The People

I could devote an entire book to the people I’ve met so far on this trip but that would take a long time so instead I will devote a single post to 4 people that have really stuck out. These individuals have introduced themselves to me, usually while I’ve been sitting in the dining compartment, and each of them can definitely be described as a “Character”

Satan Gilbert Fox

This was the curious individual I mentioned earlier. Mr. Fox is of the belief that he is a direct descendent of Satan. I hesitate to challenge this assumption as he also seems a harmless sort whose only crime is to attempt to sell his various artworks to people sitting in the dining cart.

Mr. Fox approached me while I was working on some other writing project. He introduced himself and shook me by the hand before launching into a lengthy explanation about how he was a direct descendent of Satan and was considered a prince by some. Sadly this would not make him the strangest person I’ve ever met so I didn’t really think much of his behaviour. Unfortunately he then pulled out some very interesting art-work that he attempted to sell to me. I have a lot of trouble saying no to people who are trying to sell me stuff or ask for money so I felt like I was in a very awkward position where I would end up purchasing most of his art. Luckily I was saved by the duty officer who politely asked Mr. Fox to follow him out of the cart where they could have a polite chat.

Apparently it’s not legal to attempt to sell goods or services to passengers onboard the Indian Pacific and Mr. Fox had run afoul of this rule. Luckily for him he was simply reprimanded and given a free meal but he could have been put off the train at our next stop. Not a desirable outcome.

The Proud Nanna

I have sadly forgotten this lady’s name as Kieran and I had been having a few drinks when she approached us and introduced herself.

For the purpose of this post we shall refer to her as the ‘proud nanna’ because that is just what she was. Nanna started by asking us where we were from, before debating with us as to whether we were being honest. Then the usual disbelief followed when she found out I was in fact old enough to drink and Kieran was not my father. Finally she settled down into the booth opposite ours and began to tell us her life story, punctuated with extremely expressive hand gestures.

It was Nanna’s first trip on the Indian Pacific and she had loved every minute of it. The joy of being able to wander up and down at will instead of being confined to a tiny airline seat was the very peak of technological achievement as far as she was concerned. It also turned out that she was travelling with her youngest daughter and her husband who was back in the carriage snoozing. Her youngest was very well behaved, unlike some of the other children onboard, and, apparently, her grand-children.

Nanna was full of stories, many of them unfortunately unprintable, but she did keep us thoroughly enthralled for a few hours and did not kill us (always a plus).

The Married Couple

These two empty-nesters joined in our discussions with the Nanna and introduced themselves as frequent travellers on the Indian Pacific.

They were full of some interesting anecdotes about the train itself; their first trip aboard, the various tricks they use to secure a cheaper sleeper, their habits and methods to deal with the boredom that eventually sets in and their plans for the holiday.

I make no excuses for the fact that I am fairly out of shape. I can run up a hill and not die but push me beyond that and I’ll break down into one of the ‘before’ candidates for the Biggest Loser. With this in mind I was put utterly to shame when the couple described all the jogging and extreme sports they were into. They white-water rafted and quad biked in between all the hiking they did and still found time to work successful jobs, one as a rail engineer and the other as a mad scientist (I kid you not).

The sadder story they told us was how much the Indian Pacific had changed in just 4 years. Apparently the train used to have a lot more services available to the Red carriage passengers. They spent a bit of time talking about the lounge car that used to be available which had big comfortable couches and a fully stocked bar. After a day and a half sitting upright these stories sounded like a paradise that had been cruelly snatched away by a cruel and budget slashing devil.

Ultimately all of these people will get off at Adelaide and, though new people will replace them, it will be hard to replace the bond that we’d somehow created.