indian Pacific and Ghan

[delt1c]

have returned to the UK from Australia and completed a lifes ambition to travel Australia East to West on the Indian Pacific and North to South on the Ghan, would like to have got down to Melbourne but was not to be.
It really was a journey of a lifetime and done in the seated coach and not a sleeper. The journey is not for the faint hearted as The Indian Pacific is 3 nights and you get put of the train at Broken Hill, Adelaide and Katherine for 3 hours each time, Broken Hill was 06.30am on Sunday Morning. Australia Railways really have to be seen to be believed, the sheer numbers of freight lococ and diversity. the size if the trains as well, my final trip on Indian Pacific was double header and 660 m long, had to be split outaide Sydney Central and brought forward for the last part in 2 portions.
Will post more of the journeys as I get over the Jet lag.

 

[Greenback]

Sounds like you had a grat time, although I think it may be too much for me, I got cabin fever on the Empire Builder, which was only 43-44 hours!

Mind you, the longer stops must help a bit!

 

[delt1c]

One of the most interesting bits was the Nullabor plain, 12 hours of desert, added to which the longest straight in the world. Some really interesting railway artifacts to be seen . In the middle of the dessert i saw a steam water colum with freshley painted sign telling drivers to refill steam locos. , passing freights was intesesting as they make UK freights look like local picups. At Addellaide and perth there was fully operational mixed gauge tracks.
The Ghan was interesting , however as there had been a month of rain the desert was green and all waterholes were full. North of Alice Springs much of the old narrow gauge track bed (and often tracks) were seen. Australia reminded me of Britain in the 1970's with a lot of disused infastructure still in place. The coaches for the Ghan and Indian Pacific were of the US chrome style dating from mid 60's and weighing around 41 tons each. catering was very reasonable compared to UK prices, breakfact $8 and light dinner $10 - $14, Tea $2.10.
All in really glad I did it, would i do it again , probably yes but in Reverse direction .
For UK visitors you can get an Auspass valid for 6 months for $990.
Other thing I loved was the double deckers working from Sydney, sit up stairs for a lovely view (except the TANGARA units), or downstairs which feels as though you are almost on the tracks.

 

[Clip]

One of the most interesting bits was the Nullabor plain, 12 hours of desert, added to which the longest straight in the world. Some really interesting railway artifacts to be seen . In the middle of the dessert i saw a steam water colum with freshley painted sign telling drivers to refill steam locos. , passing freights was intesesting as they make UK freights look like local picups. At Addellaide and perth there was fully operational mixed gauge tracks.
The Ghan was interesting , however as there had been a month of rain the desert was green and all waterholes were full. North of Alice Springs much of the old narrow gauge track bed (and often tracks) were seen. Australia reminded me of Britain in the 1970's with a lot of disused infastructure still in place. The coaches for the Ghan and Indian Pacific were of the US chrome style dating from mid 60's and weighing around 41 tons each. catering was very reasonable compared to UK prices, breakfact $8 and light dinner $10 - $14, Tea $2.10.
All in really glad I did it, would i do it again , probably yes but in Reverse direction .
For UK visitors you can get an Auspass valid for 6 months for $990.
Other thing I loved was the double deckers working from Sydney, sit up stairs for a lovely view (except the TANGARA units), or downstairs which feels as though you are almost on the tracks.

Really wanted to do this trip while i was over there but was too pressed for time..

did do Melbourne to Sydney though over night which was quite interesting.. And your right about the double deckers - ace fun to travel on..

 

[delt1c]

I had planned to do the Melbourne to Sydney but due to track problems this was partly replaced by buses, think my favorite unit was the City rail Intercity double deckers. They are not like our intercity units and work some services of 4 hours, no cattering , flip over vynal seats , but surprisingly comfortable and great view from the upper deck.
Wish I had been able to get a loco stock book when I was there as there was so many different locos to be seen

 

[Aussie_Rail]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. The Melbourne to Sydney line has been on and off replaced by coaches, track trouble has been going on for months, the upgrades to a lot of it doesn't help either.

What I like is, one week one particular loco can be seen in Melbourne, then in Perth the next and then in Brisbane the one after, so plenty of variety out there.

 

[Nightrider]

have returned to the UK from Australia and completed a lifes ambition to travel Australia East to West on the Indian Pacific and North to South on the Ghan, would like to have got down to Melbourne but was not to be.
It really was a journey of a lifetime and done in the seated coach and not a sleeper. The journey is not for the faint hearted as The Indian Pacific is 3 nights and you get put of the train at Broken Hill, Adelaide and Katherine for 3 hours each time, Broken Hill was 06.30am on Sunday Morning. Australia Railways really have to be seen to be believed, the sheer numbers of freight lococ and diversity. the size if the trains as well, my final trip on Indian Pacific was double header and 660 m long, had to be split outaide Sydney Central and brought forward for the last part in 2 portions.
Will post more of the journeys as I get over the Jet lag.

Well done D