Ah Rod
Your talking about the connection of the two railheads, the
Official opening was presided over by the Governor General
of Australia Sir Ronald Ferguson on 12th November 1917 at
Port Augusta.
Closer to home, the Tarcoola to Alice Springs line was
"opened or connected" by GM's 38&19 which ran light engine
from a "Golden Spike" ceremony, actually a thermit weld was
carried out near Todd Junction in the presence of all
available construction personnel in the presence of
Commissioner Keith Smith and Chief Civil Engineer Des Smith
who then rode the GM's into Town.
I was the only unofficial guest out there, I invited myself
and stayed back a distance. ;-) and photographed and
recorded every move on that day.
The date was the 3/10/1980.
The official opening of the TAS line was 9/10/1980.
Can you imagine the logistics and problems of having an
official opening with all the trappings, the crusty colonial
throwbacks and hangers on, way out on the Trans line back in
those days. (I say old boy.!)
This sought of thing would have happened across Australia.
Lines would have been "opened" for traffic but the nosh ups
came later.
Its you choice as to which event you want to call "official"
opening, I guess.
----Tell
Alice Springs NT