Liberia 5 Dollars Silver Coin 2011 History of Railroads, Indian Pacific

Liberia 5 Dollars Silver Coin 2011 History of Railroads, Indian Pacific

Enshrining a true Aussie icon in pure .999 silver, this sparkling new precious metal Proof celebrates the Indian Pacific train – offering the longest train journey in Australia. Travelling coast to coast from Sydney to Perth, and the first train to travel direct across the Australian continent, the Indian Pacific is so named because it connects the Indian and Pacific Oceans. A weekly passenger service, launched in 1970, this iconic railroad is now among the most famous of the world’s rail journeys and is a fine addition to the extensive $5 History of the Railroads Silver Proof Series.

Silver coloured coin, Denomination: 5 Dollars, Diameter: 38.6 mm, Weight: 20 g, Alloy: 999/1000 Ag, Quality: Proof, Edge: milled, Issue: 2011, Mintage: 1970, Issuer: Liberia.

In the series "History of Railroads" were issued these coins: 

Flying Scotsman,  Trans-Siberian Railway,  Adler,  Sharp Stewart, Royal Hudson,  Bernina Express,  Blue Train,  Mallard,  Flam Line,  MAV-220,  Shinkansen 500,  Union Pacific Big Boy,  Trans Europ Express,  Durango & Silverton, Austrian State Railroad,  China Railways,  TGV Réseau,  Indian Pacific,  PKP Fablok OL 49 Poland.

The Indian Pacific is an Australian passenger rail service that operates between Sydney, on the Pacific Ocean, and Perth, on the Indian Ocean. It is one of the few truly transcontinental trains in the world. The train first ran in February 1970 after the completion of gauge conversion projects in South and Western Australia.

The train's route includes the world's longest straight stretch of railway track, a 478-kilometre (297 mi) stretch of the Trans-Australian Railway over the Nullarbor Plain. In 1983 the service was diverted to serve Adelaide.

The service was originally operated jointly by the New South Wales Government Railways, South Australian Railways, Commonwealth Railways and Western Australian Government Railways, until February 1993 when Australian National took full ownership. In October 1997 the Indian Pacific was sold to Great Southern Rail.

A one-way trip originally took 75 hours, but with line and efficiency improvements it now takes 65 hours. The train currently has four classes, branded as Platinum, Gold Service and Red Service Sleeper and Red Service Daynighter and also a Motorail service to convey passengers' motor vehicles.