Back To The Track

[Richard Farrant]

Wonderful story please continue with all the details you can recall !

 

 

Thanks, Abn :tup::

 

 

Not had time tonight, but second installment to follow, with more pictures.

[abn deuce]

no rush take your time .....................................................

......................................................................................ok long enough !!!

lol

[Richard Farrant]

to continue the story.........

 

The train had left Sydney and as we passed through stations, crowds were there to see the train pass through, this was to happen along the whole route. We soon got to know each other and socialise, there was a buffet car attached so allowed us to wander around. As the carriages were behind the flat cars at this point, and the first carriage had windows in the end, we were able to photograph and film the train as seen in the pic on previous post. The first scheduled stop was at Moss Vale station, south of Sydney, the crowds were thick on the platform, some of us went to check the straps securing our vehicles, while others chatted to the onlookers. School children were often brought along as the War was part of their studies and they met the Vets. The steam engine was uncoupled here and returned to Sydney, from now on the train was pulled by a diesel unit, which was changed as we entered each State railway area. Due to the train slowing down as we passed through smaller stations, the timetable started to go out the window. Information folders were being made up on the train and bundles dropped off as we passed stations.

 

The first overnight stop was at a small country town called Cootamundra. Our accomodation was pre-booked and the reception from these small towns was tremendous, we would be taken to our pub, hotel, etc. by locals, some of us were invited to stay at their homes. The train would be left in sidings overnight with a small party staying to watch over it.

 

This was the pattern for the rest of the trip, as we stopped at stations the local ladies groups would be there with pies, tea, etc, just as they would have done for the wartime troop trains. Bands would strike up, speeches made, welcoming us and wishing a good trip. The stops were often between 20 to 30 minutes. The next stop was Melbourne, here we were to stop over a day, while the Victoria contingent of vehicles and crew joined the train. I was invited to join the Veterans on a day out to the Dandenongs, where we had a superb lunch at a Bavarian style restaurant.

 

Off again, bound for Dimboola as an overnight halt, again a small country town, this time the community had organised an evening for us in the local club hall. This was quite an experience, with a small country band, singers, dancing. I think we all remembered that night. From here we carried on to Adelaide where the South Australians and some from West Australia were set to join the train. Another lay over day and time to look around the city. The train was now fully loaded, and some considerable weight.

 

We left Adelaide bound for Port Augusta, but stopping off at Port Pirie on the way. From Port Augusta we then started to journey inland through the sand hills and passing salt lakes. At a small halt called Pimba, a US serviceman in an official vehicle was a surprise to see, until I realised we were close to Woomera where the old rocket site was situated. Further on, we stopped at a small township called Tarcoola, it was here the railway split to go west to Perth or north to Alice Springs. We stopped here for a time while the local school children welcomed the veterans. After that, some of us walked across to the Red Shed, the local pub, for a beer, we were soon stirred when someone came in to say the train was ready to leave! From here the track was single and with only a freight train or The Ghan passenger train to worry about, it was more leisurely. Where we were to meet an oncoming train, we would wait in a loop, often giving us time for a walk in the bush.

 

The final overnight stop was at a place called Manguri.........all there was visible was a siding. Soon after stopping a couple of coaches emerged from the bush in a cloud of red dust. They were to take us to Coober Pedy, about 40 kms away. This was a town made famous for its opal mining. That evening the town gave us a dinner and reception by the Mayor.

 

to be continued......with photos next.

[Rick W]

Sounds like a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. Great story and pics!

[N.O.S.]

This is shaping up well to be another of those "lifetime experiences"

Accepting that in Oz they don't have quite the same bureaucratic rubbish that we have to content with (can you just imagine trying to organise a similar train the length of the UK?:shocked:), this trip must still have taken some serious planning and organisation!!! Great that some folk are prepared to do this out of sheer enthusiasm. More, more!

Edited August 9, 2008 by N.O.S.

[Degsy]

Great story Richard, must have been the trip of a lifetime, thanks for sharing your experiences.

[Richard Farrant]

Thanks for the replies, chaps.

 

Believe me there is far more to tell, but we have not got to the real MV bit yet! So far it has taken seven days to get as far as Coober Pedy.

 

Here are some photos to get the picture so to speak;

 

1. The Australian National loco that pulled us on the last few days. It was built by GM and powered by a massive 16 cylinder Detroit Diesel, sounded terrific when pulling hard. This is at the stop for Coober Pedy.

 

2. Another stop, as there were no other scheduled trains the rail staff were very good and stopped occasionally to see any notable sights, this is at the South Australia / Northern Territory border. You would not do this on British Rail :-D

 

3. At the border marker stone, yours truly in foreground.

 

4. Another stop, on the Finke River bridge....note, no water! It only comes at certain times of the year and then it is deep and wide.

[abn deuce]

How many vehicles were on the train ? surely someone must have filmed or video taped that awesome sight !!

Edited August 9, 2008 by abn deuce

[Richard Farrant]

What it was all about.........the Diggers who worked the supply convoys. A group of these Veterans were chosen by Dept. of Veteran Affairs to take part and do the train journey to Alice. Here is a photo of them on the train with a senior Army officer. We also had two officers from the Army Public Relations, they leepfrogged the train with a staff car, changing places and taking one of the vehicle crew or a Digger along, setting up display boards at the next station and ensuring all arrangements were ready. I did one leg with the Major and even had time for a beer before the train arrived!

[Richard Farrant]

How many vehicles were on the train ? surely someone must have filmed or video taped that awesome sight !!

 

I think there were around nearly 70 vehicles on the train after last load in Adelaide. The total length of the train was 780 metres. A lot of videos were done, on the old format, I did some, but have not converted it to dvd.

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Here in sunny Gosport your thread is turning into the only worthwhile event of the day.

[Richard Farrant]

Here in sunny Gosport your thread is turning into the only worthwhile event of the day.

 

Really? :???

[abn deuce]

Thats fantastic ! I did a search on youtube for miltary vehicles in Australia but no hits . So no ones converted and posted it yet .

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Really? :???

Hi Richard its a compliment,it pi...d down the whole time so not a lot done.rebuilt a honda trials bike engine so a mate of Andys (the engineer helping me)could do a trial today.It had lost 5th gear.No special tools so most of the time making things out of scrap from his garage.Found a new Nelson 34 ex aircraft carrier though.more later.

[AndyFowler]

Hello CW I assume the Nelson is a tender (sorry if not the correct Naval term ) how did you happen to find one ? :-D

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Tender is ok,by doing what i normally do,pocking me nose in where it shoudnt be.no actually it just turned up on the hard (out of the water) at our marina.

[Richard Farrant]

it just turned up on the hard (out of the water) at our marina.

 

CW,

 

A Nelson 34, very nice, has it got Thornycroft engines?

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

No its got a Ford Dorset which was fitted to some of them,allthough its probably thorneycroft marinsed so gets called thorneycroft,Perkins 6.354s were the more common engine.

[N.O.S.]

Oh dear, Richard, looks like salt water has got into your thread too :-D:-D:-D

[Guest catweazle (Banned Member)]

Salt waters ok ,its fresh water that does the damage.

[Richard Farrant]

Oh dear, Richard, looks like salt water has got into your thread too :-D:-D:-D

 

at least it shows someone is reading it :-D

 

Story continues tomorrow :tup::

[lynx42 Rick Cove]

You are all right, it was the trip of a lifetime! I met Richard the first day in Melbourne. I have many, many photos but my scanner is playing up.

There were 98 military vehicles which drove into Darwin in convoy. Most of them WW2. Of the 98 there were only 2 or 3 which were actually used on 'THE TRACK" during WW2. I won't steal Richards thunder , so I'll let him continue with the trip report. Keep up the good work, Richard. The memories are flooding back.

Regards Rick

[Richard Farrant]

You are all right, it was the trip of a lifetime! I met Richard the first day in Melbourne. I have many, many photos but my scanner is playing up.

 

 

Many thanks Rick,

 

It would be good to see photos from other participants to get a different angle, I think I took more video than photos.

 

About to post some more instalments........so wake up at the back :-D

[Richard Farrant]

To continue the story...........

 

Our last stop on the train journey was an overnight at Coober Pedy, the opal mining town. We were taken back to the train, through the desert in an old coach. Off again on the train for our final day on it. The first stop was Marla, a little halt in the middle of nowhere. People had come from all around the area to meet the train, schoolchildren playing the national anthem and a large group from the Aboriginal community who put on a corroboree, with some of their ladies doing a dance. I got back on the train to grab my camera, to find an old man sitting in a seat, definitely not one of our group, so I went off to let the officials know, and it seems he was trying to hitch a lift. After the display was over and our extra passenger removed, we started to move again only to stop when the guard thought he had spotted someone on the freight wagons, seems it was a false alarm.

 

Later in the day we stopped at the Finke River bridge, a photo is on an earlier post. This is a river that only flows at certain times of the year when the rains in the North East of the country create water that floods across the country along dry river beds. I was to encounter the Finke River in a Jeep, five years later, but that is another story.

 

By now the train is running late, we had hoped to arrive in Alice Springs before dark, but it was not to be. The entrance to the town is through a gap in the hills, called Heavitree Gap and quite impressive, with the road running alongside. Lots of people were there to meet us. Some vehicles had made there own way to Alice. We disembarked with our luggage. The train was to be turned around that night, so immediatley the freight wagons were split up and shunted to various sidings for unloading........but where? The Australian Army had sent a support group to accompany our convoy, a couple of their guys with a 110 station wagon, offered to take a few of us to look for our vehicles, eventually we found the right siding, then found to our dismay, we would have to offload over the side......in the dark.There was plenty of help about and we all assisted each other. Once unloaded, we were escorted by the Army to the campsite. I was in charge of my friends Land Rover, he had flown to Alice and was nowhere to be seen!

 

On arrival at the camp we sorted ourselves out, I had been booked into a caravan, others had tents or slept in there trucks. After this I was shattered and went off to bed. We had become quite attached to the train over the last ten days or so and it was sad to leave it.

 

The next instalment is the start of the second phase of the journey.

[Richard Farrant]

Here are some of the vehicles that were travelling on the train;

 

The first one is Bay Kelly's sand painted Ford F60, before it was laoded at Sydney.

Second photo is Peter Hart's ex-army Holden FB ute, also at Sydney.

Another at Sydney, the Hedges' Ford F15.

The fourth one is Dave Carmen's Austin K2 RAF tender resting in the shade at Alice Springs.

The fifth and last for now, is Andy McFarland's Chevrolet cinema van, also at the Alice campsite.