Sunday History Photo / SA-NT

Construction of what is known as the Ghan began in 1878 when the then premier of South Australia Sir William Jervois broke ground at Port Augusta. The line reached Hawker in June 1880, Beltana in July 1881, Hergott Springs (Marree) in January 1884 and Oodnadatta on 7 January 1891,
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Oodnadatta remained the railhead for the next forty years.It wasn't until 1926 that development to Alice Springs began and the line was pushed further north past Callanna, Alberrie Creek, Curdimurka, Coward Springs, Strangways Springs, William Creek, Anna Creek, Box Creek, Edwards Creek, Warrina, Algebuckina and Mount Dutton until it finally reached Oodnadatta in 1891. and that section was completed in 1929.
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Prior to completion, the final leg of the train journey was still completed by camel. While there were plans from the beginning to extend the line through to Darwin, by the time the Alice Springs connection was complete, the Ghan was running at a financial loss, and plans for connection to Darwin were put on indefinite hold. The original Ghan line followed the same track as the overland telegraph, which is believed to be the route taken by John McDouall Stuart during his 1862 crossing of Australia.
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The original Ghan ran for the last time in 1980 and now its preservation is in the hands of The Ghan Preservation Society who repair sections of the old narrow gauge track and some notable sidings such as Curdimurka.It was not until October 1980 that a new standard gauge line from Tarcoola to Alice Springs was constructed, and the train took the form it has today. The new line is located approximately 160 kilometres west of the old line, in an effort to prevent washout due to rain.
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