All aboard!
I’m not sure when this blog will appear as we are off through the wilderness aboard the Indian Pacific train – named because it travels 4352km across Australia from ocean to ocean. This transcontinental crossing is one of the world’s great rail journeys. (No sign of Michael Portillo yet!).
Rising early, we went to Perth East station and met our train – all 731 metres of her, consisting of 29 carriages; 2 locomotives; 58000 litres of diesel and 30 onboard crew.
We were greeted with a platform breakfast buffet where we met some of our fellow passengers while listening to Jamie, our on board entertainer.
After a while we boarded and settled into our ensuite cabin before making our way to our lounge – shared by the occupants of three carriages – and making ourselves at home.
It wasn’t long before new friends were being made – us ‘Pomms’ as we became known were the youngsters of the group but the Aussies embraced us, little knowing the Husband was wondering if there was a mortuary carriage on board.
We wouldn’t need that! This lot were preserved from the inside out – before 11 am the champagne was flowing and the all inclusive trip got well and truly warmed up before we were called to lunch.
Lunch was in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant which is named after the consort of King William IV who was monarch of South Australia in 1836 when it was settled. We shared our table with new friends who had moved to Perth a few years ago from Derbyshire.
All food served on board is sourced locally from farmers and providers along the train’s route , and it was delicious. After lunch we relaxed in the lounge as the wilds of the Perth hills, rivers and woodlands gave way to a flatter less vegetated landscape covered in wide, flat salt plains where water had dried up.
Jamie our entertainer appeared to host a quiz where Hubs teamed up with his new dinner buddy while I joined his wife and two elderly Australian women. Us ladies didn’t win the quiz but we did beat the men and gained lots of tips on how to age well along the way – apparently by 75 – if you’re lucky to get there – most women’s knees have gone and men are willing but rarely able! (Every day is a learning day! ).
As dinner was called , I realised that we were captive on this amazing train – with a seemingly endless supply of alcohol – and nothing to do but socialise and try to make inroads into it. If there were social Olympics, the veteran Australian team would win gold in all drinking events!
Day one concluded with a late night trip to the Kalgoorlie Super-Pit gold mine. We were released from train captivity and bussed to this huge settlement in the middle of nowhere which has sprung up since the days of the Western Australia gold rush in 1893. We looked at enormous mine vehicles; watched a play on the history of the area and then went to peer into the largest open cast gold mine in the world. It is 3.5 km long, 1.5 km wide, 600 metres deep and still growing. Why they took us there in the dark is a mystery – couldn’t see a thing!
Off to bed now and Hubs – after all that box-fit- has been delegated the top bunk! If we make it through the night – without drama (keep thinking about Murder on the Orient Express) – I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.
Bottoms up! Big Mother. Xxx
Away Days! 