Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I lived in Auckland. After 7 years I left with a wife, young son, a dog, two cats and a goldfish. Thats about it.
One of the good things about the place was the number of trains you could catch. Mainly subbies but even they were interesting for country boy. Other good things included Dennys pancakes at 4 am and the Waitakeres. Which reminds me, should do a station file on Waitakere station.
Heres a selection of shots taken between 2004 and 2007.

A MAXX ADC/ADL diesel multiple unit (DMU) cruises around the curve at the Parnell Baths. 12/01/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery waits at Morningside for its next service. A ADC/ADL DMU also waits in the background. Both units were based here for the day as the line towards Auckland was closed for duplication work. 19/04/04.

MAXX DC 4369 at rest in a Papakura siding awaiting its next trip back into the city. 08/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery pauses at Newmarket before continuing its journey south on the Southern Line. 21/11/05.

A ADC/ADL DMU stops at Orakei station on the Eastern Line. The skytower can be seen in the background. 24/03/07.

Two sets of Silver Fern railcars lead by RM 24 arrive at Newmarket with morning express service from Pukekohe. 21/11/05.

Railfans luck? A city bound ADC/ADL crosses a Papakura bound SD/SA/DC push me / pull me set at the Parnell Baths. 13/10/05.

SD 3197 leads a push me / pull me set into Newmarket. 21/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU leaves the causeway behind as it approaches Parnell Baths and its destination of Britomart. 13/10/05.

A day at Marton Junction

The mid and late 1990's was a good time to be a young railfan in Marton.
During the summer holidays, I would cycle down to the junction on my trusty morrison sidewinder for a day of railfanning. Most of the day was spent waiting for trains, watching the CTC signals hoping they would come up indicating a train was on its way. But then there was the times of high excitement when a train would pass through or the TR would do some shunting. Good times.

DX 5448 in its new Tranz Rail paint waits at Marton with the northbound Overlander while the last few passengers hop aboard.

I'd try and arrive at the junction around 11am to catch the northbound Wellington - Auckland Overlander passenger train. I would position myself at the southern end of the platform. This spot gave me a clear view of the main trunk down to Greatford. Seeing the headlights of the approaching train I would make my way up the platform to catch its arrival in Marton, hoping to see a diesel on the front.
Sometimes my luck was in and a DX would be allocated to the Overlander for the day. Always a good catch when every main trunk train I used to see would be EF hauled.
After the passengers were aboard, a short blast of the horn and the DX would wind up as it continued its trip north.

Marton Railway Station with trusty morrison bike.

With the Overlander away, it was time to explore the yard and its buildings. I'd normally have a look around the station and try and imagine what the station was like when it was fully manned and busy instead of being boarded up

Marton locomotive shed

I'd then head down to the disused locomotive shed. I've always had a soft spot for this building but I don't really know why. Like the station it would have been good to see it in its heyday.

Hautuma Lime 'screwdozer'.

During the spring, Hautuma lime was one of the biggest rail users in Marton. Its sidings would be full of LPF 4 wheel highside fertiliser wagons. It was pretty rare that you could get a clear shot of the innovative 'screwdozer' fertilser unloader without a bunch of LPF's in front of it. Must of been a weekend when I got the photo above.

Weigh station with container gantry in the background.

I always tried to get shots of the different buildings around the Marton yard. Even as a teenager, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before most of these buildings would be demolished. Lookling back I'm glad I did. The weigh station and locomotive shed have been demolished and 'screwdozers' also gone after Tranz Rail stopped using LPF's for fertiliser traffic.

LPF 281

By now it was mid afternoon. After finishing poking around the yard, I'd have a look at any rolling stock in the yard. Normally the only thing in the yard would be the TR and empty LPF's. The LPF's were used solely on the lime run between Hautuma in Central Hawkes Bay and Marton.

Hillside TR 966

Hillside TR 966

Around 3pm, 966 would head down the long siding to the Canterbury Malting Comapny to pick up UK's with grain containers. It was always good to see 966 struggle up the steep piece of track leading up the east yard with a decent load.

Sorting out the UK's, 966 would head up to Hautuma and come back with a long rack of empty LPF's. 966 would then put the racks together ready for the shunt service from Palmerston North.

DA 1471

During the mid 1990's, the normal shunt locomotive from Palmerston North was heritage DA 1471. Arriving light engine, the shunter would open up the loop / yard points and slowly enter the east yard. After coupling up to the rack of UK's and LPF's, the crew would do some paperwork before slowly leaving the yard. after a short wait at the eastern loop departure signal, the shunt would get a green light and begin its trip back to Palmerston North.

EF 30163 and a southbound Overlander

The ringing of level crossing bells and an urgent blast on the horn would announce the arrival of the southbound Overlander. Coming to a smooth stop, the train manager would complete the station work before giving the driver a wave and radio call. With another blast of the horn, the driver would notch up for a quick departure. A wave from the driver and the southbound Overlander would be gone and with that my day at the junction would be at an end.

Looking back it wasn't a bad way to spend my school holidays. Good times.

Locomotive Profile: DFT 7199

DFT 7199. 16/10/09.

DFT 7199 is one of six South Island based DFT's that are assigned to general freights between Picton and Christchurch on the Main North Line and Christchurch and Invercargill on the Main South Line.

Entering service with the NZR as Df 1662 in September 1979, she was assigned to Christchurch to work general freight duties on the MNL as well as the occasional passenger service.
In the early 1980's, she received her new TMS number of DF 6110.

In the mid 1990's, she was the 18th DF to be converted to a turbo charged DFT at Hutt workshops before returning to her normal stomping ground of the South Island.

DFT 7199 is still hard at work hauling trains up and down the east coast of the South Island for her new owners Kiwi Rail and because shes a regular on Otago's rails, she's become a personnal favourite.

Heres a few shots of DFT 7199 in her natural habitiat and doing what she does best working freights along the East Coast of Otago.


DFT 7199 and DFT 7117 leave Merton and continue their trip south with train 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 22/04/10.

DFT 7199 with train 923, Middleton - Dunedin freight approaches Bushey TWC loop. 9/11/09.

The same train making near Seacliff.

DFT 7199 with Oamaru Banker DC 4726 leave Dunedin with a northbound freight. 16/10/09.

Ticking over

DSG 3251 leads a shunting service from Port Chalmers to Dunedin. 11/12/09.

During the summer months I would normally try to put up a post every week. But like all good things life often gets in the way. My wife and I have just had a baby girl which has been really exciting but in combination with our two and a half year old son has been rather time consuming. Then theres the assignments and presentations I have to complete for work and the jobs around the house. The list goes on.

So instead of taking a break from the blog, over the next few weeks I'll be uploading photos I've taken over the last eight years starting from when I was young, single, had disposible income and could chase whenever I felt like it till now, hitting 30, married (to a lovely wife), still have disposible income but the said wife disposes of it, have children, mortgaged and I have to ask for a leave pass if I want to chase for more than an hour.

And heres what you get

DXC 5454 in Kiwi Rail livery drifting into Palmerston with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 29/01/10.

In my last post I showed a selection of shots of blue Tranz Rail DX locomotives in East Otago. While I'm sad the blue livery has disappeared, the fact the same loco's are returning in the flash new kiwi rail livery makes it alittle easier to bear.

The photos here show DXC 5454 not long after receiving some TLC from the hard working group at the Hutt workshops. If by some fluke anybody from Hutt see's this blog, I just want to say keep up the good work team. The loco's you're putting out look great!

DXC 5454 and 923 rounds the curve at Humai. 29/01/10.

Due to the angle of the sun, I normally follow 922 northbound because I get better shots but with a DX in kiwi rail livery in the view finder for the first time I couldn't help but follow 923 as it headed south on the main south line through East Otago.

DXC 5454 with 923 crosses the Waikouaiti river just north of Merton. 29/01/10.

While we don't see a lot of locomotives in Kiwi Rail livery at the moment, this is slowly changing so while I can I'm out trying to catch DC and DFT locomoitives in tranz rail blue, TR bumble bee and the patched Toll Rail liveries and my favourite, the DX class in the bumble bee and patched Toll Rail liveries before they too disappear under a new coat of grey, red and yellow paint.

Last of the blue DX's

I recently heard on the grape vine that the last of the Tranz Rail 'cato blue' DX's have made their way to Hutt workshops for refurbishment and repainting.
While its sad to see the last blue DX's disappear from New Zealand's rail network it is good to see Kiwi Rail spending some money on the DX class.
So without further ado, heres a selection of good and not so good shots of the blue DX's at work around East Otago. Enjoy!

DX 5333 with Oamaru banker DC 4726 cruising into Bushey with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 21/01/09.

Looking alittle worse for wear, DX 5460 leads 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight just south of Hillgrove. 20/01/09.

A clean DX 5189 with with regular Oamaru banker, bumble bee DC 4726 at one of my favourite summer spots, the entrance to Bushey loop. 31/03/09.

DX 5483 and fruit salad DC 4876 with a short 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight cruise into Palmerston to uplift empty 'goldies' before continuing north. 29/01/10.

And finally DX 5310 with 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight accelerates along a straight between Shag Point and Katiki on the East Otago coast line.

Spring is here. Time to chase.

DFT 7023 with 923 Dunedin - Middleton freight waits in the loop as DFT 7117 with 922 Middleton - Dunedin comes to a stop for a crew change at Merton. 28/9/10.

Spring is here. You can always tell when spring has arrived in East Otago. The grass grows like bamboo, the northern motorway out of Dunedin closes due to ice and the line for mutton pies at the McGregors tearoom disappears while the line for icecreams goes out the door.

With the coming of spring and daylight savings its time to dust off the camera and head out to see whats happening on the main south line.

To be honest nothing much has changed. Kiwi Rail is still doing what it does best, moving freight around this great nation of ours.

So now spring is here I'm hoping to get out abit more as work, study and having another young child in our house permits to bring you some average photos (you never know they might improve) from around Otago.

Watch this space.

Hot off the Press

DFT 7199 and DC 4876 depart Hillgrove with 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 26/06/10.

Headed out this morning for a bit of train chasing and managed to catch up with 920S Dunedin - Middleton freight headed by DX 5483 which crossed 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight at Hillgrove. While I didn't get a shot of DX 5483, I did manage to snap a few shots of 961 as it headed south along the East Otago coast.

961 at Katiki. The 'goldie' IA's arn't far away from their destination of Palmerston. 26/06/10.

If I won Big Wednesday...

DFT 7295 with 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight with the Otago Peninsular in the background. 01/06/10.

Every week I buy a big Wednesday ticket. Fingers crossed one day my numbers will come in but I'm not holding my breath which is lucky because this blog wouldn't have to many more posts. Anyway I'm rambling....

I get excited when lotto includes the bach (I need to get out more often) and I think I've found the perfect spot for it and to prove it heres a shot of DFT 7295 with a rather short 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight just north of Seacliff.

This is the first time I've used this photo spot and for a short train like this one its not bad. In fact its bloody good and if I win big Wednesday you might get a lot more shots like this from my bach's deck.

Better buy another ticket....

TR 897

TR 897 in the evening sun at the Canterbury Malting Company siding, Marton. 24/06/06.

Back in 2006 I was lucky enough to score some leave from work and was able to chase trains for a week around Hawkes Bay and the Rangitikei. What an awesome trip.
Unfortunately not long after we returned to Auckland our house was burgled. They took pretty much everything including my laptop which had all my digital photos from my trip. This shot of one of my favourite locos, TR 897 was one that I had left on my cameras SD card and luckily hadn't transferred to the laptop.
Just goes to show theres downsides to digital.

The Great Flood of 2010

As most of you know, South Canterbury and Otago was hit by torrential rain last week. It just poured down for 5 days straight which lead to a lot of flooding, closed roads and a wife that couldn't take much more... You stay inside with a 2 year old for 5 days and see how you go!
Yesterday, the rain stopped and after a quick check on the net to see what roads were open, we headed out. Me to see the flooding, wife to see something other than 4 walls and the little one was just stoked with the lollies we gave him.
While the water levels don't look to bad in these shots, the rain had stopped about 12 hours before and water levels had dropped considerably.


Shag River at Bushey. 30/5/10.

Just out of town we stopped at Bushey to have a look at the Shag river. Normally a nice clear slow flowing river, there was a power of water coming down. On the northern bank was a mass build up of fallen trees up against the bridge. Ontrack had spent a lot of time and effort on this bridge over the last month. Hopefully their work hasn't been damaged or set back.


Big Kuri. 30/5/10.

Big Kuri. 30/5/10.

Big Kuri is a rocky little creek near the coastal village of Hampden. During the summer about a metre to a metre and a half below the bridges was cleared of gravel. Even with a deeper channel, the water was too much. SH1 was closed here after water went over the top of the Big Kuri road bridge.

Kakanui River at Maheno. 30/5/10.

Further north, we crossed the Kakanui river at Maheno, one of the main rivers off the Kakanui Ranges. Like the others, it was well up on its normal level but had dropped considerably by the time we passed through.

On the way home, we saw a digger clearing a slip at the old Shag Point station but because of its location couldn't get a shot.

I haven't heard any trains going through Palmerston for the last few days. Hopefully the hard working folks at Ontrack will have the line sorted and Kiwi Rail can get back to doing what it does best, moving freight.

Its been a long time

I can't believe its been a month since I last posted on this blog. With work, assignments and getting fire wood for winter, times been pretty short.

To make up for the lack of blogs, I've decided to go big and upload my first video.

Hope you guys have Broadband!

The video was taken at the Alliance freezing works sidings at Pukeuri on the 20th of May.

The Drewry DSA is ex NZR DSA 224. For modern image modellers this video is a perfect excuse to add an Online DSA to your 1:64 loco roster or if you're into NZ120, sounds like an etched DSA isn't that far away either.

A lot of the surrounding area is now under water with the recent rain we've been having here in North and East Otago over the last week. Not sure if the sidings were affected but some of the MSL north of here was under water.

I'll try and get some more posts up once we dry out abit.

More Bumble Bees

DXC 5229 leads DC 4726 and DC 4133 into Palmerston on 920D Dunedin - Middleton freight. 02/03/10.

Looking through the blog I've noticed that there isn't quite as many DX shots as a DX fan with a blog would like. So here's one of my favourites DXC 5229 in the 'Bumble Bee' livery. There are a few railfans that don't like the 'Bumble Bee' livery but I reckon its not that bad.

Having a look at New Zealand Rail Track (www.quicktrip.co.nz/rails/railtrack.htm) there's only 3 Bumble Bee DX's still running in New Zealand. DXC 5229, DXC 5419 and DXC 5517.

So if you want your DX 'Bumble Bee' shots better get out there before they get 'Kiwi Fruited'.

Just like the bad ole days

DFT 7077 and DC 4726 cruise round the curves at Tumai with 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight. 19/04/10.

The 'Beard' era of the early 2000's is seen by railfans as a bad chapter in the history of New Zealands railways.

Tranz Rail management cut maintenance on locomotives, wagons and infrastructure. Private sidings were out, unit trains were in and any piece of rolling stock that was deemed surplus including most of the remaining 4 wheel wagons were scrapped. Short sighted decisions by management helped the bottom line for a while but eventually brought New Zealand's rail network to its knees. The timely buy out of Tranz Rail by Toll Holdings saved rail from total collapse.

A common theme of the 'Beard' era was the number of trains running with empty wagons. Not a good look. So when I saw 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight today, I thought I had gone back in time to the bad ole days especially with DFT 7077 and DC 4726 both in the 'bumble bee' livery that was also introduced during the 'Beard' era.

922 Dunedin - Middleton freight passes through Katiki. 19/04/10.

Luckily 922 picked up a few empty goldies at Palmerston. The gold containers may be empty but its better than the empty decks behind them.

Not too sure why 922 had so many empty decks, maybe the derailment between Balclutha and Clinton had something to do with it...

We have DFT's too.....

DFT 7295 and a DC banker at the sharp end of 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight as it climbs out of Palmerston after shunting the gold siding. 9/11/09.

Just to prove we have other locomotive classes in Otago other than just DX locos, heres a shot of bumblebee DFT 7295.

The normal locomotive lashup through North Otago is a DX / DC or DFT / DC combination. It'll be interesting to see what happens to the locomotive fleet used in Otago and Southland after the DK class is introduced to the Kiwi Rail network.

Rusty Rails Revisited

During mid Feburary, members of the nz-rail-geography yahoo group travelled around Otago and Southland chasing trains on the operating lines and having a close look at the ghost branches of the past on their annual Rusty Rails expedition.
I wasn't able to get away for the week but I was able to spend a day with the boys as we chased a Taieri Gorge Railway cruise ship special.
Leaving Palmerston early Monday morning we headed south into Dunedin and then along the Main South Line to Port Chalmers. After some coffee and planning we ended up at Sawyers Bay, the junction for the Port Chalmers branch.
After a bit of a wait, the special passed through the 313m Blanket Bay tunnel and Sawyers Bay yard before leaving the MSL and heading down into Port Chalmers.

TGR DJ 3286 and DJ 3211 lead the cruise ship special through Sawyers Bay. 15/02/10.

After following the special into Port Chalmers and watching the it load up with a decent load of passengers. The sun wasn't playing the game and all the shots I got at the port weren't that flash. After the boys had a good look around we headed back south down the MSL to a favourite spot of mine, the Blanket Bay causeway. Always a great place to capture a train, today was no different.

With DJ 3211 on point, the Cruise Ship special heads south on the MSL. 15/02/10.

The road from Port Chalmers to Dunedin can get pretty congested in the morning and we had no hope of getting in front of the special before it got to Dunedin railway station.
After some more discussion, the decision was made to head to Wingatui, the junction between the MSL and the Otago Central Branch and then up the branch to Hindon.
Wingatui is one of my favourite places on the New Zealand rail network and I was looking forward to seeing another TGR train pass through and onto the OCB.
Here the sun played its tricks again and any shot of the southbound TGR train was a write off.
After the train had departed Wingatui, we began our drive to Hindon.
The road to Hindon isn't the greatest and some of the gravel parts are pretty hairy. I have to take my hat off to Steve Watts. Very good driving on a difficult road (must have been the great advice from the back seat drivers).
The TGR is world renowned for its scenery, tunnels and viaducts. Luckily my shot of the special exiting the 66m Ross Point tunnel and crossing the Taieri River viaduct captured all three features.


The cruise ship special crosses the Taieri River viaduct. 15/02/10.

After having a look around the Hindon yard we headed back to Wingatui. It was here that I farewelled the boys as they continued their expedition south.

DJ hauled trains, good photo spots and a great bunch of guys. What a way to spend a day off.

Time for a break

Getting home from night shift and seeing those damn assignments on the kitchen table, I knew it was time for a break and what better way to relax than go train chasing.
Hoping to get some shots of 937 Middleton - Dunedin freight I headed north. Not seeing any sign of 937 and thinking it might have passed me somewhere I decided to contiue onto Oamaru and maybe get a few detail shots the old loco and goods shed.
Oamaru is normally fairly quiet but my luck was in this morning.
A lengthy 920D Dunedin - Middleton freight was on the main and a late running 937 had just arrived and was being unloaded at Oamaru's container terminal (CT).
It was about then I realised I should get out more often because I was getting excited about 937 picking up its DC banker for the trip south.


DXC 5264 reversing through the Oamaru yard to collect its banker. 25/03/10.

After finishing at the CT, a work stained DXC 5264 made its way through the yard to pick up a personal favourite, DC 4133.

DXC 5264 couples up to DC 4133. 25/03/10.

With DC 4133 coupled up, both loco's headed up the yard to pick up the wagons left at the CT before returning once again down the yard.

937 being checked over. 25/03/10.

After being checked by one of the Kiwi Rail team, 937 was ready for the main.
With a DX on point and a light train of one DC and two wagons going along for the ride I knew I was in for a fast trip home to Palmerston. I didn't even get the chance of capturing 937 as it blasted out of Oamaru.
I had a few spots I wanted to get shots at but I didn't get the chance because just as I arrived at each one, 937 would fly past with a blast on the horn and a grin from the driver.
Time to just chase and hope.


937 climbs away from Waianakarua. 25/03/10.

I managed to get a shot of 937 as it climbed away from Waianakarua. Its a shame I don't have sound or video on this blog because the sound coming out of 5264 as it powered up the grade was fantastic.

937 rounds a curve after departing Hillgrove. 25/03/10.

After once again getting ahead of 937 at Hampden, I stopped just south of the Hillgrove loop at a spot I've used a few times. Not a bad spot but one that hasn't been that successful for southbound trains due to the angle of the sun. With todays overcast weather I thought I'd give it a go and I'm glad I did, getting my favourite shot of the day.

937 crosses the Shag river bridge. 25/03/10.

I managed to get a shot I've been trying to get for a while but have always been foiled by the sun. The overcast weather helped again as I captured 937 crossing the Shag river bridge north of Bushey.

As 937 continued its trip to Dunedin, I headed home, the assignments were still on the table but I don't feel like throwing them out the window anymore.