Tourist clung to Ghan train for two hours

[NM]

From news.com.au:

A YOUNG American tourist has survived a terrifying train ride in which he clung to the outside of the legendary Ghan in the freezing dark as it hit speeds up to 110km/h in the South Australian Outback.

 

[Evan]

Given the poor guy is ok its a rather funny story !
I could really imagine this happening. Atleast he will have a story to tell about Australia ! and i don't think he will come away with any negative thoughts just that it was a silly thing to do that seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

[SnowYeti]

When I first read it, I thought it was a bit stupid ... but then I guess as Evan said, I can understand why he did it! At least he can give himself counselling over the matter

 

[samh004]

Wow that's some pretty scary stuff. Interesting that the door can't be opened from the outside...

 

[munitalP]

I nearly wet myself when I read that earlier today - that level of stupidity from an intellegent Chad.... makes you wonder!


Mr!

 

[ColinP]

Wow that's some pretty scary stuff. Interesting that the door can't be opened from the outside...

iirc they started locking the doors after an old dear with Alzheimers decided to go for a walk one night as the Indian Pacific was speeding across the Nullarbor. She opened the door and stepped out, with fatal consequences.

 

[trooper]

Pretty hard core way to wangle an upgrade to a Sleeper if you ask me!!!:mrgreen:

 

[samh004]

iirc they started locking the doors after an old dear with Alzheimers decided to go for a walk one night as the Indian Pacific was speeding across the Nullarbor. She opened the door and stepped out, with fatal consequences.

Oh yeah, I recall something like that at the back of my mind. Been a while.

 

[coco50]

His wallet, passport and valuables would not have been much use to him if he had not survived.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting story but he is very lucky to be alive to tell the story to friends and family. That is definitely something I would not do and my life is a more important than missing a train. And another example of why you should carry your valuables on your person at all times and not left in a bag on a train or in the overhead bin on an aircaft.

Interesting reading one of the comments on the story. How did he know that the train would stop outside of Port Augusta for a change of crew? And if he knew of this crew change all he had to do was see station staff and have the train wait for him during the change of crew.

 

[Flying Fox]

Funny cos it wasn't me.

Personally I'd prefer to fly.

 

[UP4014]

The crew change point at Port Augusta is a few km's north of the station in the freight yard, if he was down the back end his part of the train would have been several hundred meters from the locomotive and the crew simply step on and the old crew off within seconds like a commuter stop. (and it was in the dark so he would have been out of sight of the crew and unheard as they stood near the diesel engine.

Rule 1 when travelling by long distance train, never leave sight of the train staff when at a stop, when they get on it's time to do so as well.

The Ghan and Indian Pacific don't use station staff, they use their own on board crew at each proper stop who get off and greet and help with luggage.

Matt
(consulting in the rail industry)