AN AMERICAN tourist clung to a train in the freezing dark as it travelled 200km (124 miles) across the Australian desert at speeds of up to 110km/h (68mph).
The death-defying journey began for Chad Vance (19) after he alighted from the Ghan Express when it pulled into Port Augusta station on its way to Alice Springs.
Stretching his legs, Mr Vance returned to see the train leaving. Except for $10 and his digital camera, all his luggage, including his passport, was on board.
He chased after the train until it stopped to change drivers. He squeezed on to an external stairwell and huddled there, wearing only a T-shirt and jeans, as the temperature sank below freezing.
Mr Vance called for help for more than two hours until a crew member pulled the emergency brake. He was given soup and upgraded to a sleeper cabin. The next day he was up and touring again. “I got off the train in Alice Springs and headed out on a tour of Uluru and Kings Canyon,” he said. – (Guardian service)