This trip has brought back memories of Indian railways - Our trip from Shimla down to the valley is memorable and comparable too. The amazing engineering feats of these railways, the countless lives lost in their construction. On this occasion the most staggering of all to me was the fact that men had to supply their own tools, picks axes and shovels to get a job. Digging through those mountains was done by hand. No machines!
The abuse perpetrated on these workers was immense. I suspect it still goes on but thank goodness for trade unions and workmen protection and compensation and crazy Aussie health and safety.
So we saluted those tunnels - 15 of them, 55 bridges over the gorges, 98 curves, a distance of 33 kms from Cairns rising 327 metres above sea level, the years it took to complete the short journey, starting in 1887, linking the rich mining belt to the sea. It is so memorable an experience from sitting in the restored carriages of silky oak timber, to the breathtaking views of some of the falls and the Barron Gorge.
When we got there we happily discovered the town of Kuranda, found an Indian Aussie who invited us in for a chai and visited the butterfly sanctuary to see those butterflies which are so ephemeral and stunning.
The day could not have been more rewarding, scenic and historically revealing.
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