This morning we got up and packed up our bags ready for the long journey East! After breakfast we checked out of Perth City YHA and made the short walk to the train station, catching the local train to the main interstate railway station which was slightly east of the centre of the city. On pulling up at the station we had our first glimpse at the impressive Indian Pacific train, with carriages stretching into the distance along the platform.After collecting our tickets and checking our big bags in, we sat on the platform watching them assemble the 'motocars', which transported your vehicle on the back of the train; taking the train to +30 carriages! We watched as they attached the engine and then went to do our bit for charity (Radio Lollipop to be precise) and bought a hotdog from the charity 'sausage sizzle' - yum!
When boarding commenced we climbed abroad our new home for the next 41 hours, 2700 kms and tried to make ourselves comfortable. As we set off out of Perth through the suburbs we opened the blinds ready for the views as we met the farmland enveloping the city.
As we reached the outback we were very aware of the desolation, with small villages every couple of hours the stretches inbetween each was getting more every next one we met. As we travelled on the sun began to set and an amazing red glow across the countryside.
Alongside the train stretched the 'Golden Pipeline' which was constructed in 1903 to transport water from Perth to the goldtown of Kalgoorlie. Kalgoorlie was our first stop, where we arrived at 9:40pm, over 600kms east of Perth; the town itself sat in the heart of goldrush country. Gold was discovered here in 1887, and it still remained famous for being an old fashioned frontier town to this day. We used the chance of a 2 hour stop here whilst they refuelled and took on supplies to wander into the centre of town, however as you can imagine, at that time of night most places were closed.
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