Gold Kangaroo Dining Car

What the romance of the rails was all about.

We left the station around 3:30pm and after getting settled into our compartment, where Elysee informing me I had the upper berth, we made our way to the lounge car for pre-dinner drinks and to meet some of our fellow travelers. It was already lively, as you do not have to wait long for Australians to create a holiday spirit.The dining car was terrific. A throw back to an era long gone, and the food and service were all one could expect. Lots of wine, too.After dinner back to the lounge car we met a New Zealander on his way to Perth, Bob Dansey. It was not long before we were invited to stay with him when we got to New Zealand, and sure enough, some months later that happened.Regarding sleeping on trains. For me, the romance quickly faded. Its like sleeping in a giant cocktail shaker, and every once in a while you get poured out. The allusion to imbibing isn't accidental. A solution to sleeping well on trains is to to be amply "fortified" before turning in.

(Much of the above is from my book Our Summer in Australia and New Zealand which you can read on my web site links at www.marshallpublications.com)