Spotting the Train Spotters on the Southern Spirit

by Fiona Harper on 13 February 2012, 14:02PM Otherwise known as trainspotters, trainiacs, anoraks even, gunzels, I soon learn have a knack of popping up in the oddest places as we travel the Australian countryside. As I settle in for a chilled glass of sparkling wine in the Outback Explorer Lounge upon boarding The Southern Spirit, I discover that many of my fellow passengers are, indeed, gunzels. The Southern Spirit, which runs just a handful of services over the Australian summer season between Adelaide and Brisbane, offers highly-credentialed bragging rights amongst serious rail buffs. “Gunzel on the bridge,” my friend points out as our train passes beneath a highway flyover. I whip my head around in time to spot a stout camera-toting man above us, his lens pointed trackside as our train gains momentum. As we pull ou...