Kiwi Phil
Commander
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2003
- Messages
- 2,182
Here is a change of scenery for you chaps.<br /><br />Downunder, we have just completed a new train line which stretch's from Adelaide in the very south to Darwin at the "Top End".<br /><br />It is called the Ghan. I will explain why below.<br /><br />It is billed as the longest train journey in the world, and goes just over 3,000k with 4 stops, being Alice Springs (1,500K in the Dead Centre) then on another 500k to Tennant Creek, then over 700k to Catherine, then on to the big stop at Darwin.<br /><br />It was meant to be a freight line so all exports could go out of Darwin (3 days shipping to Singapore), but the forward bookings for the passenger train have been so massive it may be listed as one of the great train trips in the world.<br /><br />The passenger train had 43 coaches, 2 engines, and stretched 1.3K in length. The initial problem was getting all the passengers on quickly as there was not a platform long enough, so they split it up in 3-4 trains, each at different platforms, and when loaded they pulled all the coaches together to make one train, and away they went.<br /><br />The freight trains are expected to cause the Shipping Company's operating out of Sydney and Melbourne a lot of serious competition, but one shipping giant reckons "the trains profits will be smaller than a ticks testicles", but then again suppose he couldn't say much else.<br /><br />Others reckon the Northern Territories (that's where Darwin is) is so heavily Government subsidised they need a big train to ship the money in on and the empty beer kegs out.<br /> <br />Now for the name Ghan. It is a knock down slang from the word Afghanastan.Going back to the 1800's the round eyed white man thought horses were all the go in opening up the Centre and Outback of Australia. Some realised they wern't, so imported Camels and as none knew what to do with Camels, they bought in Afghani Camel Drivers. A long time later they put in a rail line up to Alice Springs (which they ripped up 30 odd years back) which pretty much did away with the Camels, so they called the line the Ghan, and it has stuck ever since.<br /><br />The Camels were let loose and have bred well in the wild, infact are now rounded up and exported back to Countries who still use them. Apparantly they are in excellant condition.<br /><br />This isn't the only big rail trip we have. Another is the Indian-Pacific, and that is a trip and a half too.<br />Sorry to bore you every one.<br />Cheers<br />Phillip
