Steam in Palmerston

JA 1240 at Palmerston with the movie train. 18/10/14

A few weeks ago Palmerston was visited by a steam hauled passenger train for the filming of  scenes for The Light Between Oceans. While I wasn't able to meet Rachel Weisz I did manage to grab this quick shoot of JA class  4-8-2 steam locomotive 1240 with its train at Palmerston station. Shame I only had my point and shot camera with me rather than my better one.  

On holiday in Aussie

A Queensland Rail electric multiple unit at Airport (Domestic) Station on the Airport Line. 14/10/14.

Recently I was lucky enough to spend some valuable rest and relaxation time with my family on the Sunshine Coast. Good quality family time was the priority so I wasn't able to sneak away for any train spotting Queensland Rail style. But I did manage to sneak a photo of the fantastic Airport Line linking Brisbane Airport with downtown Brisie (see above). It wasn't a great shot but I didn't get caught by my levely wife so it was a win.

While in Australia I was also able to visit the Workshops Muesum in Ipswich with my son and dad. This muesum is a joint venture between Queensland Muesum and Queensland Rail. The muesum covers the past, present and future of railways in Queensland. 

Queensland Rail signage wall. 15/10/14.

While I might be a little biased this is one of the best muesums I have been to. Lots of interactive displays and plenty of hands on stuff for the kids. Highlight for me would be the train simulator where you actually operate the locomotive from a real cab. This received top marks from my son who I had to prise out of it.

Train Simulator using the cab from QR 1700 class diesel locomotive 1710D. 15/10/14.

Next to 1710D was 1262, one of 17 1250 class diesel electric locomotives. This loco is now a static display with parts of its longhood removed to show its engine and other components. The engine also has cut away segments to show its internal workings as well. Very interesting stuff.

1250 Class locomotive 1262. 15/10/14.

The 1250 class diesels have been a favourite of mine ever since I saw on while surfing the net and it was great to see one for real. These would have been great to photograph when they operated on the North Coast Line.

My boy had a ball at the muesum and thats why theres not many photos. I was so busy chasing him around. Many thanks to the very kind and helpful staff at the muesum who made this a great day out. If you are heading to Queensland and you're thinking about something to do I would highly recommend you pay the Workshops Muesum a visit. 

Check out their website at http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

And that was about it for my Australian adventure.

Three towns, three different locos

The great thing about my job is that I get the chance to travel through the lower South Island every now and again and last Friday was one of those days I got to hit the road. After finishing up my work in Invercargill I headed down to the local yard. This was my first visit to the yard at Invercargill and I was surprised at how full it was. Even though there were plenty of wagons around, loco's were light on the ground. A DSG was pottering around the yard and one of my favourites DFT 7023 was parked up in loco... well I think it was loco. Anyway before I could get any shots the rain, hail and sleet came in. With the weather getting worse it was time to head north.

My first stop was Edendale, home of one of Fonterra's largest milk processing sites. This area creates some serious tonnage for Kiwirail. So much so they've based a DSG and a loco compound in the Edendale yard.  

DSG 3033 resting at Edendale. Part of the Fonterra factory is seen in the background. 3/10/14.

With the rain settling in it was once again time to move on. As I headed north the weather started in improve. By Balclutha the rain had stopped and I was able to take a short detour to check out the yard. The yard was empty apart from DSC 2325 which was holding the fort. A DSC is based in Balclutha to work the Finegand freezing works which is just south of town. While I didn't check out Finegand I'm sure there were plenty of container flats ready for load out.

DSC 2325 all alone in Balclutha. 3/10/14.

By now the weather was packing in again so I cut my exploring short and headed home.

After sorting out some loose ends at work on Sunday I decided to shot down to the Dunedin Railway Station to have a quick look around. Being a Sunday it was pretty quiet but I did get a shot of one of Taieri Gorge Railways well maintained DJ locomotives. These beasts built by Mitsubishi and introduced to the New Zealand railways in the late 1960's dieselised the South Island.

DJ 1209 resting between runs on the Taieri Gorge. 5/10/14.

Being a born and bred North Islander I always enjoy seeing and hearing the DJ's working out of Dunedin to Pukerangi and Middlemarch on the former Otago Central Branch and Palmerston on the Main South Line. 

And thats about it.

Auckland Travels

An ADC / ADL diesel multiple unit under the wires at Westfield. 17/05/14.

Earlier this year I was lucky (or unlucky depending on your view point) to visit Auckland for a weekend. Somehow I managed to get away for a few hours and was able to go to that bastion of rail fanning in Auckland, the Westfield over bridge. 

Its been a long time since I've visited Auckland and I couldn't believe the changes that have happened to rail in the city of sails. Wires, wires everywhere but the rattling ADL / ADC's DMU's and the push pull DC, SA and SD combos still rule the roost. Not for much longer though as the new EMU's are slowly introduced. I even managed to catch a few of the EMU's but more of the Spanish intruders later.  

I was there to see the diesel subbies, the DH's and the soon be gone (if not already) DBR's so I'll stop rambling and get on with some shots of Auckland's best.

DH 2845 brings a rake of containers into Westfield yard from the Southdown Freight Terminal. 17/05/14.

The DH heavy shunters have always been a favorite of mine. These loco's mainly stick around Auckland but they have been known to skip town and head up north to Whangarei and down to Mount Maunganui in the Bay of Plenty. These things are good honest workers and the NZR, NZ Rail, Tranz Rail, Toll and Kiwi Rail have all got there moneys worth out of them.

 A Manukau bound ADC / ADL DMU accelerates out of Westfield station. 17/05/14.

The ADC / ADL diesel multiple units were for a long time the back bone of the Auckland suburban rail network. Old and rattly they still get flogged moving JAFA's around the city. These units are on borrowed time with the new EMU's slowly entering service but you never know, depending on the upcoming election you might see these thrashing across Canterbury in the not to distant future. Dreams are free.

DC4444 and DL 9377 sit in the sun at Westfield. 17/5/14.

While at Westfield I was even able to see one of those North Island DL's, the future of train haulage in New Zealand. While it was nice to get one on pixels (even if it was a poor shot) I still prefer the aging GE's we have in the south. 

Just by chance I was able to get DC4444. Now 4444 is something of a legend amongst locomotives in NZ so it was nice to get this loco as well.

DBR 1282 at rest between port shunts. 17/5/14.

DBR 1282 was also in the yard sitting quietly near the yard office. It was a bit sad seeing 1282 as this would probably be the last time I'd see a DBR in the flesh. The writing is on the wall for this class of locomotive and I wouldn't be surprised if this one is already sitting on 'rotten row' at Hutt or it may even already be a victim of the scrapers torch.

Before leaving Auckland I wanted to see the new electric multiple units in action on the Onehunga branch. Luckily I managed to catch a few.

A new AMA / AMT / AMP EMU approaches the junction between the Onehunga Branch and the North Auckland Line at Penrose. 17/5/14.

An AMP / AMT / AMA EMU approaches Onehunga. 17/5/14.

After a short stop at Onehunga the unit started its journey back to Britomart. 17/5/14.

After getting my shots of the new face of Auckland rail it was time to get to the airport. While I didn't cover much territory it was good to see some of the Auckland rail scene and the changes its undergone since I was last north of the Bombays. 

And that's about it. 

Training in the far south.

DXB 5016 waits in the loop at Clinton with 937D Dunedin - Invercargill freight. 14/02/14.

Its been a long time between posts but I just haven't had the chance to get out and about this summer. Luckily on my travels around the lower South Island I managed to catch a freight holding the loop at Clinton. 

My new job doesn't give me much chance to get out chasing but I do get further afield. So you might not get the same amount of posts but you will get some shots away from my normal haunts and trains other than 922 and 923.

And that's about it.