AnswerID: 290296 Submitted: Saturday, Mar 01, 2008 at 20:28
DIO
replied:
No obvious record of the name Ghan ever being a Commissioner of Railways in
South Australia.
The following obtained from SAR Records may assist you in understanding the evolution of the name Ghan Train...
"Chief Commissioner W. A. Webb was now in control, and in 1923 we see the administrative overhaul of the South Australian Railways, but the public would have to wait until 1924 before the visible changes would begin.
One of the great legends of of Australian railway history occurred in this year. A sleeping car service commenced between
Marree and
Quorn, and when the first sleeping car train from
Marree arrived in
Quorn, a group of curious railway workers was eager to see who had travelled on the new service. From the sleeping car there emerged a sole occupant resplendent in his arabic garb. One of the onlookers commented to the effect that they'd have to call the new train the Afghan express. From Weekly Notice Number 35, we can be confident that this historic event took place on the morning of 5th September."
Source can be viewed on the following
Link
Reply 3 of 6
FollowupID: 555688 Submitted:
Sunday, Mar 02, 2008 at 09:21
DIO posted:
Have consulted with a friend who has a wealth of knowledge relating to railways. His response to the question of Ghan being a Commissioner of SAR was as follows:
'Ghan was Commisioner of Commonwealth Railways. However the dubbing of the "Afghan Express" is well documented as having occurred prior to Commonwealth Railways taking over the
Oodnadatta line. General opinion is that it had nothing to do with Commissioner Ghan, although one wonders if he was happy to let the tradition stick.'
Perhaps the author of the book you are referring to may have been confused regarding the difference between Commonwealth and SAR. Who know - who cares.
FollowUp 2 of 2
