Pichi Richi Railway

The Pichi Richi Railway is a heritage narrow-gauge line running 40 kilometres through the southern Flinders Ranges between Quorn and Port Augusta. It operates steam and vintage diesel services on scheduled days, offering one of the best ways to see the rocky gorges and mulga scrub of the southern ranges without a car.

The Pichi Richi Pass itself — the gorge through which the railway threads — is spectacular, with the carriages working slowly through tight curves between red quartzite walls. Services run mainly from Easter through November; summer operations are limited to diesel traction because of fire risk. The trip takes about three hours each way; some visitors ride one way and arrange to be collected at the other end.

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A story
Pichi Richi was part of the original Great Northern Railway, the line that connected Adelaide to the Ghan terminus. The famous Ghan train was named after the Afghan camel drivers who originally carried freight across this country before the railway arrived. When the rail route was realigned, local enthusiasts preserved this section rather than let it disappear — it now runs historic steam and diesel services through scenery that hasn't changed much since the 1880s.