With bleary eyes we clawed into consciousness, stumbling awake, on a Sunday morning when the alarm came on, and though it was tempting to turn it off, roll over and drift back to sleep, it was with a sense of excitement that we crawled out from the warmth into the cold early morning. Today was “Train day” the day where we were going to board the Indian Pacific for a 4 day journey across Australia.

We had booked it way back in the height of summer, a package deal so not only the train but also 3 nights in Sydney. And today it was finally happening

We had to be at East Perth Rail terminal for 8 AM, which meant catching the train at 6:45 and in June the days were short, cold and potentially wet for a 6 AM walk to the station

But after a coffee and dressed in warm coats, we locked the door, grabbed the rolling bags and trundled our way to the station.

The Transperth train was fairly full being the first one for the day, packed with tradies and people heading for the airport. But it rocked its way into dawn arriving in Perth where we transferred to another train out to East Perth. Alighting onto the platform there she was, the Indian pacific, like a long roll of aluminium foil reflecting the early morning light. Our home for the next 4 days.

We gathered up our bags and our step quickened in anticipation as we headed to check in…… and maybe a coffee?

Check in completed by a friendly and welcoming Alisha we rolled our luggage up to where they were serving breakfast. All food and drinks are included, beer, wine, spirits and lots and lots of hot chocolate!

We piled a small plate with pastries, filled our cups with hot chocolate and sat back, two of perhaps 150 people waiting to board whilst enjoying the pre-trip entertainment. We wandered up and down the platform and as is my want examined all the displays in the terminal building, then at 9 AM we were ready to board.

We picked up our bags and wandered down, found our carriage and stepped inside and seemingly, back in time, taking the narrow corridor down to cabin number 3, we opened the door and entered.

Everything was wood and brass, stepping us back into the golden age of travel, with only a few modern touches.

We examine everything, turned on and off every switch to see what it did, turned knobs and pushed buttons (except for the staff assist)

Then with a gentle nudge the loco took up the strain and we gently moved off. A little thrill went through, we were on our way

Whilst enjoying the sensation of being on a train, we had a visit from our trip manager who confirmed our off train excursions, after which, we wandered up to the lounge car, bouncing off the walls with the gentle swaying of the train.

All drinks and foods are included so we decided to enjoy a cider and wine as the Avon Valley rolled by.

We chatted to guests and watched the scenery of the wheatbelt roll by. Lunch was served in the Queen Adelaide restaurant car.

We laughed when the emblem on the back wall of the dining car sort of looked like a chicken in a casserole dish (its actually the sturt desert pea)

The silver service and 5-star dining experience became one of the highlights of the trip. With each meal they feature a unique Australian “bush tucker” option and on the back of each menu is information about the featured ingredient and a well-executed watercolour.

Our first off train excursion took place at night in Kalgoorlie, a bus tour around the town, a trip to a tourist mine to watch a small “re-enactment” about Paddy Hannans gold find, followed by a nighttime visit to the super pit.

By the time we got back to the cabin, we were ready to crawl into the bunks and sleep. At first it was alright but the frequent stopping and starting and jerking of the train, along with the sharp feather quills in the too-fancy-for-us pillow meant we didn’t really get as much sleep as we thought we would.

Dawn found us on the nullarbor and it was time to get up, try out the shower and head up for breakfast.

Sitting there watching the scenery roll by we passed all the small now mostly abandoned settlements and sidings from back when the rail line was constructed. Most of the old sidings that we passed were little more than a length of double track with an old siding sign, now used by our train to let oncoming freight trains past us.

We had a planned excursion at Cook, while they refilled the water tanks on the train. Cook is perhaps the main settlement that remains on the Nullarbor train line, it used to have a school, a hospital and several other residences and facilities but now though inhabited by the track gangs and drivers the number of train passengers vastly outnumbered the locals. We wandered around Cook for maybe 45 minutes before they sounded the fire siren indicating we should return to the train or be left behind!

After Cook it was time to sit back in the lounge with another wine and let the scenery roll on by, chatting with other guests and relaxing.

Night fell and we slept maybe better, maybe not but awoke to a foggy morning travelling down through South Australia before alighting in Adelaide. Being in-station they whipped us all off the train and onto buses going to different locations in the city. We had chosen to take in the “Scenic Adelaide Hills” tour with breakfast at the Mt Lofty Summit restaurant. It was an interesting drive with an informative commentary from the driver and some rather special scenery, we managed to snap a few pics and actually saw 3 koalas asleep in the trees, The breakfast was nice, but the scenery better.

Back on the train it was time to depart and then we sat, again with a special beverage and watched South Australia roll by. Dusk saw us parked up in Broken Hill watching the colours change on the hills awaiting the change of driver, we were not allowed off the train but it wasn’t long before we rattled and bounced our way into the night…..

Next stop the Blue Mountains.

Breakfast was served and we had finally snatched a better night’s sleep. We packed up our luggage as it was the last day of the train and we would be leaving it at Mt Victoria station, while it, our luggage and those Sydneysiders who had done the blue mountains carried on down the hill to Sydney.

We had had some glimpses of the outlook on the mountains and it was a nice old station we had pulled into, another informative driver took us for a drive and then dropped us off at Scenic world, perhaps the main tourist spot on the mountains. We did the sky car, the cable car and the mountain railway all the time looking out over scenic mountains.

Personally, we didn’t particularly enjoy our guide who was a little loud and fond of his own voice. We were running out of time and forced to rush, so missed out a little at the end. Would have enjoyed a second trip on the mountain railway “the steepest railway” (was going to put a video in here but I forgot to press record!….. Numpty!) But no time!

We finished off the blue mountains with a slightly disappointing lunch at the local tea rooms, wandered around the scenic lookout, and then bussed back to Katoomba where we boarded our own chartered two-story train for the last part of the journey into Sydney central.

There we had a coach transfer to our hotel (it ended up we could have walked to it quicker) and thus ended the experience of the Indian Pacific.  Next was 3 days at our leisure in Sydney before returning home….. but that’s another episode.