Perth to Sydney

Kalgoorlie

Kalgoorlie is a major gold mining area. In the early days water was scarce. Eventually the brilliant engineer C Y O'Connor built a dam in the hills east of Perth and constructed a water line with 8 pumping stations to supply the area. It's still in use. Sadly he committed suicide due to the ridicule heaped on him and he never saw its success, just 10 months after.

Wikipedia: Gold fields water supply

SJR21.d20: mining museum display - big truck and front loader - II

A dump truck used in the mines, now retired. Each tyre costs $40,000! It is impressively big. This was in the Mining Museum, photo taken from a front loader of comparable size.

SJR21.d21:  sign: Rawlinna, WA - II

A forlorn sign of past days.

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor microwave tower, with 3G cell

This tower was used in a microwave link across the Nullarbor in about the 1970s. It had some issues from the turbulent air caused by the summer heat. I doubt that the link still works. There is a fibre cable running adjacent to the train line. This tower also has a 3G cell antenna. There is very little mobile coverage along the journey, sometimes from a nearby (small) town.

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain a few km east of Haig (train stop)

It really is the Nullarbor, which is approximately 1,100km east to west, across Western Australia and South Australia.

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain nearing Forrest cattle station (Nurina stop)

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain at Nurina stop

The train also carries supplies to small towns along the way, in this instance for a farmer.

The Metropolis named Cook

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain - Cook, Town Managers' Houses - II

Cook was a service centre for railway workers. Facilities included a school and hospital. It is now a smaller facility for rail workers, including shift changes of train crews. The buildings in the background are accommodation for rail personnel.

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain - Cook, town promotion box

The wording on the white box:

Right side: COOK: Queen City of the Nullarbor

Left side: Our Hospital needs your Help. Get Sick!

Typical Aussie humour.

SJR21.d21:  Nullarbor Plain - leaving Cook - II

Adelaide (again)

SJR21.d22:  Adelaide Oval seen from breakfast room

Adelaide is the headquarters of Journey Beyond, the operator of the 2 trains. We had breakfast at the Adelaide Oval after a quick bus tour of the city.

SJR21.d22:  Adelaide Oval seen from breakfast room

Broken Hill

Broken Hill was quite a source of silver, lead and zinc. Mining is still ongoing, but a number of the mines have run out, causing a loss of employment. The "off train" experience on the last night aboard is the drag show in the pub.

SJR21.d22: Palace Hotel, Broken Hill

Broken Hill's Palace Hotel which is featured in the movie "Priscilla Queen of the Desert"

SJR21.d22: drag show room at Palace Hotel, BH - IV

The room where the show happens. It was quite entertaining with the audience having a great time, singing along.

SJR21.d22: stairs to rooms at Palace Hotel, BH - VI

Some of the decorated walls outside the "theatre" room. Not that any scenery around Broken Hill looks like that - it's mostly arid and flat.

Only 5 Hours To Central Station.

SJR21.d23: fog out the window - VI

The fog started west of Lithgow - the start of the climb to the Blue Mountains.

SJR21.d23: fog out the window with house - IX

SJR21.d23: fog in Wallerawang, station name - II

SJR21.d23: new intercity train at Lithgow - II

The next generation of inter city trains are undergoing trials before their introduction. This train is stabled in the Lithgow train precinct.

SJR21.d23: Zig Zag railway steaming up & whistle blowing for us - III

A salute from the Lithgow Zig Zag Railway, which uses the original descent tracks down the western side of the Blue Mountains. The zig zag soon became a choke point, so a route with 10+ tunnels was created, and is still used today.

The zig zag is now a tourist attraction.

SJR21.d23: fog in the distant valley - II

On top of the Blue Mountains, and fog in the valley.

SJR21.d23: fog on the Nepean River, approaching Sydney

Morning fog as we cross the Nepean River, meaning less than 2 hours before the journey ends.

My Compartment on the train.

SJR21.d23: bathroom in my cabin - part 1

SJR21.d23: bathroom in my cabin - part 2

SJR21.d22: cabin in night trim

The night setup in my train compartment.

SJR21.d23: my compartment in day setting

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