| The Ghan has become a famous train, but it had humble beginnings before Federation, when the South Australian Railways 3’6” gauge extended as far north as Oodnadatta. The Outback train replaced camel trains driven by Afghan immigrants; hence the name. Under Commonwealth Railways control, the line extended as far as Alice Springs in 1929, and in the Fifties they upgraded the Ghan with carriages cascaded from the Trans Australian Express. These regauged cars were quite luxurious, and the train was unofficially tagged the “Flash Ghan”. But it was not the only train to Alice Springs. There was a once weekly Mixed that stopped everywhere and conveyed railway track workers, truck drivers, aborigines and a few others. This then was tagged the “Dirty Ghan”, but you will never see these names in the timetables! |
Intermodal Before Intermodal |
Piggyback on Piggyback |
Nice Car for a Rough Mob |
Morning Air |
Outback Mixed |
Look No Rails! |
Shade for a Long Wait |
The Birdsville Mail |
Loneliness |
Hungry Travelers |
The Honorable Minister |
Gibbers and Sulzers |
500 Miles More of This |
Train Orders |
Running Scrap Pile |
Blast Furnace Fodder |
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© 1998-2009 Michael Venn - All copyrights rest with the Author [ descript.ion | Index ] |