The Ghan

[r.magnay]

The poem Manfred posted reminded me of this one I wrote some time back.

“THE AGES OF THE GHAN”

© Ross Magnay 18th Sept 2005

It all started off with camels and the Afghan Cameleers,
plodding slowly, slowly northward as they did for many years.
To Marree from the Flinders up the Oodnadatta track,
camels fully laden with their cargo on their back.

Then from Oodna’ on to Alice over sand and gibber plains,
strung out across the desert were the Afghan camel trains.
then offload their freight in Alice, in the heat or in the rain,
And turn the camel train around and head back south again.

But the gangs are cutting benches through the Pichi Richi Pass,
building bridges, and the cuttings through the hills and trees and grass.
Laying ballast, rails and sleepers now we have the age of steam,
soon we’ll hear the locos puffing and we’ll hear the whistles scream.

Then the camels and the cameleers will slowly fade from sight,
the wheels of progress turning steel and steam will set it right .
But enjoy the hour of glory all is not as it may seem,
diesel soon will come and crucify the very age of steam.

Then the trains will be much longer and carry much more weight
and travel ‘cross the country at an ever quicker rate.
Then the rails won’t stop at Alice they will reach the northern shores,
carting everything from passengers to cars and mining ores.

So we’ve come from unmarked camel pads to ribbons made of steel,
from the steps of man and camel to the rolling metal wheel.
From the smoke and steam and whistles when the grand old loco’s ran,
to a modern day adventure on Australia’s famous Ghan.

[Neville Briggs]

It's an interesting bit of history Ross.

[Vic Jefferies]

I enjoyed this Ross a good poem and a good story.
Have you ever read Will Ogilvie's, The Riding Camel? A great story which I used to recite but I am afraid it is a bit to long for audiences.

[Jeff Thorpe]

Liked this one Ross. Goodonya

Jeff

[alongtimegone]

Nice Ross ... a time line of sorts. I'd like to take that train trip but it's too bloody expensive.
Wazza

[r.magnay]

Thanks Wazza, yeah me too, I have done most of the old Ghan track by road, I used to work up along there twenty odd years ago, it holds a lot of history. I have also done the complete line to Darwin, but also by road, it doesn't hold the same romance as the old one though. I doubt I will ever be able to justify the expense to do it on the rails though!

[Dave Smith]

Great poem and story Ross, We did the Ghan a few years ago for our golden wedding anniversary, we were offered a package deal from Perth to Perth air to Darwin one week in Darwin with two tours to Lichfield and Kakadu Ghan to Adelaide and back home about $1500 each. It was a bit special to me as my Dad was manpowered in the second world war and sent into the Territory on the Ghan in cattle cars, he used to tell us stories about getting of and walking up ahead and waiting for the train to catch up.

TTFN

[r.magnay]

That sounds like some sort of trip Dave, and pretty cheap too! you wouldn't get the whole Ghan trip if you sat on a flat top for that normally I reckon. Sadly you wouldn't have gone anywhere near the old Ghan track on that trip though Dave, I have driven along most of it in the course of my work, it is steeped in history.

[Dave Smith]

Yair Ross that is true, On one of our other trips with the caravan we spent some time in the Flinders Ranges and around Quorn and north, we saw enough to know we should stay but as always time is too short, may get back there some day.

TTFN