As we were checking out of the Travelodge this morning we got chatting to a couple who'd arrived on the Indian Pacific the night before but had had an awful time; it was 10 hours late leaving Sydney and consequently they didn’t get any excursions as the train just kept on going to make up time. As they said, they may as well have flown for all they saw and it would have been considerably cheaper – just hope we have more luck.
We’d ordered a taxi for 07:40 which, with hindsight, was way too early as it only took 10 mins to get to East Street Station and this time our driver was a very nice, chatty Polynesian chap.
Even though we were earlier than the prescribed 08:00 arrival we were checked in immediately and our main suitcases taken away.
The train is massive, almost 750 meters long, 25 carriages
And even a few cars being carried at the front.
There was a guitarist playing and hot drinks and pastries available on the platform which were most welcome (the latter two items more than the former).
A small exhibition on the history of the railroad was on display. A railway line between Sydney and Perth was completed as long ago as 1917, but the track was made up of 3 conflicting rail gauges which necessitated a different train for each and passengers making the whole journey had to switch between 5 different trains. The standard gauge was completed in 1969 and in 1983 the Indian Pacific was able to operate from Adelaide too, following the conversion of the line there to standard gauge.
Plus some old stock.
We got chatting to a lovely copy from Virginia USA, and it just goes to show that you shouldn’t judge on appearances as we would both have avoided him in particular – loud shirt and a knob like air. He’d lived everywhere and was very easy to talk to; she was much quieter and hadn’t travelled widely. We had to smile though when he told a story about being at a “take your parent to work day” with one of his kids and the subject got around to travel. People were asked how many countries they’d visited and he was quite proud that he was up in the 30s (I reluctantly admitted to our 50+). We told them about our scratch off map and our criteria and Roger had a similar one. Anyway turns out he was a pastor and missionary and they’d met when he’d led a (presumably religious) tour to Israel and being both widowed had fallen in love and married last year. Unfortunately they are K carriage and we are B so unlikely we’ll meet again.
At 09:00 we were allowed on to the train and shown to our cabin which consisted of a 3 seater sofa which converts into a bed and a pull down bunk above plus there is a tiny shower/toilet.
We were given our lunch time today (13:15) so after the train had pulled out at 10:00 we wandered down to the lounge carriage which was already quite full. One Gold lounge and dinner carriage serves 3 carriages of 9 double berths and 1 carriage of probably 10 single berths – so approx 65 people.
Anyway room was made for us and we had our first taste of Aussie slang when one middle aged lady loudly declared it was so hot she’d put her thongs on already!!! Too much information thought I, but it turns out thongs are flip flips. Most people were our age bracket and from Adelaide as there had been a special promotion going.
The Dining Carriage
I had Caesar Salad and Ian had Jewfish Fillet - accompanied by local wines, both meals were delicious if a little light on the veg side. At this point all was going well and we were feeling very optimistic about the journey.
We sat and watched the scrub pass by for a while but the scenes weren't particularly pretty or interesting.
After a while a couple of loud voices got on our nerves so we returned to our cabin in the hope of some sleep.
For dinner both of us chose tuna steak and they were absolutely massive, about 3 x the size I could eat and accompanied by 1 green bean and half a potato - a taste of things to come!