>From its early beginnings in 1889 when the Northern
Territory was a part of South Australia to its final
glory days of Triple headed NT class Loco's hauling
up to 80 Iron Ore wagons, the NAR truly was the
"Never-Never Line" as Railway Historian J.Y. Harvey
called it in his concise history published some years
ago.
The first section of Line from Palmerston (now Darwin)
to Pine Creek was constructed with spade, wheel barrow
and blasting powder by Chinese Coolie labour.
It was Australia's "Front Line" Railway during WW2
and was bombed in the first of many Air Raids along
with the rest of Darwin by Japanese Bombers on the 19th
February 1941 with Steam Loco NF 6 blown from the Wharf
into the Harbour where it's remains still lay today.
It was to be part of the proposed Great North South
Transcontinental Railway, that "National Act of Faith"
that many are still waiting for.
Cheers
----Tell
Alice Springs NT