Australia.

Indian-Pacific : (Journey #1 )
ACROSS THE CONTINENT OF AUSTRALIA
This was my first train journey to start my "Around the World by Train" adventure that was to last over two different journeys totaling nine months ..  I must say that I was excited as this first part of the trip would be on this the Indian Pacific train from Sydney Central Railway to Adelaide "Parklands " Central Railway Station in South Australia some nearly  two thousand kilometers and 26 hours away..This is one of the very few truly Trans Continental train journeys in the world left to do..
 Departing Sydney Central Railway Station late in the afternoon.the train quickly leaves the city and suburbs behind as it winds its way through the beautifully forrested Blue Mountains and the Grose Valley.this wonderful scenery unfortunately diminishes as the sun sets leaving it all in a orange glow and night time arrives...I am traveling budget and have a comfortable sleep seat (aircraft like ) and always as with train travel there are just so many fellow travelers to talk with over the course of the journey..The train arrives at a major stop in the far western New South Wales town of Broken hill around 6.30 am.. Time for breakfast.
 Broken Hill is world famous for its copper and silver mines and B.H.P. which started as Broken Hill Propriertry Limited is now the biggest mining Company in the world ..BHP Billiton. The next eleven or so hours go by as I see the train pass through very dry drought stricken areas, as this part of the country has suffered from a long drought affecting all farming communities..also I see the results of heavy bush fires leaving so much of the trees and land blackened.Losses to livestock, wildlife animals and farming infrastructure is very high more so to the fires..
  Train Arrives at Adelaide Central early evening and it has been a marvellous start to my long journey ahead but, for the moment I have all of Adelaide to enjoy plus a few country excursions.

 SYDNEY CENTRAL STATION TO ADELAIDE "PARKLANDS" CENTRAL STATION    NEARLY 2000 KLMS. AND 26 HOURS.