Australian Alco leads The Legendary Ghan - Top & Tail Passenger Train

The legendary Ghan is Australia's most famous rail journey from Adelaide to Darwin! This truly special train has been running since 1929 up the centre of Australia to Alice Springs and onto Darwin since 2004. Today the service is run by Journey Beyond Rail as a tourist attraction that travels across Australia with world-class views from the carriage window!
On October 18th, 2020, the Ghan was turned on the Dry Creek Triangle with a mixture of locomotives, including Alco shunt locomotive 8050 and Double Ghan liveried NRs (NR75/NR109). I've been told the train was turned to even out wheel flange wear on the carriages.
The shunter locomotive of 8050 was brought into service in 1983 as the last of the 80-class locomotives to be built. The 37-year-old locomotive has an Alco 12-251CE engine which produces 1605 kW (2150 HP). The locomotive is owned by Pacific National and is primarily used as a shunting locomotive for Journey Beyond Rail in Adelaide.
#Timestamp
00:00 - Introduction
00:15 - Adelaide Parklands Terminal
02:10 - 8050 leading - North Adelaide
04:10 - Departing Dry Creek
Disclaimer: You might struggle to watch Ultra HD 4K60fps footage due to its large file sizes which can overwhelm some devices. If you have any issue try Full HD 108060fps instead.
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Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/8421647...
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[@FromtheWindowSeat]

That’s awesome. 👌 I boarded this consist the following day in Alice Springs for the trip to Darwin. A great experience.

[@steelblue8]

I pass by the mile end yard every morning and always see 8050 kicking around that area- never knew she was an alco though!

[@MS_Trains]

It's a great little loco with some grunt! Haven't seen it in a while myself. Matt - M&S Trains

[@roberthuron9160]

Seeing Alcos anywhere nowadays,is stupendous,as there are seemingly so few left! Indian Railways has a great number,and there may be a few in Spain,and Portugal,but they are getting rare,and far between! In the US,and Canada,they are non- existent in Mainline service,and now in museums,mores the pity,for nothing beat the old PA's,and FA's,and their cousins,the RS's for smoke displays! Though,now the GE's might give them som competition! Honorary steam engines,indeed! Miss them terribly,part of my childhood,and teenage times! Didn't really know EMD's until the 70's,not the same!! 😥🚍🚇🚅🚄🚃🚂🚂🚂🚉🚉🚉

[@peterhann9254]

Excellent video. Never seen an 80 class lead this train before. Thanks 😊

[@Optuss]

80 Class’ look so good with the Pacific National livery

[@cliffleigh7450]

What happened to the good old SAR "long-short-long" for the crossing?

[@jimcrawford5039]

Why was the 80 class used there? Weight maybe? Great vid. Cheers.

[@peterainsworth8466]

Great video. I didn't know they used an 80 class for that. Thanks.

[@mcites]

Great train in a great travel!

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

I thought by your description the 80 class actually worked The Ghan, alas, only doing shunt duties, didn't think PN would trust it to get at least to Alice Springs without an issue. I went to Darwin about 18 months ago on The Ghan and enjoyed it, although I did prefer The Indian Pacific to Perth and back though, Great clip, thank you.

[@allychat8496]

Did anyone notice 3x power cars in the consist?

[@ConRob_The_Gunzel]

awesome video!

[@glennwatkins8285]

hahaa great video i was actually working on that train last week

[@FishplateFilms]

Great catch there Matt! SO basically, they turn the whole consist around to run it "backwards" to even out wheel wear? I guess thats easier than doing every car on the turntable ! Another good job sir! Cheers Gregg.

[@Rhys4AUFC]

@@MS_Trains Unless they’re using a different consist than above

[@Greatdome99]

RRs can use turntables to turn individual cars, wyes or balloon (runaround) tracks to turn entire trains. Take a look on Google Earth for such at major RR junctions.

[@timvandiepen8373]

Awesome

[@downundertransportation1273]

I've seen it on a TV show and IDK what it's called?

[@nswtrainsvlogs4853]

I hope one day: 8050 enters preservation. She's earned it

[@Ghastly10]

Have never understood why trains like The Ghan and The Indian Pacific, do not have any observation or dome cars, like you see on such trains in the US and Canada..

[@richardthomas9739]

Well America owns the train now

[@avlisk]

Great timing! I just got my set of Auscision Ghan coaches (late 1980's livery). Maybe some are still running on this train?

[@Aussie_Transport5371]

Why was 8050 leading?

[@robertgraffham6440]

WRONG! The Indian Pacific has that honour, though the Ghan can claim more prestigue now it goes from The Alice to Darwin as well? Though it should run from Melbourne to Darwin of course! :-)

[@klbird]

I've seen long passenger trains on Indian Railways but never as large as the Ghan. Are there that many passengers or are they moving the equipment for another reason. Also are those cars of a Budd design?

[@vsvnrg3263]

i can think of other reasons to reverse the train. no shunting the nr's from one end to the other. and the cars will be in a particular order. this may maintain that order, if it matters.

[@Greatdome99]

The wheel wear thing sound suspicious. By returning on the same route, the train will turn left and right equal amounts. Try it in your backyard.

[@vsvnrg3263]

@@Greatdome99 ,i'm inclined to agree. this maneuver is a much shorter distance than the trip to darwin.

[@MarkHenstridge]

Wheel flange wear? I bet it has got more to do with the terrible state of all the tracks at Keswick Terminal than "wheel flange wear", maintenance does not look like it is a high priority at the terminal(my opinion). Why did the SA government put the city station for country and interstate trains out to an industrial wasteland at Keswick?

[@MS_Trains]

It's South Australia! Why would it possibly make sense. Matt - M&S Trains

[@ianwotherspoon4323]

How often do they go around the triangle? And how many Platinum cars were on the train?

[@ianwotherspoon4323]

@@MS_Trains Thanks Matt, I'd love to go and see there movement, BUT I'm a Victorian(Melb metro) so we are chained to our houses at present!!! I think I counted 9 Platinum, on a train that normally only has 3. I had a gander at GSR web page and they have the precautions in place. Do you know what the passenger numbers are like? Ian

[@ianwotherspoon4323]

36 carriages including 9 Platinum.