The Ghan is Going Part 4 of 4
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- čas přidán 20. 09. 2011
- A program made by channel 7 just before the new standard gauge line opened.
The first sod was turned on Friiday 18th January 1878 to start building the line heading towards Quorn. Men working on the construction where paid 6 shilling a day (.60 cents) & later 8 shillings
It opened on 15th Dec 1879 to Quorn.
When the northern railway was finished it soon became known as The GHAN. This train eventually ran from Port Augusta via Quorn, Hawker, Parachilna, Copley, Farina, Marree, Curdimurka, William Creek and Oodnadatta to Alice Springs. Construction of this narrow gauge line started in 1878, at the hight of the railway boom, in the hope to develop the pastoral and mining potential of the inland.
The railway went through some of Australia's most desolate and flood prone country, often suffering wash-outs with passengers marooned for several days. By 1881 it had reached Beltana. Within two years it reached Farina and by 1884 Hergott Springs (Marree) had become the railhead. After some years the line was pushed further north past Callanna, Alberrie Creek, Curdimurka, Coward Springs, Strangways Springs, William Creek, Anna Creek, Box Creek, Edwards Creek, Warrina, Algebuckina and Mount Dutton until it finally reached Oodnadatta in 1891.
Oodnadatta remained the railhead for the next forty years. In an effort to advance the line and get construction going once again, it was stated in 1895 'that the interior was not all desert, but had extensive areas of good land fit for cultivation and a variety of tropical products'. Unfortunately it was not until 1929 when the line was extended to Alice Springs, and where it has remained until 2003.
The real icon here is that magnificent mullet on that Stud at 5:05.
It is a pity things come to an end in the name of progress however arriving 3 months late is the real spirit of the outback well done old girl
Somgs
The oldied
I hindsight this line should never have been built. The old surveyors were naive to the flooding threats. Not to mention the gauge issue - three trains to get Alice Springs.
Probably not so much progress as common sense. Build a new line where floods aren't a problem
Dinky little bush shorts long white socks cream pumps and narrow trilbys, and on an Aussie! Bloody hell things HAVE changed!
Saw a tv programme here in the uk about the Old Ghan line. Now my dream holiday destination has changed from the Seychelles to riding the old Ghan line on horseback.
Found this on channel 7 late at night earlier this year and thought it was a really good documentary.
Rode the Ghan from Alice to Adelaide back in 1974. It was just like this film. Good times.
Hey thanks for posting this one. The Ghan is a real icon. I was born in 1980, so just a little late for going on the old ghan! Been along a fair bit of the line route though, incredible country to have a train running through.
my brother drove the very last narrow guage Ghan
There's an excellent book called Riding the Wire Fence To The Alice which tells of the many mishaps on the line over the years! We'll worth getting!😀🚂🚇🚃🚃🚃🛤️🏜️🐪🌊
Good stuff
Great to see this - I first saw it on 7 about 8 years ago late one night, and was just up in Alice saw the old Ghan museum they were showing a similar doco there about the last Ghan trip
Neil Murray 😲 What year was this doco made?
4.56...... That lady is just so excited about her boyfriends new haircut!!
and a fine mullet it is! I didn't know mullets were around then. This guy is a leader, not a follower. No wonder the girl was excited.
Possibly the best mullet ever grown?