Mail Route 21.
Marree - Birdsville - Marree, 1948

Operator: E. G. "Tom" Kruse.

Mail contract: $600 per year

Freight rate: $40 per ton

Passenger fare: $10 one way (passengers to bring own swag and help push truck)

Distance: 1194 km (return)

Timetable: Depart Marree 2 pm Alternate Fridays Arrive Birdsville 9 pm Sunday (2 days 7 hours conditions permitting)
Depart Birdsville 8 am Tuesday Arrive Marree 1 pm Thursday (2 days 5 hours)

Today the Birdsville Track is a graded gravel road. The dreaded Naterannie Sands hills have succumbed to the road builders however if Cooper Creek is in flood travellers still face the problem of getting across, as Tom did in the 1940's and 50's. There is a pub and fuel supply at Mungerannie Station. A one way journey on the Birdsville Track today takes around six hours.