Massive Double Stacked Freight Trains: Heart of the Trans Australian Railway

The Trans Australian Railway is a standard gauge railway linking Western Australia with the rest of the country. It's a rarely seen section of railway due to its remote location on the Nullarbor Plain over 1000 kilometres from any capital city. Trains use the Trans Australian Railway daily to transport freight from Melbourne, Sydney & Adelaide to Perth or vice versa.
#longeststraightsectionofrailway #outbackaustralia #nullarbor
Featured Movements:
00:15 - SCT Intermodal 1PM9
00:50 - Pacific National Intermodal
02:10 - 1PM9 through Rawlinna
04:00 - Forrest - SCT Freight 2PM9
05:30 - 2SP7 - Old Cook Township
07:30 - 3PS7 - Longest Straight Section
09:00 - 3SP7 - Orginal 1913 Rail
10:40 - Through the Sandhills - PN Freight
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[@DerUfo]

Im a a train buff from Canada and I say thank you for posting these terrific videos! Well done, not just the videos but the tidbits of info in them.. Cheers!

[@austinyingst5902]

It was great to see video from Australia. The photography was superb and the locations interesting. What we "up north" don't have is an appreciation of Australian geography and the distances involved or the location of the communities and cities. Nicely done. Thanks.

[@CarlosGonzalez-kt5be]

THANKS YOU FOR THE VIDEO..SALUDOS FROM NEW YORK.

[@johnstaring3210]

First time I crossed the Nullarbor by rail was in 1970, from Sydney to Perth (Military reasons). Since then I have driven or ridden it near on 100 times. The train was by far the best and most relaxing, (also because I wasn't paying for it !)

[@MS_Trains]

It's a great trip but long trip! Matt - M&S Trains

[@WesternvictorianRailways]

Nice one its great seeing some coverage in parts of Australia few people go

[@ausrailaction1348]

yes indeed

[@redhen334]

Nice job! I saw 2MP5 and 7PM5 yesterday on the Adelaide - Melbourne Line (and the overland too). They can go real fast when the track suits it, I think they can top out at 115km/h.

[@michaelchartres]

That brought back some memories for me. I traveled on the Indian Pacific from Perth to Adelaide, 42 hours. On the way we passed a few freight trains as they were laid up in passing bays waiting for us. I also got off and explored at every stop where it was allowed. Thanks for stirring the memories. Regards Michael

[@mcites]

Great trains and great landscapes!Thank you, again.

[@garryteahan6375]

Brilliant work. Thank You, it brings back memories. The Drone is an added bonus.

[@Planetrainguy]

I think the driver of NR30 got his horn button stuck 😂.

[@graemerummler9581]

Excellent Footage.

[@chloeew4627]

Amazing to see how this great land was opened up ,must have been a hard slog in the day . Love Australia.

[@vsvnrg3263]

thanks for going where the rest of us don't.

[@MrPeerum]

this was realy super to see.thank you.greetz:Peerke. from the Netherlands.

[@sifubongz8197]

Another awesome video!!!!

[@amtrakharry]

That was and excellent video... :):):)

[@edmundcarew7235]

Marvellous that you add interest by choosing unusual camera angles. Featuring former livestock loading ramps was good. As usual, high quality video.

[@dt3434]

Great video including the drone footage. Seen these heavy haulers several times when on outback 4wd trips. Often got caught at crossings on the east-west (Kingoonya) or north south (in Alice Springs) and counting the wagons while waiting for them to go by. Look forward to seeing more now I have subscribed.

[@johnruskin4330]

Excellent capture

[@jamesburnside3023]

Nice job enjoyed

[@jesstill7833]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍💪💪💪💪😁😁😁😁😎Cheers nice Video

[@awizardalso]

I subscribed to your channel and will get notified when you put another video on KZbin.

[@timvandiepen8373]

Awesome

[@conceyullena]

Very nice video! Greetings 🚂👍🙋‍♂️

[@FishplateFilms]

Nice work Matt! You do get around mate! I managed to get a PN train with a "G"class stopped at Lofty on my visit! It caught up to a SCT and had to wait at the Station. Was a good take off but not as good as the one you gat with the AN class. Look forward to more of your trip. Cheers Gregg.

[@FishplateFilms]

@@MS_Trains No worries at all mate , you've got better things to do than babysit me..LOL I'm back from Nov' 17 to 22 , so if you have spare time , we'll make some plans! Some more chain saw activity on the way as well...so I hear!! Cheers Gregg.

[@jamesbaker9677]

excellent

[@awizardalso]

My real name is Michael McCluskey. I live in Canton, Ohio In the United States. I have a passion for trains and railroads and railroad paraphernalia. I like to see trains in any country. On KZbin I can find them.

[@yunassaxer7119]

great!

[@scoobycarr5558]

Forrest at 4:15? Well my home state of Illinois has a Forrest about 150 miles southwest of Chicago. Also Forreston about 110 miles west of Chicago.

[@mickboakes7023]

Great video. Makes a nice change from the North American video’s I usually watch. Stay safe Mick🇬🇧

[@STFDVC1]

This was excellent. I would love to see a video about australian trains with the crew - cab

[@DiHandley]

Absolutely brilliant work! I really enjoyed that. Thanks so much for all the work you put into it!

[@ianneill1400]

Great Video thanks! Are you allowed to transit the "Trans Access Road"?

[@jimcrawford5039]

I believe so.

[@Bob.W.]

How long are these? Ok, saw the blurb about 1800 meters.

[@edmundcarew7235]

Yes, that's the maximum length, limited by the length of crossing loops.

[@stevegarnham4632]

how many trains a day use this route to Perth and back ? greetings from the UK 🇬🇧.

[@edmundcarew7235]

Steve, it varies by day, with typically the weekend being the busiest for westbounds as quite a lot of freight departs Melbourne on Thursday and Friday nights and arrives Perth (or should!) on Sunday or Monday morning. Pacific National and SCT Logistics are the two rail operators. Australian Rail Track Corporation has online timetables you can view. The Gheringhap Loop website (75km from Melbourne, near Geelong) has up to date lists of all trains but some are grain trains that terminate in western Victoria, ex northern NSW empty, and there are a few trains that originate in Parkes NSW or Adelaide South Australia. Double stacking of containers is only available between Adelaide or Parkes and Perth as Parkes to Sydney, and Adelaide to Melbourne have low structures such as tunnels/overhead bridges, unfortunately. Rail has about a 57 per cent share of Melb to Perth freight with coastal shipping (a threat using foreign-flag ships) 23 per cent and road about 20pc.

[@daviddowling9830]

In the event of a locomotive failure how long would it take to have a replacement in place?

[@johnpro2847]

Depends where it failed I guess..

[@dannygayler90]

The carriages directly behind the locos are they for the crew or another purpose ?

[@edmundcarew7235]

Yes. Former South Australian Railways 'Bluebird' railcars or other vehicles converted into sleepers, so the crews have eight hours off in a sleeping bunk then can drive the train. Efficient.

[@davidworsley7969]

Do they have a sleeper cab for a spare driver or do they change over crews on these long journeys ?

[@trajan231]

Yes. There's usually a passenger car behind the engine

[@jimcrawford5039]

Spare crews.

[@billrichardson6389]

What was the road like between the Eyre Hwy and Cook?? I was put off travelling out to Cook on our last visit to Perth by the sign that said this was an unmaintained road. Also the road to Forrest, was it any good?? We were towing a camper trailer, so i was not game to try these roads. Love your videos, keep up the great work, regards Bill 3936 Vic.

[@billrichardson6389]

@@MS_Trains Thanks Matt, great to hear.Regards Bill

[@billrichardson6389]

@@MS_Trains I forgot to mention the camper trailer is an off road model, which survived 4 months in the Pilbara earlier this year with no problems at all.

[@billrichardson6389]

@@MS_Trains Thanks Matt, no worries, will give it a go next year on our way to Perth and Kununurra

[@raykrv6a]

What is the passenger car behind the locomotives? Is it for a second crew or ?

[@ACDZ123]

Yes

[@keithgoodrich9516]

What is the purpose of the passenger coach with most of trains?

[@voidjavelin23]

its a sleeper car that acts as a crew bunk to sleep

[@christianpedersen8354]

New viewer here. Can you explain the aussie custom of including what appears to be a coach on freight consists?

[@blueycarlton]

The change over crew rest, eat and sleep in the coach.

[@jimcrawford5039]

No towns for a long way,

[@johnmoore8016]

(from the USA). outstanding video. love that flat open country miles and miles of nothing but land. most of the trains in the video was stepping on it. love the train videos of the trans from down under keep them coming. Question: Are most of the power units (locomotives made in incountry or are they from other countries)? Again thanks for a very outstanding video

[@vsvnrg3263]

@@MS_Trains , are you going to mention to john moore that there are some chinese locos too? and are you going to mention that, in reply to a comment that they are always breaking down you replied that they "don't always break down just often"?

[@hadesdescent6664]

They are not being built in Australia, they've been assembled in AUS! Electrical equipment, traction motors, prime mover (IGBT invertors) all essential stuff is from USA!

[@hadesdescent6664]

@@vsvnrg3263🤣 that last line is essentially the truth, not all the time but often👍

[@warriormonx]

I see that many if not all of these trains have a passenger car close to or if not a joined to the engines - what is the purpose of this? For the crew only or other paying passengers?

[@paulcoffey359]

Strange looking bogey arrangement at the end of the final train.

[@Aussie_Transport5371]

Why do They only use well wagons to double stack, Thanks

[@MS_Trains]

Because if you stacked containers on a normal wagon it wouldn't be within height limits. The well wagons dip down allowing the extra clearance for the double stacking of containers. Matt - M&S Trains

[@scoobycarr5558]

Trans Australian Railway - Australia's equivalent of BNSF!

[@hcrun]

BNSF is a company. Trans Australian Railway is a line.

[@edmundcarew7235]

The rail operators across on the TAR are Pacific National and competitor SCT Logistics.

[@hadesdescent6664]

BNSF has more trackage then whole Australia (standard gauge) and carries more tonnage miles/km than all Australia. The biggest transports are coal in Hunter valley and in Queensland, and Iron Ore Pilbara, because of that maybe they carry more than BNSF.

[@N330AA]

Do services ever run through to the east coast, Brisbane etc?

[@jimcrawford5039]

Yes to Sydney & Melbourne.

[@ACDZ123]

You won't see a double stack in Sydney or Melbourne..Perth is the only city (eastern suburbs) that you will see this. Mayb parts of Adelaide? Not sure though

[@jre617]

Interesting, but what is the nature of the freight in Aussie intermodal? In the US, transcon double stack service shaves about a week off China-East Coast transit times. Seems like China container ships could just as easily go to Australia's east or west coast. And why is there always some kind of passenger car behind the locomotives? Crew dorm car?

[@edmundcarew7235]

Heaps of Perth's and Western Australia's groceries come across from Melbourne, while steel comes from Whyalla South Australia and Melbourne, and lots of other products. Rail carries about 57 per cent of Melbourne - Perth freight, but containers can only be double stacked from Adelaide (or on another route from Parkes in NSW).

[@jimcrawford5039]

Spare crew car, It’s a long way between Towns with facilities for crews. 1,890 km. About 1200 miles.

[@Haztagz]

Love it! .. Isn’t the double stacker called the ‘Great White’ or somethin?

[@michaelsrailwayfilms7928]

silverwater006 only for SCT 'cause 99% of their carriages are white

[@MrPeerum]

i like that speed on the rails.they have to learn it in the USA.slow and bad track with nails.antiek.lol.

[@chopperking1122]

thought motorail with the semi-trailers on board would be a big thing . US trains are half full of them

[@MS_Trains]

Rail & Road don't work together too much in Australia. Makes sense to me aswell considering how easy it is! The train could take it from Melbourne to Perth and then the truck simply drives off and up to the Pilbara where there's no rail link. Simple and easy but not here it seems. Matt - M&S Trains

[@ronaldmitaxa5007]

What a shame that the film is so far out of focus

[@Bob.W.]

The Nullarbor Plain. Desolate.

[@edmundcarew7235]

But despite what you'd think, attractive to travel through.

[@jimcrawford5039]

I love it’s tranquility and quietness.

[@Archiemonty]

Massive double-stacked cars?, please tell me another joke.. If you are doing videos about a particular car type of a train than show ONLY them nothing else..