Hauling the diverted train – that was more than 30 coaches long – locos Nos. NR26 and NR27, both in different versions of ‘Indian Pacific’ livery, cross the Murray River at Murray Bridge, east of Adelaide, on January 19. The levee bank holding the water back at Murray Bridge broke in early January, leading to widespread flooding; the worst since 1956. Two road signs for a submerged road are visible in the foreground.
STEVE MCNICOL
DUE to flooding that closed the main east-west route between Sydney and Adelaide, the ‘Indian Pacific’Sydney to Perth train was diverted via the state of Victoria and Melbourne – adding hundreds of kilometres to its route earlier this year.
The normal route via Parkes and Broken Hill in New South Wales was flooded and impassable, although flooding affected the south of the country as well, fortunately without closing the only other east-west standard gauge rail line. The diversion continued throughout January, and along with a similar diversion in late 2022, it is reportedly the first time that the long-distance services from Sydney have been diverted in this way in 15 years.