Samuel White Sweet (1825–1886)
Nairne Railway Viaduct, South Australia c. 1880
albumen print; 15.8 x 21.1 cm
nla.pic-an22985354
ON TRACK
Railways, the ‘iron horse’ of transport, were ideal for transporting very large numbers of passengers or quantities of freight at one time. Although rugged terrain and harsh climate made building many of Australia’s railways a considerable challenge, once the track was laid (and barring broken rails, washaways from floods and similar problems) it needed only periodic maintenance to guarantee their useful life over many years.
There was one major complication, however. Before Federation, each colony built its lines using one of three gauges: narrow, broad or standard. The mismatch hindered development, as passengers and freight had to be transferred wherever the gauge happened to change. Although some broad and narrow tracks remain in use, all mainland capital cities are today linked by standard-gauge track.
Trains such as the Indian Pacific (Sydney–Perth) and most recently The Ghan (Adelaide–Darwin) are popular with tourists, but much freight has shifted to road transport, since trucks offer the convenience of door-to-door delivery—but increase the need for road maintenance, and heighten the risk of road accidents.