Commercial Limited were introduced taking 2 hours 45 minutes to cover the 168 kilometres.

In September 1936, the Northern Commercial Limited was renamed the Newcastle Express and in April 1937, the first non-stop service was introduced with a journey time of 2 hours 20 minutes.

Although 3801 first worked a Newcastle Flyer service in February 1943,[2] it would not be until May 1944 that they were regularly introduced and even then they continued to share the duties with the 36 class locomotives for another three years.

[1] In April 1948, air-conditioned HUB set rolling stock was introduced to the service replacing N type steel carriages.

[3][4] From January 1956, the Newcastle Flyer was sometimes hauled by diesel locomotives, but the 38 class remained the usual motive power.

[6] By November 1987, only the morning Sydney bound and evening return remained and these ceased on 8 April 1988, replaced by unnamed V set services.

[7][8] In January 1992, in the CityRail timetable, a morning Sydney bound and evening return V set service were called the Newcastle Flyer.

[citation needed] In October 2022, 3801 hauled a special train from Sydney's Central railway station to the new interchange built at Wickham.