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.