On the Ghan to the Red Centre
08.08.2007
The Legendary Ghan in facts
The journey: Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs, 2979 km, 2 nights on the train, 3 in Alice Springs and Uluru. The train: 25 carriages and a locomotive – altogether 700 m in length. Maximum speed 115 km/h, average speed 85 km/h – moving in slow motion.
The first trains, originally named the Afghan Express (after the Afghan cameleers who delivered supplies along the route from the mid 19th century), from Adelaide to Alice Springs back in the 1920s were steam hauled and had to contend with extreme conditions including flash flooding, termites and intense heat, as the track ran well to the east of the one today. Legend has it the Old Ghan was once stranded for two weeks in one spot and the engine driver shot wild goats to feed its passengers.
Today the trains run on a termite proof rail track built further to the west to avoid the potential flooding. If they were ever stranded, it wouldn’t probably last longer than two days and the dining lounge would have enough supplies to feed its passengers with toasts, burgers, pizzas and canned soft drinks. The Alice Springs-Darwin rail-link was completed 3 years ago, making it a transcontinental service that covers nearly 3000 km.
You can choose between Red and Gold service when you board the Ghan. Stay like a star in a Gold Kangaroo Cabin with fold-out bunk beds, ensuite bathroom, a personal carriage attendant and meals in the Gold Kangaroo restaurant car, and pay $1920 per person one way. Or stay like us and opt for a reclining Red Kangaroo Daynighter seat with shared rest room and shower facilities. Meals aren’t included but you are welcome to purchase junk from the Red Kangaroo diner and buffet. Costs you one third of the price and awards you with all sorts of different aches from neck to back and a sloppy face :D But you know what? As long as I’m young and my age doesn’t exceed 2/3 of a century as for most of the Gold Kangaroo passengers today, I’ll be happy to sit back in my rocking chair (read: reclining seat) and enjoy the view that is exactly the same from every window of the train and varies from tropics up in Darwin to arid deserts and mountain ranges around Alice Springs, to the urban landscape of Adelaide. Great journey! Recommend you with both thumbs up.
The Legendary Ghan in facts
The journey: Darwin to Adelaide via Alice Springs, 2979 km, 2 nights on the train, 3 in Alice Springs and Uluru. The train: 25 carriages and a locomotive – altogether 700 m in length. Maximum speed 115 km/h, average speed 85 km/h – moving in slow motion.
The first trains, originally named the Afghan Express (after the Afghan cameleers who delivered supplies along the route from the mid 19th century), from Adelaide to Alice Springs back in the 1920s were steam hauled and had to contend with extreme conditions including flash flooding, termites and intense heat, as the track ran well to the east of the one today. Legend has it the Old Ghan was once stranded for two weeks in one spot and the engine driver shot wild goats to feed its passengers.
Today the trains run on a termite proof rail track built further to the west to avoid the potential flooding. If they were ever stranded, it wouldn’t probably last longer than two days and the dining lounge would have enough supplies to feed its passengers with toasts, burgers, pizzas and canned soft drinks. The Alice Springs-Darwin rail-link was completed 3 years ago, making it a transcontinental service that covers nearly 3000 km.
You can choose between Red and Gold service when you board the Ghan. Stay like a star in a Gold Kangaroo Cabin with fold-out bunk beds, ensuite bathroom, a personal carriage attendant and meals in the Gold Kangaroo restaurant car, and pay $1920 per person one way. Or stay like us and opt for a reclining Red Kangaroo Daynighter seat with shared rest room and shower facilities. Meals aren’t included but you are welcome to purchase junk from the Red Kangaroo diner and buffet. Costs you one third of the price and awards you with all sorts of different aches from neck to back and a sloppy face :D But you know what? As long as I’m young and my age doesn’t exceed 2/3 of a century as for most of the Gold Kangaroo passengers today, I’ll be happy to sit back in my rocking chair (read: reclining seat) and enjoy the view that is exactly the same from every window of the train and varies from tropics up in Darwin to arid deserts and mountain ranges around Alice Springs, to the urban landscape of Adelaide. Great journey! Recommend you with both thumbs up.
posted by kairike at 11:21 PM
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