Comments on: Train Travel: The Ghan from Darwin to Adelaide – Day Three

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 21:45:31 +0000

@Joost – Well then, you and I share a passion for the railways. I look forward to riding some more epic trains around the world as time goes on. It’s kind of a “bucket list” of sorts for me, I guess! 🙂

By: Joost

Joost — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:02:27 +0000

Nora, railways are my passion, along with the country Australia and collecting road maps and road atlases, so I know very much of Australia and Australian railways and I read a lot about it.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 08:56:27 +0000

@Anne – Yes, I heard you were lining up a trip on the Indian Pacific! It’s magnificent, and different from The Ghan as well. You’ll love it! I look forward to telling you about it in person! Not long now…

By: Anne Humphrey

Anne Humphrey — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:41:02 +0000

Nora, I am so glad you enjoyed your trip on the Ghan, & like us not in the least bored! But reading of the time you traveled makes me glad it was the dry season when we did the trip! The weather was just like hot summer days here in NZ.

To do the Indian Pacific trip is our next goal ( yet to read your account) so I look forward to seeing you over the break at Heathers’ so I can hear your experiences in person.
Safe travelling!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 23:00:21 +0000

@Joost – I’ve actually just finished riding the Indian Pacific (in fact, I’m typing this as we’re pulling back into Sydney): I rode it from Sydney to Perth, then right back again! Eight days in all…what an adventure!

By: Joost

Joost — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 12:21:36 +0000

Nora, you’re welcome, The IP (Indian Pacific) is the other transcontinental train of Oz, Sydney-Adelaide-Perth and I can recommend the following leg of your trip. Both Adelaide and Perth are very laid back cities of Australia. I’ve read much, very much in books, atlases, Lonely Planet and the Internet. And I’m very interested in trains. Feel free to visit my own site http://www.xs4all.nl/~jbmajoor/ (unfortunality in Dutch only)

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 14:48:08 +0000

@Terez – I too, have fond childhood memories of taking the train..which is probably why I’m so passionate about it now! And if you enjoyed this series, stay tuned….I’m in the middle of an even bigger train journey!

By: Terez

Terez — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 03:45:48 +0000

Nora, I just want to say I LOVE your blog! My goal is to do far more traveling, and your travels are serving as inspiration for me!

Also, your vivid, engrossing posts about your train trips remind of the train rides I used to take with my late Grandmother as a child.

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful adventures – and Godspeed!

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:02:19 +0000

@Joost – WoW! Thanks for the information! You’re a wealth of history! How did you come to know so much about The Ghan?

By: Joost

Joost — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 19:20:51 +0000

Nora, some more information about The Ghan: before 1980 was a trip on a winding narrow-gauge track from The Alice to Marree. Between 1957 and 1980, for a Alice Springs – Adelaide trip, you had to change twice – due to different gauges. That’s the biggest handicap of Australian trains, each state started its rail building with their own gauge. The first change was at Marree from narrow gauge to standard gauge and the second change was at Port Pirie from standard gauge to broad gauge. From 1983 a through standard gauge Adelaide – Alice Springs train was possible via the western route along Tarcoola. The old route via Marree was vunurable to flooding, delays of several days were common before 1980 – especialy during the raining season. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the track was laid without thinking of heavy rain who spooled whole sections away.

Alice Springs wasn’t connected by rail until 1929, and in 1957 an extra break-of-gauge was created due to the rebuilding and regauging of the Stirling North – Marree stretch to Standard Gauge. The Adelaide – Port Pirie stretch was broad gauge until 1983.

Before 2004, there was no track between Darwin and Alice Springs. However, a 500 km narrow gauge stretch from Darwin to Birdum exsist from 1929 until 1976. The first stretch of this line was opened in 1883. Loss of iron ore traffic due to decreasing steal prices in the 70s caused the closure of the Darwin-Birdum line in 1976 and track lifting in 1977. The narrow gauge line couldn’t compete with the Stuart Highway. It was not until 2004 rail came back to Darwin, now as standard gauge.