Wishing you a great new years

DXB 5080 cruises northbound along the Main South Line just north of Bushey with a solid train of 'goldies'. 21/12/12.

With midnight almost upon us, I want to wish everybody out there a happy new years and all the best for 2013. All going well, this blog will keep bringing you shots of Kiwi Rail working hard in Otago.

So take care of yourselves and we'll see you back in 2013.

Out chasing again... about time!

I finally got out the door on Monday and caught up with 923 as it headed south on the Main South Line. On point was a very clean DFT 7199. Coincidence or not, it follows on nicely from my last post on the DFT's.

DFT 7199 and DC 4133 depart Merton with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 10/12/12

After grabbing a shot of 923 as it left Merton, I decided to continue south and get another shot at Seacliff. Not long after arriving beside the rather tired looking Seacliff station shelter, 923 appeared around the curve and entered Seacliff station limits on the main.

923 passing through Seacliff. 10/12/12.

With another shot of 923 on the memory card, it was time to head home. 

Half way home I caught sight of a work train heading south. A quick u-turn and I was on the chase again. Slowed by a track speed restriction, I managed to get ahead of the train and make it to Tumai for a rushed shot of DC's 4640 and 4876 and their train of YJ ballast wagons as they headed back to Dunedin. 

DC 4640 and DC 4876 on work train duty climbing up to Tumai. 10/12/12.

And that's about it...

Farewell to the DFT's?

DFT 7145 waits at Woodville for a crew change before heading into the 'bay' on the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line (PNGL). 26/06/07. Please Note: This photo was taken with the permission and under the supervision of the train crew.

Well, work, family and study haven't let up. I just can't seem to get out the door and chase a few of kiwi rails finest at work here in East Otago.
So I've decided to dig into the archives and bring out a few shots from the past.

Over on steel ribbons, the best New Zealand railway blog in my humble opinion (check it out on the links), Andrew has predicted the demise of the DFT class locos within the next few years. The DFT's have been great servants for Kiwi Rail and have done their fair share of hard yards on the Main South Line.

So here's a few shots of the DFT class at work across NZ, mainly on the  North Auckland Line (NAL) and in East Otago on the MSL.

DFT 7051 leads a 'coalie' south through Pukekohe. 12/10/05.

'Bumblebee' DFT 7282 sits in the loop at Waitakere waiting for a break in the suburban traffic before heading south to Westfield yard. 07/09/06.

DFT 7160 climbs out of Helensville on the MSL. 08/09/06.

 DFT 7160 cruises south through Kumeu on the NAL with a train of logs. 08/09/06.

DFT 7335 with an unidentified sibling rest at Auckland's, Westfield yard. 22/03/08.

DFT 7077 leads 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight along the coast near Shag Point on the East Otago coast. 19/04/10.

With DFT 7199 in the lead, 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight climbs out of Merton. 22/04/10.

DFT 7008 in Kiwi Rail livery cruises through Merton on the main with 923 freight. 14/05/10.

DFT 7023 cruises into Merton with a short 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight. 28/09/10.

DFT 7117 with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight enters the main at Merton for a crew change and crossing with DFT 7023 on 922 Middleton - Dunedin freight. Soon the Timaru and Dunedin LE's will begin their journeys home. 28/09/10.

DFT 7023 with DC 4755 lead 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight across the Shag river bridge just south of Bushey. 02/10/10.

 And that's about it...

Time for a catch up.

Well, what can I say. Sorry for the lack of posts over the last week or two. Between family, work and study I haven't had much spare time to chase along the South Island main trunk line through beautiful East Otago.

So I've decided to go back into the archives and post some shots of the Taieri Gorge Railway train festival held at Middlemarch over labour weekend 2009.

Vulcan railcar RM56 rests at Middlemarch between services. 24/10/09.

The good people at the Taieri Gorge Railway (TGR), Mainline Steam and the Diesel Traction Group (DTG) came together to recreate the 1960's and 70's era on the Central Otago railway.

The Central Otago railway is a favourite line of mine. The line between Middlemarch and Clyde was lifted in the early 90's but fortunately the people of Dunedin realised the potential of the Taieri Gorge portion of the line between Wingatui and Middlemarch and it was retained for use by excursion trains operated by the TGR.

The remaining track bed between Middlemarch and Clyde was converted into a cycle trail. The world famous Central Otago Rail Trail has brought much needed economic benefits to the area and rejuvenated the towns it passes through.

Anyway, enough background. Time for some trains.

Ab 663 ready to depart Middlemarch with a mixed train. 24/10/09.

Vulcan railcar RM 56 approaches Middlemarch. 24/10/09.

English Electric Dg 772 waits in a siding as RM 56 slows for its stop at Middlemarch station. 26/10/09.

Ab 663 departs Middlemarch with a mixed train as Dg 772 waits in the yard with a goods train. 24/10/09.

Dg 772 waits on a siding. 24/10/2009.

Dg 772 and Dj 1209 ready to depart on another goods train. Sorry for the poor attempt at getting a 1970's photo look. 26/10/09.

Sutton railway station waits in the sunshine for its next train.

A great weekend, with some fantastic locomotives on one of New Zealand's greatest rail lines. 

And that's about it...

Just the one photo today

DJ 3228 leads the Seasider passenger service into Palmerston. 9/11/12.

Between work and family, I haven't been able to get out much lately. I did however make a break for it this morning and got a shot of Taieri Gorge Railway's Seasider train as it arrived in Palmerston. 

DJ 3228 had the honours as it hauled the seasider from Dunedin to Palmerston and return.

Hopefully the weather holds and I get a chance to get out the door next week for a decent chase and some more photos of the rail related happenings around East Otago.

And that's about it.

And a few more shots for a Thursday

You have to love holidays. Got my jobs done around the house, fitted in some study and even tidied up the house a bit to stay in the good books with the wife and all before 2 pm. With the sun out I decided a quick chase was in order, so I headed out the door and managed to catch one of my favourite services, 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight as it crested the Tumai bank. Main south line regular DFT 7023  was on point in its re-branded Toll Rail livery with DXB 5016 formerly of the North Island providing assistance. 

DFT 7023 and DXB 5016 lead 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight at Tumai. 1/11/12.

And a close up shot.

A quick trip north and I caught up with 922 at the Goodwood Road crossing as it made its way into Palmerston. 

With horn blasting and ditch lights flashing DFT 7023, DXB 5016 and 922 approach Goodwood Road crossing just south of Palmerston yard.

Not bad for an hours work. 

And that's about it....

A few shots for a Tuesday

Got out for a little bit this afternoon with the aim of catching 923 on its journey south to Dunedin. I caught up with 923 north of Hampton and managed to grab a shot as it crossed the Big Kuri stream.

DXC 5039 crosses Big Kuri stream just north of Hampden. 30/10/12.

Further south I got this shot of 923 just south of Palmerston as it headed to Merton for a crossing and crew change with 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight.

DXC 5039 with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight south of Palmerston. 30/10/12.

Not a great day chasing with cloud in all the wrong places but still nice to get out and about.

And that's about it...

Moving the gold

Palmerston might be a small station in the grand scheme of things but it still handles a significant amount of freight for its size. Not just any freight but one that is unique on the Kiwi Rail network. Gold ore.

Mined from the area around Reefton, the gold ore is railed across the Southern Alps to Christchurch and then down the Main South Line to Palmerston.
The ore is unloaded in Palmerston and then hauled by truck to Oceana Gold's mine at Macraes. Here the ore is processed and the gold extracted.

Being at home on holiday, I decided I'd catch the railway side of the gold ore operation here in East Otago by following the morning freight service bringing the full 'goldies' into Palmerston and the service that picks them up for their return to Reefton.

First up was 937 Middleton - Dunedin freight. This freight operates Tuesday to Saturday and almost always stops in Palmerston to drop off the 'goldies'. 

Heading out to one of my 'safe' spots at Bushey I waited for 937 to arrive.... and waited and waited. I don't know the cause of the delay but I was about to call it a day when 937 behind DXB 5080 and a tired looking DC 4784

DXB 5080 and DC 4784 with 937 just north of Bushey loop. 24/10/12.

After getting a quick shot in poor light, I headed into Palmerston to catch the action. By the time I arrived at the south end of the yard, 937 was getting ready for the shunt.

937 on arrival in Palmerston and gets ready for the shunt.

One of the staff from Reefton Hire, the company that unloads the ore and transports it up to Macraes, normally assists the LE with the shunt but on this day it was carried out by one of the Kiwi Rail guys. After uncoupling from the rest of the train, the loco's and three 'goldies' headed to the south end of the yard and the main line points.

And the shunting begins. DXB 5080 and DC 4784 with the 'goldies'.

At the south end of the yard the mainline and catch points were unlocked and aligned for the yard. The loco's and 'goldies' then reversed into the gold siding.

The 'goldies' leave the main and enter the yard.

With a light touch on the air brakes and the assistance of the shunter, the LE positioned the 'goldies' in the yard ready for the gold bins to be unloaded.

Easy does it! The goldies are positioned for unloading.

Once uncoupled, the loco's headed back south through the yard to re-enter the main.

DXB 5080 and DC 4784 ease through the points as they make their way back onto the main.

Back on the main and with the points all securely locked, the loco's crawled north again to couple up with 937. A short time later and with a blast on the horn, 937 was on the move again as it continued its journey south to Dunedin.

DXB 5080 and DC 4784 don't waste any time in getting up to road speed as they depart Palmerston.

Before leaving I got a shot of one of the heavy duty forklifts starting the unloading process. The gold ore is emptied directly into the shed to the right. A front end loader is then used to load the truck and trailer unit for final delivery to Macraes.

It was time for lunch, so I headed home and got a few things done around the house before heading out once again, this time to catch the northbound 'goldie' working, 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight.

922 was late arriving at Merton which wasn't surprising since 922 uses the same loco's off 937. What was surprising  was that when 922 arrived, DC 4784 was the lead loco with DXB 5080 trailing. Normally the larger loco's, DXB, DXC or DFT's lead. Not today.

The terminal staff at Dunedin must have wanted to get 922 away as soon as possible so instead of turning 5080 and repositioning the loco's, they sent them back out as they had arrived.

922 Dunedin - Middleton freight in the loop at Merton after a crew change and crossing with 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. DC 4784 is the lead locomotive.

Heading back to Palmerston, it didn't take long to get ahead of 922. There seems to be a lot of speed restrictions around at the moment.

Back in Palmerston I got a shot of the waiting, now empty 'goldies' and a close up of one of the gold bins. The gold bins are normally hauled on IAB or IAC container flat wagons.

The three empty 'goldies' ready for their return north.

 Close up shot of gold bin 18 sitting atop IAC 339.

Not long after the headlights of DC 4784 came into view as 922 arrived in Palmerston.

922 on the main at Palmerston.

On arrival the loco's were uncoupled form 922 and proceeded north to the main line points.

The loco's climb the grade out of Palmerston before unlocking the points and entering the yard. 

Once the main line points and the catch points were unlocked and aligned for the yard the loco's proceeded back into the yard and coupled up to the empty 'goldies'.

DC 4784 and DXB 5080 couple up to the empty 'goldies'.

Once coupled up the loco's and 'goldies' proceeded back up the yard and onto the main before reversing and coupling up to 922.

DC 4784 and DXB 5080 haul the empty 'goldies' out of the yard and onto the main

DC 4784 and DXB 5080 with the empty 'goldies' reverse on the main back to 922.

After watching the 'goldie's couple up to the wagons of 922 I hit the road again and headed north to a spot near the Shag river. (I kid you not, thats its name). The LE, keen to make up some time, had 922 humming as it approached my spot and soon I had my final photo of the day.

A rare scene on the MSL in East Otago. DC 4784 leads DXB 5080 and 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight through the old Bushey station site.

And that's about it.

And now for some steam...

Dirty 3/4 shot of Ka 942 at Sawyers Bay. 20/10/12.

The household was pretty busy this weekend with family visiting from the North Island, but even with all the mayhem, we were able to get out to see visiting Ka class steam locomotive 942 as she hauled an afternoon passenger service from Dunedin to Sawyers Bay and return as part of the Dunedin steam festival.

First we headed down to Dunedin station to see the action. After a bit of a wait Ka 942 finally arrived and headed down to the north end of the yard to couple to 15 total passenger train.

Ka 942 shuffling through the yard. 20/10/12.

After watching the action in the station we then headed north to Sawyers Bay to await the arrival. We weren't the only ones. Rail fans were out in force with plenty of creative parking along the route to Sawyers Bay. 

After another short wait, Ka 942 pulled in Sawyers Bay tender first. After uncoupling from its train she headed a short distance north before reversing along the loop and around its train.

Here's some shots of Ka 942 as she ran around her train.

After Ka 942 had disappeared down the loop we made the decision to head south to favourite spot along the causeway south of Roseneath. We weren't the only ones. A long convoy of vehicles headed south to points between Sawyers Bay and Dunedin to get a shot of Ka 942 in full flight.

From experience I stay away from camper vans driven by elder gentlemen. Steam locomotives bring out the worst in these guys and they seem to throw the road code out the window in their quest for the perfect shot. Other than that, everyone else seemed to be on their best behaviour.

Finding a good spot, it wasn't long before Ka 942 and her train came into view. Hats off to the train crew. Ka 942 looked great as she headed south at speed.

Ka 942 and her train emerge from the Roseneath tunnel and out onto one of the numerous causeways between Sawyers Bay and Dunedin. 20/10/12

Another shot of Ka 942 on the causeway. Best shot of the day. 20/10/12.

While I'm not a big fan of steam I do appreciate the fantastic engineering involved in the design, construction and development of these machines especially since they were built right here in New Zealand. 

A big thank you to the staff of Mainline steam, the Taieri Gorge Railway and Kiwi Rail for bringing KA 942 south to Dunedin and giving local rail fans the opportunity to get some shots of this machine in action.