Inaugural run from Sydney to Perth, 23rd February 1970 five days before my 21st Birthday!
Sydney to Perth: 4,352 kilometres, 3 nights and the best part of 4 days journey duration, including off train excursions and meals.
Average train length 731 metres, weight, 1,390 tonnes. (From official guide book)
I will have to ascertain details from Adelaide, which is 2 nights, and the best part of 3 days. The guide book states a total of 29 carriages. On train staff tell me there are three units of four sleeping vehicles, one Outback Explorer Lounge Car, named after a famous pioneer, and The Queen Adelaide Restaurant. In addition, three further vehicles house Platinum guests in hotel style luxury, along with one composite dining and lounge car. Two power vans each generate 180 kVA, to service 14 cars with electricity. There are also staff sleeping quarters.
Photos I saw of today’s train taken at Broken Hill indicate the train was double headed. However, just one locomotive worked the train forward from Adelaide, where a Motorail vehicle was attached. I understand each locomotive to be of around 4,000 horse power. Water and fuel is taken on at pre arranged locations en route.
Just 20 passengers enjoy the luxury of Platinum Class in their own exclusive section of the train. 182 further passengers don’t have such a bad time in Gold Single, which is cramped but comfortable or Gold Double, which, for single occupancy, attracts a hefty supplement, but, is well worth it for a journey of this kind. The private bathroom and shower facilities are an amazing luxury. By necessity, in “Gold Double” these, that are built into each compartment, have to be far more compact than those available at the end of the single berth sleeping car. I treated myself to an upgrade to Gold Double on the Indian Pacific, the final leg of my Australian rail travels. Pictures below illustrate:-
1) Lounge Car
2) Corner of the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car
3) Corridor of Gold Double sleeper
4) Queen Adelaide Restaurant, general view.
I slept reasonably well on the second night of my journey from Adelaide. There were bumps and vibrations which did hamper a peaceful sleep, but this did not prevent my having the best of times as The Indian Pacific thundered through the now increasingly lush and hilly countryside as we came ever closer to journey’s end at the Perth East Terminal.
1) My accommodation in “day mode”
2) The blog author, David J.P. Nevell
3) Final lunch on The Indian Pacific
4) Having alighted The Indian Pacific at its terminus, East Perth.
5 and 6) I saw this preserved locomotive, No. 542 “Bakewell” during my very first day in Australia in 2018. At that time, I had sought the terminus of the Indian Pacific in the hope of obtaining information. However, it was a Sunday and nobody was around. Nevertheless, the sight of a steam locomotive negated, to some degree, my frustration!
My travels in Australia finish at roughly the same area as they started last year. Travelling on the Indian Pacific was, for me, a landmark experience. However, when asked what has been the highlight of my tour so far, it has to be the flight in a tiny plane to Ayers Rock, and the visit there in general. I have enjoyed all the rail travel, from little commuter metro trains to the big daddies, The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, not forgetting the XPTs and the “Spirit of Queensland”. I have finished my Antipodean travels for (I hope) the time being. The thought of repeating some of these trips, as well as embarking some new ones is most appealing! In three days, the slow journey home begins.
Thanks for reading, David.
David's Cruise 