Tarcoola to Mabel Creek.

A fair question. There is always a service track beside the railway and you can in fact see it on the maps but just who's property that is in SA is a question worth asking. Is it part of a rail reserve?

The big question might actually revolve around the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) of which the railway passes through the guts of. The only normal exemption for punters like us is the Stuart Hwy. Unless you are an authorised person (Rail maintenance/inspection etc), you may breach those regulations regarding access to the restricted area.

I'm sure it will be etched somewhere in a Cth or State Act or regulations for those with more time than I to go look for.

Good question though.

Cheers,

Mick

This is the cheapest way to see what it looks like.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiG3ipuB0Sw

Chris

.
Ivan,

As Mick has said, there is the service track alongside the railway line but it is not available for public use. The official statement is.... "The service roads are not open for public access – they are privately owned by the rail network operators for the purpose of maintaining the track."
I have no idea of what action may be taken if you were found on those tracks.

The country from Tarcoola to Mabel Creek has the usual minor station tracks and several old tracks from the early days of the WRE operations. You could easily get lost on them.

Furthermore, that area is wholly covered by the Woomera Protected Area and entry requires a Tourist Access Permit from the Coordination Office. These permits are not so easily obtained these days other than to travel on the Anne Beadell Hwy, and then only outside of the declared "exclusion periods" when military operations are, or may be, taking place. These times are published here.

Yes, I do legally drive, quite regularly, along the Adelaide to Darwin rail line between Tarcoola and Mabel Creek. Although I've never stopped to mention it to the Kingoonya publican.

Sent an email to Genesee and Wyoming. Will let everyone know how I go.