I can't find a map anywhere from that era but I don't think there was a direct north-south railway line in those days, because of the different gauges. I think it was broad gauge to Hamley Bridge, then narrow gauge either to Clare and further north, or to Snowtown and Wallaroo. There's no clear mention of any line between Crystal Brook and Snowtown back then. One article describes "the circuitous narrow-gauge link between Adelaide and Port Augusta". So could it be that from Crystal Brook the line joined up with one further inland which went through higher country? I think the route may even have been via Jamestown, which definitely gets snow on occasion, but I will ask Dad since he used to work on the railways, among other things. When the transcontinental railway was built then there were 3 different gauges in use; he was explaining to me not so long ago about where it was necessary to change trains at break of gauge.
That makes sense; I have what looks to be a fairly comprehensive list of places where snow fell and the only place on the plains which is listed is Gawler (although there are a few names - some of them German names that were presumably anglicized during WW1 - that I don't recognise). The Snowtown minimum (3.4) seems a bit high for snow on the plains as well. Substantial snowfalls were reported from both Clare and Jamestown.
Can you send me that list, or at least the ones you don't know - I can probably work them out? The history of the Germans in SA has always fascinated me.
Speaking as an Italian descendant?
Says who? I'm more German and Scottish, if anything! My great grandfather on Dad's side was shepherding in Wilpena Pound around 1900 so any Italian origins predate that.
(I was thinking about this only yesterday when I met the new medical registrar and with a name like Costello I had expected him to be Italian, but he looks it about as much as I do.)
I think Costello is more irish than italian?
PS I have actually seen snow north of Burra - even stopped the car and went for a walk just to check.