Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Waterman
Hi Tony
That looks like an absolutely unique event, I'd really like to tease the members of my local MV Club, I edit our newsletter, with some pictures is there a web site with higher resolution photos? Or could you e-mail me one or two? E-mail address below is set up to take large files.
Thanks
Cheers Phil
|
The Pichi Richi Railway also has a unique US connection to do with Troop Trains. While many Troop Trains passed through going NORTH carrying troops and supplies to be transferred to vehicles on the Nth-Sth road to eventually arrive in Darwin, one luxuriously appointed train headed SOUTH with a tired and
travel weary 4 star General and his coterie.
Having evaded the Japanese on the Bataan Peninsula by US PT boat, then ordering 3 B17s to fly him and his group out of the Phillipines to Batchelor Strip, and travelling by land to eventually arrive in Melbourne, it was at Terowie Staion on the broad gauge mainline after changing from the narrow gauge Pichi Richi Railway that he was first confronted by an expectant Australian media throng who asked where he had come from, and 'Ol Doug made the famous quote "I came from Bataan, and I shall return".
It was probably the biggest thing to have ever happened in Terowie. Not many celebrities have passed through there since. The carriage is still preserved by the
Pichi Richi Railway, whose website also has info on current events.
It might make an interesting Trivia question for your US club members if they know where it was that Douglas Macarthur made his famous "I shall return" quote!