Documentary on Australia's Ghan Railway

[deneban]

http://youtu.be/_Ab2KEssqG4

This video is very well done, entertaining, and even humorous, about one of the most amazing railways in the world, Australia's Ghan.

It is very much in the vein of Great Railway Journeys from the 1970s, although the old Ghan was up and running back then for that series, here its only a side trip, and not all possible by train any longer, since there is a new Ghan. The old Ghan was devastated by a 1974 flood after the Great Railway's documentary circa 1970.

This is a must see for railway fans as it involves steam engines, huge freight trains, long distances, abandoned railway villages, and even camel trains.

 

[itareus]

I think this documentary was one broadcast on TV here in the UK a while back - it was interesting.

Unfortunately The YouTube video is not available here.

 

[JCitron]

Thank you for posting.

The locomotives on the freight trains are Australian design, but have American cabs and horns. Do the cabs look like the I inside of a Dash-9? I can't remember.

John

 

[Azervich]

Hi John,

Our modern locomotives use US cabs, but are on the LHS, like this one here which is a Dash 2 Console, as you can see it's LHS.

http://victorianrailways.net/motive power/pics/ncab.jpg

Cheers.

 

[nicky9499]

Ah, this chap. Funny guy. I've the entire series, very interesting.

While we're on the Ghan:

 

[JCitron]

Hi John,

Our modern locomotives use US cabs, but are on the LHS, like this one here which is a Dash 2 Console, as you can see it's LHS.

http://victorianrailways.net/motive power/pics/ncab.jpg

Cheers.

That's cool.

Some day I hope to travel and see these for real.

John

 

[deneban]

Hi John,

Our modern locomotives use US cabs, but are on the LHS, like this one here which is a Dash 2 Console, as you can see it's LHS.

http://victorianrailways.net/motive power/pics/ncab.jpg

Cheers.

I noticed the conductor and engineer were reversed (I am not sure if you have different names for these in Oz)

I went to Australia in 1992 and went west from Sydney until Katoomba on the state railway. I went on the vertical scenic railway.



Here is the Great Railway Journeys documentary I mentioned in the OP which talks about the Ghan at time 7:00:

http://youtu.be/r2Rwy_HZA-g

In this 1970s production, the Ghan is still working north or Quorn (the narrow gauge section). Unfortunately this show is cut up into 10 minute segments on Youtube, It really concentrated on the Indian Pacific, which is amazing as well.

 

[cvkiwi]

Thank you I enjoyed that about the GHAN it looks like a trip I would won't to do
I might have to look into it

 

[deneban]

There is a humorous tale in the 2nd documentary riding the old Ghan. The train was notorious for stopping frequently due to hazards from unballasted track. A women continuously asks the conductor what time will we get to Alice Springs? "Why are you so impatient?" he replies, "We'll get there in the next few days." Shes says "See here, I am due to have a baby." The conductor replies "You should have never come on the Ghan in that condition. She replies: "Sir, when I got on this train, I wasn't IN that condition!"

 

[R701Rusty]

While not quite at that extreme the old Ghan was notorious for not keeping to the timetable, a few days late being common!

Cheers
Russell.

 

[deneban]

While not quite at that extreme the old Ghan was notorious for not keeping to the timetable, a few days late being common!

Cheers
Russell.

Its an anecdote which exaggerates to promote humor.