Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers who blazed a permanent trail into the Red Centre of Australia more than 150 years ago. Many cameleers were migrants from an area now known as Pakistan. However, according to outback lore in the 1800s, these men were believed to come from the mysterious outpost of Afghanistan and were considered Afghans - 'Ghans.
The original Ghan line followed the route of explorer John MacDouall Stuart. On Sunday 4 August, 1929, an excited crowd gathered at the Adelaide Railway Station to farewell the first Ghan train. This train carried supplies and over 100 passengers bound for the remote town of Stuart, later to be called Alice Springs. The train’s whistle pierced the silence of the MacDonnell Ranges surrounding Alice Springs two days later, on 6 August.
It was always intended for The Ghan to one day travel from Adelaide through to the Northern Territory capital city of Darwin. With the completion of the Alice Springs to Darwin rail link, this dream became a reality. The Ghan embarked on its inaugural transcontinental journey on 1 February, 2004. Today, the north-south cross-country journey covers 2979 kilometres and encounters spectacular and diverse landscapes from the pastoral hues of the South Australian plains, the rusty reds of the MacDonnell Ranges and the tropical greens of Katherine and Darwin.
The Ghan stats
Average length of train: 774m
Average weight of train: 1400 tonnes (based on locomotives and 30 carriages)
Length of track: 2979km
Length of journey: 54 hours – 2979km
Average speed of train: 85km/hour (max speed 115km/hour)
Symbol: The Ghan's symbol is a camel and its handler in recognition of the pioneering Afghan cameleers.
Average number of carriages: 30 including guest carriages, crew quarters, restaurants, lounges and power vans.
This information has been sourced from: http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/trains/the_ghan/#sthash.O7Gyyfkw.dpuf