"the ghan" service was well known for long delays caused by these washouts. a flatcar behind the locomotive carried spare sleepers and railway tools, so that if there was damage to the track, the passengers and crew could repair the line. during world war ii the service had to be greatly expanded, putting great pressure on the limited water supplies. as a result, de-mineralisation towers, some of which survive to this day, were built along the track. this meant that bore water could be used in the locomotives. when the new line to alice springs was built in the 1970s, the use of diesel engines meant that there was far less need for water. the line could take the much drier route from tarcoola to alice springs.