John McDouall Stuart, an indefatigable Scot, completed the first known north-south continental crossing back in 1862. Stuart s achievement enabled two major cross-country linkages, the Overland Telegraph (1872) and the railway although the latter took 126 years to go all the way. Construction of the original Ghan track closely followed Stuart’s route, with the railhead reaching Oodnadatta in 1891.
According to legend, The Ghan name is believed to have originated in Quorn in 1923 when the Great Northern Express was dubbed The Afghan Express by railwaymen. This was the first time a sleeping carriage was included on the train, and when an Afghan passenger began alighting at Quorn to recite his evening prayers before continued the journey into the night, the train was dubbed the Afghan Express by railwaymen. Some 400 camels were stationed at Oodnadatta during the 1890s, tended by the Muslim cameleers, known in Australia as Afghans, who played an intrinsic role in pioneering the Red Centre. In time, the name was abbreviated to The Ghan Express, then The Ghan, by which time it had been officially adopted by Commonwealth Railways officials.
Over the years, this explanation has often been disputed, with suggestions that the name was coined by railwaymen on the line as a private staff joke at the expense of Commonwealth Railways Commissioner George Gahan, who was responsible for creating and running the iconic railway service. Commissioner Gahan, who was on the first train to Alice Springs in early August 1929, was not liked by his staff. They referred to Gahan’s pride and joy – behind his back – as the Gahan Express, putting the emphasis on the word ‘express’. The train was notorious for being slow, and was often anywhere up to a few days late. Whether the train was named after the Afghan camel drivers or the unloved Mr Gahan, probably no one will ever know.
The original Ghan steam train
The service started in 1879 when the first 40 kilometres of track was laid between Port Augusta and Quorn. It began as a limited mixed train which was given the official title of “The Oodnadatta night train”. When the route was extended beyond Oodnadatta, it became known as the “limited mixed” once more. The legendary train we now know as The Ghan actually came into existence on 4th August 1929 when the first passengers arrived at Stuart (yet to be named Alice Springs). It was two and a half hours late.
The line was built in stages through the Flinders Ranges, Marreeand Oodnadatta over a period of 50 years, finally reaching Alice Springs in 1929. Building this iron strip through to the centre was epic – and maintaining it on the edge of Lake Eyre with its sandy soil and habit of flooding was a constant job.
The last narrow gauge Ghan pulled out of Marree at 1:16 am on 25th November, 1980 upon completion of the new standard gauge line to Tarcoola, marking the end of an era and a significant chapter in South Australia’s and the Northern Territory’s railway history. The Old Ghan was replaced by a new standard gauge rail line built with termite proof concrete sleepers further to the west of the original route, in order to avoid the potential flooding and other problems encountered along the way.
The drive
It is possible to follow the path of the old Ghan train along what is known as the Old Ghan Railway Heritage Trail, but a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. It does get travelled in sedans but needs the utmost care. It is best test travelled from April to September and takes a week or more. The drive begins at Port Augusta, South Australia, and finishes at Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Length: 1,050 km. The Oodnadatta Track follows closely a similar route as the Old Ghan Railway and is often used to follow the path taken by the old line through South Australia.
The route is an adventure of historical interest with railway sidings, stone railway buildings, track remnants, bridges and railway infrastructure. The route was also followed by the Overland Telegraph in 1872 and that linked Australia with the rest of the world for the first time with telegraph communication under the sea. Telegraph Repeater Station ruins and settlements are also on route. One of the main reasons the route evolved is it also follows the natural artesian springs that surface from the Great Artesian Basin, so providing water at regular intervals. You can visit the Bubbler and Blanches Cup to name two.
Pichi Pass Railway
Quorn: The first section of the original Ghan line to be built winded its way through Pichi Pass Pass to the Flinders Ranges town of Quorn. This section of line, between Port Augusta and Quorn, is now used by the Pichi Richi Tourist Railway. This historic railway is a working railway museum which features restored steam trains, diesel rail-cars and carriages from the original Ghan railway. The train operates a three hour journey through the Pichi Pass to Wool Shed Flat on weekends between March and November. Quorn Railway Station is now a Ghan railway museum.
Hawker railway station
Hawker: The railway station was built in 1884 after the original timber building burnt down. The original Ghan train passed through Hawker until 1956. Hawker then operated the local line until 1970 when the station finally closed and fell into disrepair. In 1989 the station was restored to become the Old Ghan Restaurant and Gallery. The station and goods shed are heritage listed.
Merna Mora: The original Merna Mora homestead was situated near the Ghan Railway Line about 6 kms from the existing homestead in the Flinders Ranges. Built entirely of local stone it was once home to a family of 15. It would have been constructed in the early 1900’s. The lime kilns here were built to help with the construction of the Railway line. Limestone bearing deposits were burnt in these kilns to produce lime to aid in the construction of bridges and culverts. Cement was not available and the Chinese were adept in procuring lime from the local dolomite deposits. These are remnants of the Mern Merna Railway Siding. As many as seven families lived here and part of the building comprised the Mern Merna School.
Beltana railway station
Beltana: Beltana boomed with the arrival of the railway in 1881, and with an influx of mining families following the failure of the nearby Sliding Rock copper mine. By the mid-1880s the town had its own brewery, general store and a school. The railway station is one of a number of historic buildings in the town.
Leigh Creek: The increased need for coal necessitated a new standard gauge railway being built from Marree to Port Augusta via Leigh Creek (where coal was being mined) in 1957. For a brief period, complete narrow gauge trains were piggy- backed on standard gauge flatbed cars up to Marree and then rolled off to continue on the old line to Alice Springs.
Copley: A former Ghan railway town, Copley sits at the crossroads of the Strzlecki and Oodnadatta Tracks in the midst of the spectacular Northern Flinders Ranges, 6 kms north of Leigh Creek township.
Farina
Farina: Farina can be found on the edge of the desert in the far north of South Australia, Farina is situated on the aligmnent of the original Ghan railway, 26 km north of Lyndhurst and 55 km south of Marree where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks commence. The town was the railhead from Port Augusta from May 1882 until 1884 when the line was extended first to Marree and then Alice Springs. One of the more unusual cargoes embarked at Farina railway station was South Australia s biggest meteorite. The 1.2 tonne Murnpeowie iron Meteorite was dragged out of the desert north-east of here about a century ago; and can be seen today at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. Farina is a ghost town now but in its heyday it had two pubs, a brewery, a post office, bakery and plans for more than four hundred housing blocks.
Two former Ghan locomotives as Marree
Marree: The Overland Telegraph line reached Hergott Springs in 1872. The railway arrived 11 years later and due to anti-German WWI feelings, the town was renamed Marree. For 20 years until 1980 Marree was a major break-of-guage station on the Ghan line. At Marree railway station, two locomotives and some rolling stock sit opposite the platform. Railway relics alongside the Oodnadatta Track between Marree and William Creek are mostly sleepers scattered in piles amongst scrub and dust. Surprisingly it is permissible to collect the sleepers for use as firewood; most of the track was stripped and recycled for track in Queensland after the line was closed.
Remains of Curdimurka Siding
Curdimurka Siding: At Stuart Creek a 6km. section of the original ‘Ghan’ line remains at the old Curdimurka Siding. Three old settlers cottages, a water tank and sheds have been retained by the Ghan Preservation Society Association of SA. An artesian bore is adjacent to the siding. Curdimurka hosts a biannual outback ball that raises money for the Ghan Railway Preservation Society.
Beresford Siding
Beresford: The old Beresford railway siding was one of the sites along the line which had giant water softeners to prepare water for the steam locomotives.
Coward Springs: The ruins of the old railway siding at Coward Springs is an oasis in the desert with warm water emerging and forming an extensive pond. Date palms, remnants of an old plantation, provide a refuge for many birds which frequent the area. A commercial campsite with limited facilities operates from May to October.
According to legend, The Ghan name is believed to have originated in Quorn in 1923 when the Great Northern Express was dubbed The Afghan Express by railwaymen. This was the first time a sleeping carriage was included on the train, and when an Afghan passenger began alighting at Quorn to recite his evening prayers before continued the journey into the night, the train was dubbed the Afghan Express by railwaymen. Some 400 camels were stationed at Oodnadatta during the 1890s, tended by the Muslim cameleers, known in Australia as Afghans, who played an intrinsic role in pioneering the Red Centre. In time, the name was abbreviated to The Ghan Express, then The Ghan, by which time it had been officially adopted by Commonwealth Railways officials.
Over the years, this explanation has often been disputed, with suggestions that the name was coined by railwaymen on the line as a private staff joke at the expense of Commonwealth Railways Commissioner George Gahan, who was responsible for creating and running the iconic railway service. Commissioner Gahan, who was on the first train to Alice Springs in early August 1929, was not liked by his staff. They referred to Gahan’s pride and joy – behind his back – as the Gahan Express, putting the emphasis on the word ‘express’. The train was notorious for being slow, and was often anywhere up to a few days late. Whether the train was named after the Afghan camel drivers or the unloved Mr Gahan, probably no one will ever know.
The original Ghan steam train
The service started in 1879 when the first 40 kilometres of track was laid between Port Augusta and Quorn. It began as a limited mixed train which was given the official title of “The Oodnadatta night train”. When the route was extended beyond Oodnadatta, it became known as the “limited mixed” once more. The legendary train we now know as The Ghan actually came into existence on 4th August 1929 when the first passengers arrived at Stuart (yet to be named Alice Springs). It was two and a half hours late.
The line was built in stages through the Flinders Ranges, Marreeand Oodnadatta over a period of 50 years, finally reaching Alice Springs in 1929. Building this iron strip through to the centre was epic – and maintaining it on the edge of Lake Eyre with its sandy soil and habit of flooding was a constant job.
The last narrow gauge Ghan pulled out of Marree at 1:16 am on 25th November, 1980 upon completion of the new standard gauge line to Tarcoola, marking the end of an era and a significant chapter in South Australia’s and the Northern Territory’s railway history. The Old Ghan was replaced by a new standard gauge rail line built with termite proof concrete sleepers further to the west of the original route, in order to avoid the potential flooding and other problems encountered along the way.
It is possible to follow the path of the old Ghan train along what is known as the Old Ghan Railway Heritage Trail, but a 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended. It does get travelled in sedans but needs the utmost care. It is best test travelled from April to September and takes a week or more. The drive begins at Port Augusta, South Australia, and finishes at Alice Springs, Northern Territory. Length: 1,050 km. The Oodnadatta Track follows closely a similar route as the Old Ghan Railway and is often used to follow the path taken by the old line through South Australia.
The route is an adventure of historical interest with railway sidings, stone railway buildings, track remnants, bridges and railway infrastructure. The route was also followed by the Overland Telegraph in 1872 and that linked Australia with the rest of the world for the first time with telegraph communication under the sea. Telegraph Repeater Station ruins and settlements are also on route. One of the main reasons the route evolved is it also follows the natural artesian springs that surface from the Great Artesian Basin, so providing water at regular intervals. You can visit the Bubbler and Blanches Cup to name two.
Pichi Pass Railway
Quorn: The first section of the original Ghan line to be built winded its way through Pichi Pass Pass to the Flinders Ranges town of Quorn. This section of line, between Port Augusta and Quorn, is now used by the Pichi Richi Tourist Railway. This historic railway is a working railway museum which features restored steam trains, diesel rail-cars and carriages from the original Ghan railway. The train operates a three hour journey through the Pichi Pass to Wool Shed Flat on weekends between March and November. Quorn Railway Station is now a Ghan railway museum.
Hawker railway station
Hawker: The railway station was built in 1884 after the original timber building burnt down. The original Ghan train passed through Hawker until 1956. Hawker then operated the local line until 1970 when the station finally closed and fell into disrepair. In 1989 the station was restored to become the Old Ghan Restaurant and Gallery. The station and goods shed are heritage listed.
Merna Mora: The original Merna Mora homestead was situated near the Ghan Railway Line about 6 kms from the existing homestead in the Flinders Ranges. Built entirely of local stone it was once home to a family of 15. It would have been constructed in the early 1900’s. The lime kilns here were built to help with the construction of the Railway line. Limestone bearing deposits were burnt in these kilns to produce lime to aid in the construction of bridges and culverts. Cement was not available and the Chinese were adept in procuring lime from the local dolomite deposits. These are remnants of the Mern Merna Railway Siding. As many as seven families lived here and part of the building comprised the Mern Merna School.
Beltana railway station
Beltana: Beltana boomed with the arrival of the railway in 1881, and with an influx of mining families following the failure of the nearby Sliding Rock copper mine. By the mid-1880s the town had its own brewery, general store and a school. The railway station is one of a number of historic buildings in the town.
Leigh Creek: The increased need for coal necessitated a new standard gauge railway being built from Marree to Port Augusta via Leigh Creek (where coal was being mined) in 1957. For a brief period, complete narrow gauge trains were piggy- backed on standard gauge flatbed cars up to Marree and then rolled off to continue on the old line to Alice Springs.
Copley: A former Ghan railway town, Copley sits at the crossroads of the Strzlecki and Oodnadatta Tracks in the midst of the spectacular Northern Flinders Ranges, 6 kms north of Leigh Creek township.
Farina
Farina: Farina can be found on the edge of the desert in the far north of South Australia, Farina is situated on the aligmnent of the original Ghan railway, 26 km north of Lyndhurst and 55 km south of Marree where the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks commence. The town was the railhead from Port Augusta from May 1882 until 1884 when the line was extended first to Marree and then Alice Springs. One of the more unusual cargoes embarked at Farina railway station was South Australia s biggest meteorite. The 1.2 tonne Murnpeowie iron Meteorite was dragged out of the desert north-east of here about a century ago; and can be seen today at the South Australian Museum in Adelaide. Farina is a ghost town now but in its heyday it had two pubs, a brewery, a post office, bakery and plans for more than four hundred housing blocks.
Two former Ghan locomotives as Marree
Marree: The Overland Telegraph line reached Hergott Springs in 1872. The railway arrived 11 years later and due to anti-German WWI feelings, the town was renamed Marree. For 20 years until 1980 Marree was a major break-of-guage station on the Ghan line. At Marree railway station, two locomotives and some rolling stock sit opposite the platform. Railway relics alongside the Oodnadatta Track between Marree and William Creek are mostly sleepers scattered in piles amongst scrub and dust. Surprisingly it is permissible to collect the sleepers for use as firewood; most of the track was stripped and recycled for track in Queensland after the line was closed.
Remains of Curdimurka Siding
Curdimurka Siding: At Stuart Creek a 6km. section of the original ‘Ghan’ line remains at the old Curdimurka Siding. Three old settlers cottages, a water tank and sheds have been retained by the Ghan Preservation Society Association of SA. An artesian bore is adjacent to the siding. Curdimurka hosts a biannual outback ball that raises money for the Ghan Railway Preservation Society.
Beresford Siding
Beresford: The old Beresford railway siding was one of the sites along the line which had giant water softeners to prepare water for the steam locomotives.
Coward Springs: The ruins of the old railway siding at Coward Springs is an oasis in the desert with warm water emerging and forming an extensive pond. Date palms, remnants of an old plantation, provide a refuge for many birds which frequent the area. A commercial campsite with limited facilities operates from May to October.
