On the Indian Pacific

There are some advantages to living almost next door to the Hyatt hotel in Perth. Not many, but a few. The Hyatt itself is a monstrous advertisement for the worst of Western culture: tacky beyond description, and gargantuan as well. But there are always taxis there. So getting one to go to the train station was very easy. And the total trip was about ten minutes: we got there in plenty of time. And check-in was easy. The day was bright, and it had dawned almost cool (for here). It would be good day to travel. As well, we were ready to leave Perth.

The Indian Pacific train is enormous. We sat outside our car awaiting boarding, and could see neither end of the train. One of our co-passengers was saying it was over a kilometre long. So we will have lots of company across this flat and barren land.





Slowly at first, then more quickly, we left civilization. Crossed the Swan River a ways from downtown, some boats in the river and their crew waving at the train. Gradually up into the farmland around Perth - mostly wheat fields, some grazing land for sheep and cattle. We followed the Swan for some time upstream. It ceased to be a flowing water, instead becoming pools of still to stagnant water linked by dry rock or clay riverbeds.


No wildlife except small birds to be seen. As we climbed out of the coastal plain, we encountered salt flats at places. We are told there are saltbushes, native to the country, which are now grown as feed for livestock and felt to be quite good for this.

Before three hours are out, we are into very flat terrain. Saskatchewan has nothing on this country: it is F-L-A-T! We are reminded of the old joke about seeing your runaway dog for three days, and we can believe it originated in the Nullarbor.


One of the reported wonders of the trip is the chance to view sunsets across the plain. I was anxious to see one for myself. As the sun got close to the horizon, the train swung from going east to more northerly, so we could actually see the setting sun. I was poised with my camera.

As you will know, freight trains take priority over passenger trains: unfair, but there it is. Well, it turns out that there was a freight train we had to slow and allow to pass, on the west side (towards the sun) just as the sun dipped below the horizon. The sky looked quite good when I caught a flash of it between cars. But the camera couldn't focus fast enough. When the other train was past, the sun was gone, and the sky colour almost totally gone as well. Sigh! I have to trust that the rail company didn't plan this. Maybe tomorrow I'll succeed. Or there's always the sunrise.

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Location:Kalgoorlie