Just in case you haven't realised already from reading my blog, I must tell you that Bill loves trains. When we did the Lake Eyre Tour in South Australia in 2010 our tour guide told us about the historic Pichi Richi Railway which goes between Pt Augusta and Quorn. We saw books and pictures of it and decided we would go back and travel on it one day. So our friend Ann who organised this trip booked up for us to do the train trip. First I will explain a little about the rail line.
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| The Ghan pulling into Alice Springs Station when we were there some years ago. We flew there, we have never been on The Ghan. |
We arrived early at the station and watched the volunteers get the train out of its shed and put together for our ride.
It comes in backwards.
Bill gets his ticket checked by
a volunteer.
Passing scenery.
It was fun hanging out from the veranda taking shots until I got soot in my eye.
We went over an old iron bridge and tourists in cars stopped to take photos of the historic train.
Grass trees or Xanthorrhoea covered the hillside.
After 2 hours of fun we arrived at Quorn, a beautiful little town that I will show in the next post.
I'm fascinated by the fact that you have volunteers who keep the train-tourism going. And of course, the cleanliness. Lovely post, Diane. I'll be back to read all about Quorn. Have a great week. Jo
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, what a fun train ride. The scenery looks pretty and the train station is pretty. I wonder why it took so long 1876-2004 to finish the line, from beginning to the end?
ReplyDeleteI love Train journeys,how long would it take to do the whole journey?.
ReplyDeleteVery well, Bill loves trains, you love Bill and I love you blog. So I can see the story about the train with the Indian camel on it.
ReplyDeleteOn your map I've found Port Augusta but not Quorn. How long is the distance?
I think it's a wonderful journey.
Greetings from Switzerland
Angela
I think that's really neat that the preservation society restored the railway line.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it was a great experience. I look forward to seeing more of your Quorn photos.
It's so important that these historic railways are preserved. There could be a worse thing than Bill LOVING trains - he could be volunteering ... and then you'd never see him.
ReplyDeleteI can understand Bill's fascination with trains! Just plain fun! (Except for the soot part.) You passed through some lovely countryside. And the old station looks marvelous... just look at the shape of that building!
ReplyDeleteNot too many years ago a dog who used to pace the train for a few kilometres. Good to see a steam train in a rather different setting to usual.
ReplyDeleteme too on loving trains and these are so very colorful, ours here are not bright like these. and even more i love that gnarled old tree by the trestle.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you had a fun day on this historic train and I can imagine it was a real treat for Bill. I must do this trip one day!
ReplyDeleteAre you going to do the full track?
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
Filip
Eilleen: I am not absolutely sure why it took so long but it was probably due to the cost of the construction. It travels through very hot, harsh, dry conditions. The final section cost 1.3 billion dollars. Air travel and road trains were providing the links to the north.
ReplyDeleteCathy: It takes 48 hours on a good day. The train is notorious for its slow pace, and its delays.
Angels: The distance between Pt Augusta and Quorn is 39 k/25m.
Andrew: The dog is still there to greet the train as it passes his farmhouse. he runs along by the side of the train for a while.
Fillip: I doubt that we will ever do the whole Ghan journey. We did part of the Indian Pacific which crosses the country from east to west which I will post about soon. However, we were not too impressed with Australian trains. The tracks are uneven and it is a pretty rocky ride. They are nothing like the intercity European trains but they are still great fun to experience.
i always think of my late husband when i hear about this railway. he visited it years ago. the name just makes me think of him. i used to go to the city every friday night in an old steam train with my mum and sister. i always got soot in my eye because i loved to look out the window. just imagine the oh&s issues. lol
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun to have a ride in such a train, the steam and the quiet speed. You can imagine how things were long ago. It looks great.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous I would love to travel on such trains as like Bill I love trains...........
ReplyDeleteThe grass tree photo is wonderful and the huge tree in the bridge photo is most impressive. It must have been fascinating to ride on that steam train through such beautiful countryside!
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing like the old trains..Such character and I bet so many stories to tell...Apparently the Quorn bakery does the best cornish pasty also...Haven`t tried one myself...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love the depth in your first shot.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the interesting information and the pictures. Betsy and I rode a steam train this past summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. At least I didn't get any soot in my eye.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, Tell Bill that I love trains too. I grew up in the coal mining area of southwest Virginia. My Daddy worked for the railroad. When I was little, Daddy would sometimes take me to work with him. I'd get to ride some of the trains ---up front with the engineer... SO much fun!!!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge and I rode an old steam engine last summer in West Virginia. I was excited like a little child. LOVED it.
Great pictures.
Hugs,
Betsy
Diane
ReplyDeleteWhy was Bill in the carriage?
I thought he would have enjoyed the driving part more - the train may have even gone faster.
Good replies to the questions.
An another beautiful rail station???
Cheers
Colin
Colin: He wasn't allowed up front.
ReplyDeleteTrains do so evoke memories, like Yevisha's. Familiar people, smells, senses like the soot in the eyes.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing the detailed post. I didn't see Quorn on the map... but my eyes aren't so good.
Anxious to see your next post.
Wow, I would love to be on those trains taking trips.
ReplyDeleteI told Phil I was going to investigate our taking a trip (by train) to tour the New England States. I have always wanted to do this, and I would love to do it soon.
What an interesting post!! I had not realised there was a heritage train trip from Quorn to Port Augusta!!!. I shall put it on the list for the next time we are in SOuth Australia. Interestingly Quorn was the location of the Colebrook Children's Home run by the United Aborigines Mission in the 20th Century... so I imagine it was a working line in that respect, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visit :)
To answer your question, I use a Nikon D 3000, Nikon's base model SLR. I actually want to upgrade, but have to save my pennies first. Overall, I like my camera. My one complaint is with the ISO. I pretty much try to shoot at ISO's under 800 because with this camera, ISO's at 800 or above give noisy results.
Happy shooting!
That is a great train and a great journey on it.
ReplyDeleteAnd by the way, I think the Aboriginal place names you often mention would be as impossible for me to pronounce as our Native American names, like the River we live on, would be for you ;>)
I noticed the camel graphic on the train right away so I'm glad to know what it references.
ReplyDeleteA great capture of the moving train and the iron train trestle or that's what we call them here.
I love old trains too ! and making a tour on them is great. What a long distance this train made !!! I wonder how many days it took to arrive.
ReplyDeleteThe Camel on the end of the trains tells the history !
We didn't manage to do any more than drive through Quorn so really interested in your shots and story. We love trains too.
ReplyDeleteThe train carries camels too?
ReplyDeleteMy nephews like trains, and they go to Ipwish to see them.
I'm glad you enjoyed your day Diane and Bill - I was one of the chaps on the locomotive that day - I enjoyed your Youtube Video!
ReplyDelete