Several routes were considered but eventually it was decided to construct a railway through the Pichi Richi Pass, across the Willochra Plain to Wonoka (present-day Hawker), through Nooltana Gap to the plain on the western side of the Flinders Ranges then generally northward. “So, you have several rings of old rubber tyres placed together, like a beehive when you look from the top,” he said. Here an unwise break occurs in the gauge – from 5ft. These and other statements of the Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Railways and Public Works were received with early applauses. The lack of survey data was acceptable at the time for another important reason, said Buddhima Indraratna, Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Wollongong. At this time the major cattle trucking stations on the Central Australia Railway (CAR) were Alice Springs, Marree, Oodnadatta, Finke, Deepwell and Abminga. At points where a train terminated and hence changed direction for its return journey, facilities had to be installed to turn the engine through 180 degrees in order to have the locomotive facing in the opposite direction for the return trip.Perhaps the best-known means is the turntable â both manual and powered – which normally sits in a pit and consists of. The Ghan began hauling freight last month. By 1910 Kidman alone trucked 18000 head of cattle from Farina. The initial plan was to build a line 200 miles into the interior. Even before the railway had been opened to Farina the nature of the traffic it would carry changed from wheat and minerals to cattle, sheep and wool. For a traditional mode of transport, it’s a very fast-paced and high-tech arena.”. I ultimately determined upon the Government Gums, a waterhole on a government reserve, simply because a good supply of water could be obtained there.â. Over time triangles were installed at a number of sidings â including Farina â to facilitate the working of trains to and from these intermediate stations. Initially Farina boasted a standard four-track layout, a wooden Class 2 station building, a residence for the station master and his family, a corrugated iron arched roof goods shed and loading platform, the buildings being erected by Sara & Dunstan for just over 3,943 pounds. In 1957, the 1,436 mm (57 in) standard gauge Stirling North to Marree line opened, so the train only ran north of Marree. This is now a large and busy junction between Port Augusta and Farina, a tremendous stride having taken place here since the commencement of the work. Obtaining suitable rails for the building of the Ghan didn’t turn out to be an easy task. The entire line was superseded in 1980 by the wholly standard gauge Adelaide-Darwin railway, using a new route up to 200 km to the west. In 1958-59 severe drought conditions saw nearly 146000 head of cattle railed from various sidings on the CAR to southern states where feed was available. Immediately upon the arrival of the train, a dinner was indulged in at the goods shed, which had been temporarily enlarged for the occasion. Help us celebrate our centenary. “There is some fantastic technology involved in rail today,” Waterman said. Beautiful scenes of the surrounding forests complement this journey through the Blue Mountains. Despite the smoke from the engineâs chimney, the visibility – particularly of the track ahead – was better, a headlight assisted with night time working, the cab afforded better protection from the elements for the crew, and the engineâs front end was better placed to deal straying animals. The country travelled through was very poor and dry, consisting of immense plains, divided occasionally by low ranges, the flats at the southern side of Beltana being decidedly more promising than those beyond. Several old Commonwealth of Australia locomotives remain at Marree, reminders of the town’s railway era, which ended in the early 1980s. “The complexity is managed by breaking up the build into packages, and how you supply and contract out each of those packages,” Waterman said. The formal opening of the further extension of the Great Northern Railway, vis., from Orroroo to Quorn and thence to Farina, took place at Quorn on Wednesday, the 17th inst. The Ghan is … The Old Ghan Museum, Alice Springs Alice Springs: The Old Ghan Museum, Tea Rooms and Heritage Railway is run by the Ghan Preservation Society. 30 secs. Walk carefully across the public footpath towards the railway embankment/Carlingford Lough – be mindful this is a golf course! This article originally appeared as “Going the distance” in the September 2019 issue of, Engineers Australia is turning 100! Commissioner, could not have been intentional, and must have been the result of a mistake or oversight. Although construction began in 1878, the line wasn’t completed until 1929, three years after development reached Alice Springs in 1926. In conclusion we have to thank the hon. That would enable us to choose the alignment, and then we would do a feasibility study on the alignment. The assistant engineer of the then Public Works Department (responsible for the South Australian Railways) Robert C Paterson dismissed that notion saying: âI found that 200 miles from Port Augusta brought me to the edge of a stony desert and it was a matter of no small difficulty as to where the terminus should be fixed. His excellency the Governor performing the ceremony in the presence of a very large and representative gathering from all parts of the colony, the importance of the occasion being heartily entered into by all present. a huge girder ranging in diameter from 53 feet to 85 feet. It would have been surprising if there werenât some serious leg injuries sustained by some of the cattle, as a result of this practice. The trains were much smaller, lighter and slower — as are the trains that still use the Ghan line. Improvement in internal trade and also trade with neighbouring countries. At 1 o’clock the Banqueting Hall – the goods shed – was again visited, and over 300 guests sat down to a most sumptuous repast prepared by Mr. Besch, of Adelaide, by whom also the other previsionary arrangements on the road, etc., were made. G Rail will be built from the ground up to provide Ghana with a solid and reliable rail network. The Indian Pacific operates on standard gauge tracks throughout. It was a civil engineering triumph that has opened up Australia's last great frontier. This means a hydraulic gradient is created within the soft soil, forcing the soil to flow or slurry, and then pump upwards into the ballast and to the top of track. By 1911 Farina boasted sheep yards for 2800 sheep and yards for 900 head of cattle. 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. Initially Farina may have been the intended terminus but by the time construction of the line was under way most people realised that there would be no wheat to carry from Farina. Few engineers argue that the Ghan was a case of perfect project management. vid so feel free to fast fwd at your leisure. Finally, Waterman said, the other major difference in modern construction is the likely inclusion of technology for driverless trains. But the Ghan was a major beneficiary of the nation-building project. As early as the 1860s, mineral discoveries in the Flinders Ranges prompted the authorities to consider the merits of building a railway north from Port Augusta. power stations made building the line viable, though it was also used to transport agricultural produce. As the name implies this clever device consisted of a three-sided rail arrangement. They have developed a way to recycle tyres into rubber mats that can be laid, like carpet, between hard surfaces such as rock and railway ballast. Instead of an axle load of 15 t, modern heavy haul trains can have axle loads bearing 35 to. “There are a few essential steps that we’d take prior to a rail project,” said Nicole Waterman, Design and Engineering Manager at Laing O’Rourke. 6in. The railway to Oodnadatta was affectionately called the Ghan, recalling the Afghan cameleers who for many years were the only means of transport in the South Australian outback. As an instalment of the Great Transcontinental Railway to Port Darwin, as a feeder to the interior and our own ports, a main trunk of feeders from Queensland and New South Wales, this is decidedly one of the boldest and most promising steps South Australia has taken, and the hundreds who were thus afforded an opportunity of seeing the country, agreed that it was a step in the right direction; but further extension must follow as speedily as possible, to enable the present generation to participate in the general increase of prosperity that is therefrom looked to arise to South Australia. This railway was then gradually extended northwards through Marree and Oodnadatta, which marked the terminus from 1891 till 1928, and then to Rumbalara in December 1928. Around 32 per cent are shipped to Asia for recycling, using more fuel and producing more carbon. Instead of an axle load of 15 t, modern heavy haul trains can have axle loads bearing 35 to 40 t. As a result, everything below the train itself is put through far greater stress. So informative with regards to the building of the Ghan railway and of the history in the Northern Territory and the beliefs and rituals of … When our own line to Strathalbyn and Goolwa is completed, we trust a similar opportunity will be afforded to the citizens and northerners to visit our great seaport at Victor Harbour, and its great feeder the lower part of the River Murray. The Farina – Ghan Railway As early as the 1860s, mineral discoveries in the Flinders Ranges prompted the authorities to consider the merits of building a railway north from Port Augusta. Distinguished Professor Buddhima Indraratna and his team of researchers at the Centre for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering at the University of Wollongong have found a railway solution that may just kill two birds with one stone. What a wonderful book this is. Designed by WMFP | For Farina Restoration Group ... Building a window to the pastâ¦. But you would certainly start with a steady rhythm of borehole logging.”. EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOME. After all, in the first 12 months of actual construction, less than two kilometres of track was laid. Location: Norris Bell Avenue, Alice Springs. Farina proved to be one such station. By extension, a bogie truck represented 2 vans of cattle. Guns and firearms were fired, and the whole population turned out and cheered most vociferously. Using materials made from recycled rubber, we can create an energy-absorbing reservoir to create consistent track conditions and also to prevent track damage.”. After the long haul down the Birdsville Track, Mundowdna represented the ideal location to allow the cattle to rest, put on some condition (fatten), before being walked the short distance to Farina. The country in some parts is very wild and rugged, the Walpina and Mount Deception ranges presenting remarkable contrasts to the intervening vast plains, and the absence of timber is most noticeable, the gums along the creeks being a very stunted and dwarfish description. It’s a far cry from the rampant pace of today’s rail industry — in China, around 19,000 km of high-speed line have been laid in just nine years — and the processes and technologies were worlds away from those that would be applied today. NEED TO KNOW The Ghan Two-night, three-day journeys from $1919 for Gold Single and $2149pp for Gold Twin. Wherever possible â particularly in the days of steam – it was desirable that the engine work âfunnel firstâ as opposed to âtender firstâ which in effect was running in reverse. By the late 1870s the proposed railway was popularly viewed as the first section of a transcontinental railway to link Port Augusta with Darwin (then known as Palmerston). It will be a grand day for South Australia when direct communication is established between the Northern and Southern extremes and also between South Australia and the sister colonies. The corridor is used by The Ghan passenger train and freight trains operated by One Rail Australia. The extension beyond Farina to Hergott Springs was officially opened on 7 January 1884. Some of the visitors in responding to toasts submitted that the omission, from the well known amiability and honesty of the hon. WANT CREATE NEWS DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX? The Ghan has been described as one of the world's great passenger trains. Reductions in the charges on goods traffic are to be made about June next of 5 percent on goods travelling under 100 miles, 10 percent under 200, and 20 percent over that distance. To build a modern railway network from the South to the North of Ghana with associated infrastructure. In use for around a century, the old (and now the new) railway is known as The Ghan, a colloquial nod to the Afghan cameleers who did so much to open up Australia’s interior in the 19th century. The driver can actually feel as if the wheels are losing proper contact.”. 6in. Quorn was reached at about half-past 7, a distance of 234 miles from Adelaide. This should not have been, but as it is so, we presume the remainder of the line will be finished in the same guage. Along the ranges some nice tracts of good agricultural land cropped out, which if rain were only dependant enough, looked as likely for grain as any land down south, good black rich looking soil: but unfortunately in the absence of rain scarcely a blade of grass is now to be seen. The Railway Station in Hawker is a beautiful stone building with a stone good shed, this is worth a visit when you are here. Thanks to Lisa Southon, Andrew Southon and many others from the Pitchi Richi Railway Preservation Society and the community of Quorn S.A. who identified locations for some of Graham’s photos and provided loads of information on the Old Ghan. The track will be unusable until the polluted ballast is completely replaced and the mud holes are removed. The Story of the Old Ghan. These new methods, which solve problems in railway engineering as well as recycling, are already finding their way into modern railway construction. Embark upon a rail adventure that showcases the best of Australia's natural wonders, from the kaleidoscopic hues of the Great Barrier Reef to the fiery orange of Uluru. Salt bush is abundant, and in some spots is looking nice, fresh and green after the recent small showers the country has been favoured with. Orders for trucks were expressed in terms of âvansâ of cattle. The most surprising Ghan fact for rail engineers in today’s environment is that very little was done in the way of surveying and gathering geological and hydrological data prior to tracks being put down. Given the nature of this type of traffic â especially mobs coming down, say, the Birdsville Track – trains couldnât be run on any regular basis, but were arranged to operate âas requiredâ. Towards net zero: How engineers can make a dent in emissions reduction targets to achieve sustainability goals. For two years Farina was the railhead for the Oodnadatta, Birdsville and Strzelecki Tracks. The reversing triangle. No need to register, buy now! The legendary cattle king Sidney (later Sir Sidney) Kidman assured Farina of a steady volume of livestock traffic when he acquired Mundowdna station centrally located between Farina and Hergott Springs (todayâs Marree). This rose to 8282 in 1956-7 and was down to 3626 in the 1958-59 season. (See opposite – Marree loop). “The average length of Ghan trains is probably 750 to 800 m,” said Indraratna, who is also the Founding Director of the Centre for Geomechanics and Railway Engineering. Opening of the Quorn and Farina Railways. Originally known as the Afghan Express, The Ghan takes its name from the 19th century Afghan camel drivers who arrived in Australia and helped to explore the country's remote interior. Your email address will not be published. Indraratna and his team at the Centre for Geotechnical and Railway Engineering have developed a solution for this, which also happens to help solve an environmental problem. The movement then came forward on the other leg of the triangle and had thus gone through 180 degrees in the process. By 1929 the train, nicknamed The Ghan, had been extended to Stuart (renamed Alice Springs in 1933) and the first half of the great cross-continent railway was ready. Hi excellency the Governor and party went from Adelaide to Port Augusta by coasting steamer, and arrived at Quorn by the Port Augusta tram on Wednesday at about noon, when addresses were presented in the presence of a large and enthusiastic crowd, who gave vent to their joy in sundry bursts of applause whenever occasions offered. Ph (08) 8955 5047. The Museum is housed in the original Macdonnell Siding buildings in Norris Bell Avenue, 8 kilometres south of Alice Springs. The weather was exceedingly fine the whole trip, the sun being powerfully hot, and the sky as clear and free from clouds as though it were mid summer instead of mid winter. The steam horse appears to have frightened the emu and kangaroo away, for not a dozen altogether were seen during the trip, though we were told they were otherwise very numerous. This was a 1,070 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge railway that went to Alice Springs. It runs on the east–west transcontinental route that spans Australia from east to west between Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, a total distance of 4350 km. According to Waste Management Review, more than 50 million used tyres are generated in Australia every year, of which fewer than five per cent are recycled locally. This article originally appeared as “Going the distance” in the September 2019 issue of create magazine. Chris Sheedy is a professional writer whose work has taken him to the UK, USA, Europe and China. This particularly applied where the running of livestock specials was concerned. Given that there would be no ramp facilities at such locations, this was done by stopping the train, opening the truck doors, and allowing the cattle to literally jump out onto the ground! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER. Curdimurka Siding The route is an adventure of historical interest with railway sidings, stone railway buildings, track remnants, bridges and railway infrastructure. During the 1950s the number of livestock dispatched from Farina fluctuated wildly from year to year. Commissioner, who however magnanimously allowed them to proceed. “But modern trains are up to two-and-a-half times heavier and the length of some trains, particularly coal trains, can be up to 4 km. Built to service the Katoomba coal mine in the 19th century, the Katoomba Scenic Railroad later became a novelty to locals, as this train follows the world's steepest incline track. In1929, when a link was eventually constructed to Alice Springs. Locomotive facilities included a single line running shed, coal stage, and water column fed from a 25,000 gallon overhead tank whose contents came from a 5,000,000 gallon reservoir. After all, in the first 12 months of actual construction, less than two kilometres of track was laid. – and about an hour was spent in refreshments, abundantly spread in the goods shed. On Saturday morning a special train took the visitors from Quorn to Adelaide, which was reached in safety at night time, not a single accident or hitch having occurred, we are glad to say, during the week, owing to the admirable arrangements made by the authorities, of the railway itself, and the rolling stock, we can speak in the high at terms, the only pity being the break of gauge which occurs at Terowie. But in its defence, the massive undertaking was actually a combination of a number of smaller projects, the first of which began in the mid-1880s. Instead of 40 light carriages moving at a gentle pace, there may be 350 extremely heavy carriages moving fast. It needs to be borne in mind that originally all railway trucks were of the four-wheel variety. Workers laid two million sleepers building 1,420 kilometres of new track. Whilst most railway sidings were equipped to load livestock, there were a few stations that became, over time, great livestock trucking dispatch points. “You might separate such a project into 100 km sections and manage logistics by strategically placing your camp between two sections, then leapfrog as each is completed.”. To calculate the actual numbers of bogie cattle trucks that made up a livestock special, simply halve the quoted number of âvansâ. The opening, by the Commonwealth Railways, of the line between Oodnadatta and Alice Springs in 1929 saw the introduction of the larger and more powerful NM class steam engines capable of hauling 330-ton trains. She's the Ghan, she's the Ghan Rolling on the northern tracks again She's the Ghan, she's the Ghan Going forever, if she can The screaming of her whistle could wake a graveyards dead The parched earth all around her is painted green and red Her pistons pushing power back in 1929 As she heaved and rolled right down the track On the Oodnadatta line Initially, in the South Australian Railwaysâ era, small âYâ class steam locomotives hauled 225-ton livestock trains. If the Ghan were being commenced today, Waterman said, once the aerial and ground surveys were complete, 3D models would be developed to assist the design and construction process. The carriages were comfortable, and we noticed no more oscillation on the narrow than on the broad gauge though perhaps the speed could not be attained on the narrow that the broad gauge would allow. Generally speaking if land was at a premium, then a turntable was installed. See more ideas about australia, northern territory, train. The train was originally named for the Afghan camel drivers who arrived in Australia in the 19th century and helped to explore the remote interior of the country. A trip on the Indian Pacific is one of the world’s great train journeys. Henceforth Government Gums was known as Farina: Latin for flour, as the tablelands to the east were intended to be the northernmost agricultural area. The Adelaide–Darwin rail corridor, completed in 2004. The people of Farina were in a state of enthusiastic commotion, and gave the visitors a hearty reception. Virtual time in 4D modelling allows project managers to test the sequencing of the construction, which would be particularly important on a railway project that is not only evolving over a period of time, but which also covers a large area geographically. ", "Modern trains are up to two-and-a-half times heavier and the length of some trains can be up to four kilometres. Along the entire length of the train, enormous forces are being concentrated on the ballast and the subgrade.