The Tea and Sugar train

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The world’s longest straight stretch of railway line forms part of the nearly 1700 kms of Trans-Australian Railway which links the east and west coasts of Australia. The 478 km straight section crosses the Nullarbor Plain. During the seven years of construction, workers got their supplies from trains coming either from the east or the west. These became known as the Tea and Sugar trains. By 1917, the train carried a butcher and its own sheep for slaughter. By 1955, an infant health and mothercare car had been added but by 1976, air-conditioning and rolling supermarket cars were much-appreciated additions. From time to time, banking and post office facilities were available and at Christmas, a special car brought gifts for the children in the tiny settlements along the length of the Trans-Australian Railway. Edit: I should perhaps make it clear that there no special tea and sugar trains now although the trains still stop at some of the settlements across the Nullarbor.