The Ghan

The Ghan Original Oil on Canvas Board 75cm x 50cm

Originally dubbed the Afghan express, the Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed the permanent trail into the red centre of Australia more than 150 years ago. The original Ghan line followed the route of the explorer John MacDouall Stuart.

During the 1860s large numbers of camels and their handlers arrived in Australia and it would be fair to say that a large part of the opening up of Australia was due to these intrepid and brave men. They transported goods, mail, water, tools and equipment to remote towns throughout Australia, helping the development of major infrastructure projects including the overland Telegraph and the construction of rail lines.

The first train service on the Ghan line left Adelaide railway station on August the 4th 1929. Carrying more than 100 passengers and supplies, it was bound for the remote town of Stewart later to be called Alice Springs. The train services were somewhat irregular due to flooding, intense heat and mechanical failures. During the 1940s the line was used to transport servicemen for training and deployment during World War 2. This was the busiest time in the history of the railway with up to 247 trains running each week. During the 1960s and 70s the train was a very important link between Adelaide and Darwin, carrying mining, transport and agricultural supplies. The old Ghan railway track was eventually replaced, starting in 2001 and filling the 1,420-kilometre gap from Alice to Darwin. Today the Ghan delivers a truly luxury service and ranks as one of the great train journeys of the world, offering access to parts of Australia that no other holiday can come close to.