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...