General MacArthur and his family passed through Quorn on their own small steam engine, bogie van, dining car and two sleeping cars plus brake van. On his arrival in Quorn he thanked his train crew personally and had his vehicles reattached to a south-bound passenger train where he spoke to reporters in Terowie.
The general had escaped from the Philippines and did not speak about his getaway. However he did say they were organising "an offensive against Japan, the primary purpose of which is the relief of the Philippines". After alighting from sleeping carriage NRC36 he spoke his famous and often repeated words: "I came through out of Bataan and I shall return."
Read more about Commonwealth Railways carriage NRC36 (later NIA36), which is now in the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation Society collection.