News articles and media releases
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Pichi Richi Railway celebrates NSU52’s 50 years of service on Sunday 30 May 2004. This first generation diesel locomotive represented the beginning of the end of steam on Australia’s railways when introduced in 1954. To commemorate this event a special train will depart from Port Augusta Railway Station at 10am Sunday 30 May. NSU52 will “double-head” with recently restored steam locomotive NM25 to recreate a typical “Marree Mixed” train on a return journey to Quorn.
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Visit Pichi Richi Railway’s Quorn Loco Workshops on Saturday April 23 and Sunday April 24 between 10am and 5pm for two days of fascinating displays, demonstrations, entertainment, food and much more.
This is a special chance for a behind-the-scenes look at the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society, where visitors can marvel at Pichi Richi Railway’s enormous locomotives and original wooden carriages. Watch demonstrations of the restoration process of these massive engines and delicate carriages. See the demanding work involved in repairing track. Experience the coal and the dust!
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Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society will be running a special steam train to take passengers to the annual Quorn Show this year.
“The Quorn Show is proud of its history, having started back in 1880. Pichi Richi Railway shares that link with the past, and this is a perfect way for show-goers from Port Augusta and surrounding areas to make a real day of it”, said Cathy Smythe, marketing officer for Pichi Richi Railway.
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The Inaugural Wizards Explorer departed from the Port Augusta Railway Station on Sunday 18 April 2004. The Wizards Explorer was the first of this type of train for Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc, a wizards and witches theme train, aimed at 5-12 year olds. The Wizards Explorer ran to full capacity, booking out well before the Inaugural train departed, indicating an overwhelming success for Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society Inc. The success of this train hinged on a group of hardworking volunteers who helped to make the day a huge success for Pichi Richi Railway, and for those travelling on the train.
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The first Ghan to Darwin departed Adelaide on Sunday 1 February 2004, and at Stirling North Pichi Richi Railway's Afghan Express joined it to run alongside it into Port Augusta.
To commemorate this historic event, PRR's train carried vintage motor vehicles—making it something representative of a 1920s or 1930s Ghan.
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Thursday 15 January 2004 was an historic day for the Pichi Richi Railway when it again became part of Australia's railway heritage.
The first freight train to cross Australia from south to north departed Adelaide. It was met in Stirling North by a PRR double-headed special, and they ran parallel into Port Augusta. The train was one of the longest ever operated by the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society.
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Yesterday, Friday 11 April 2003, steam locomotive NM25 moved under its own power for the first time in nearly 38 years.
NM25 spent its entire working life on the Commonwealth Railway's narrow gauge Central Australia Railway—the route of the old Ghan from Port Augusta to Alice Springs—including the remaining section from Port Augusta to Quorn preserved by Pichi Richi Railway. Its restoration project is now nearing completion.