Pichi Pichi Railway ran a special train on Sunday 22 October 2017, to coincide with and mark the centenary of opening of the Trans-Australian Railway from Port Augusta to Kalgoorlie. At 9.32pm on Monday, October 22, 1917, the first passenger train set off from Port Augusta for Kalgoorlie. Once the line was open, it was possible to travel by rail from Sydney to Perth, via Quorn.
Our special train was steam-hauled by W22. The train departed Quorn at 8:30am, travelled to Port Augusta and returned at 5:00pm. The consist was all SAR cars – the closest we could get to the 1917 train which ran from Adelaide via Quorn to Port Augusta. Two Port Augusta to Stirling North return Shuttle Services were powered by NM25 and Yx141 was also present and in steam making its first public appearance after restoration.
Activities in Port Augusta for this day were as follows:
9.00am: Platform Gallery opens. Vintage cars on display at front of station.
9.30am: Standard Gauge display vehicles can be viewed on Platform 1.
10.30am: Pichi Richi Special train arrives at Port Augusta Railway Station on Platform 2.
11.30am: Pichi Richi Stirling North Shuttle departs Port Augusta Station.
12.30pm: Pichi Richi Shuttle returns to Port Augusta Station.
12.45pm: Official commemoration ceremony and monument unveiling
1.15pm: Pichi Richi Stirling North Shuttle departs Port Augusta Station.
2.15pm: Pichi Richi Shuttle returns to Port Augusta Station.
2.30pm: Special Great Southern Rail Indian Pacific prize draw.
3.00pm: Pichi Richi Special train departs for Quorn.
3.00pm: Standard gauge trains remain on display.
4.00pm: Conclusion.
Tickets for the Stirling North Shuttle trips were available for $10 on the day at the PRRPS Ticket Office at Port Augusta Railway Station - Tel 08 86428137
Media report of the day courtesy of The Transcontinental