Adelaide & South Australia News: Ghan Passenger Rail: The First Train To Darwin - February 1 2004 - Latest News from Adelaide from Maxwell's Web Media, Adelaide

February 1 2004 Free Downloads Here
On a very historic day in February at 12:10 pm at The Keswick Passenger Rail Terminal a Ghan passenger train left for Darwin. This was no ordinary train as previously the railway line terminated at Alice Springs which is only half way to Darwin from Adelaide.
More than 100 years after the rail line to Darwin was suggested the new 1420 km line from from Alice Springs was completed ahead of schedule and it is now possible to travel from Adelaide to Darwin by rail.
Bookings for this exciting new rail journey are made at Great Southern Rail www.gsr.com.au
At over 1 kilometre long this train is the longest passenger train to leave Adelaide.

After Speeches by South Australian Premier Mike Rann, Northern Territory Chief Minister Clare Martin, and other dignitaries the large crowd was entertained by Joe Camilleri of the Black Sorrows and Jo Jo Zep and The Falcons fame, and James Blundell.

Finally the signal was given "All Aboard for the passengers traveling to Darwin on the inaugural Ghan passenger train.

Hundreds of well wishers turned out at the North Adelaide Railway Station to wave and cheer as the record breaking Ghan passenger train slowly made it's way out of Adelaide.

At points along the railway line, at each country town, and railway crossing, hundreds and sometimes thousands of well wishing members of the public were waiting to greet the Ghan on it's historic journey to Darwin. Some of the locals set up b-b-ques and picnic settings while they waited for the historic Ghan train. Out on the main highway to Port Augusta there was extra traffic as rail enthusiasts followed the journey by motor vehicle.

As the Ghan passenger train approached Port Augusta at Stirling North, Pichi Richi Railway's Afghan Express joined it to run alongside it into Port Augusta. To commemorate this historic event, the Pichi Richi train carried vintage motor vehicles making it something representative of a 1920s - 30s Ghan train.

To Celebrate this historic rail event we have provided some free images.
Download some windows Ghan Train wallpaper for your PC
North Adelaide Train 1024x768 300k
North Adelaide Train 800x600 200k
Port Augusta Pichi Richi Steam Train & Ghan 1024x768 300k
Port Augusta Pichi Richi Steam Train & Ghan 800x600 200k

All Images & story by Maxwell Millowick, Adelaide, South Australia