Steam Special

Ja 1240 with its excursion train cresting Tumai Bank. One of my best shots of the day! 24/1/15.

A few days ago I found out about a special steam excursion being run by the Taieri Gorge Railway. The excursion was to be a return trip from Dunedin to Oamaru behind steam locomotive Ja 1240. 

Ja 1240 was one of a group of 51 4-8-2 'mountain' type steam locomotives built by the New Zealand Railways Hillside workshops in Dunedin and the North British Locomotive Company of Glasgow, Scotland. Entering service in March 1947, Hillside built 1240 worked throughout Otago, Southland, Canterbury and the West Coast before being withdrawn from service in November 1971. Luckily 1240 was preserved and is now owned by Ian Welch and cared for by his team at Mainline Steam.

Scheduled for an 8:00am departure from Dunedin, we headed down to Waitati to pick up the action. After a bit of a wait the excursion arrived with two of the Taieri Gorge Railway's very tidy DJ diesel locomotives on point. The DJ's lead the train from Dunedin to Waitati due to government imposed health and safety regulations around steam locomotives operating in tunnels.

DJ 1209 with another unidentified DJ wait in the loop as the excusion proceeds down the hill and into Waitati. 24/1/15. 

Uncoupling from the train the DJ's and 1240's service wagon entered the Waitati loop to allow the excursion through on the main.

Side by side DJ 1209 with Ja 1240 at Waitati. 24/1/15.

After getting my shots at Waitati it was time to head north. Stopping near Warrington, I joined a number of other foamers.... sorry I mean railway enthusiasts waiting for the excursion.

 Waiting for the train spoting the train spotters.

After a bit of a wait, Ja 1240 and the excursion arrived and began its climb up towards Seacliff. Both DJ's had now coupled to the rear of the train and were acting as bankers for the climbs ahead.

 Ja 1240 and the excursion approaching Warrington. 24/1/15.

And crossing the Coast Road overbridge. 

Heading north along Coast Rd, it didn't take long to get caught in the inevitable convoy of "railway enthusiasts" that follow a steam locomotive. Now it seems like everytime there's a steam locomotive, any driver nearby totally forgets the road rules. Theres nothing like an SUV screaming away from you only to slam on the brakes and dive to the left or right without indicating because they've spyed a good spot. There was also plenty of near misses seen as drivers spent more time looking for the train rather than on the road and other road users who were most likely looking for the train as well!

Anyway, just before Seacliff the convoy ground to a halt at a railway crossing with bells, flashing lights and barriers where we waited and waited some more.

The convoy stuck at a railway crossing just south of Seacliff. The excursion can be seen at the upper right of the photo. 

Now I'm not sure why the excursion had ground to a halt south of us but seeing 1240 get the train moving again on the grade (with the assistance of the DJ's) was good to watch. I managed to get a few shots as the excursion passed us gathering speed.

Ja 1240 climbs the grades near Seacliff. 24/1/15. 

And another shot. 

With the barriers up it was time to head north once again. North of Seacliff I decided to use a spot I'd used once or twice in the past. I knew the shot I'd get probably wouldn't be that flash but I knew the convoy was heading for Merton and I didn't want to be fighting for room there.

The excursion cruising along the Otago coastline with Otago Peninsular and the Pacific Ocean in the background. 24/1/15.

On the road once again we got through Karitane and headed towards state highway 1. To get there we had to cross the Main South Line at Merton. Merton was packed. One of my favourite railfanning spots was now inundated with railfans most of which were setting up for that classic shot of a train crossing the Merton bridge. 

Successfully dodging some more ducking and diving SUV's we headed to one of my all time favourite spots the Tumai bank. While there were a few railfans waiting, there was plenty of room for everybody and soon the excursion could be heard working hard up the bank.

 The excursion cresting the bank and starting the downgrade to Goodwood. 24/1/15.

Both 1240 and the train looked great as they crested the Tumai bank and I knew I had some good shots on the SD card. It was time to head north again towards my next spot. 

Being a local certainly helped today because while plenty of people go from one well known spot to another theres plenty of places I've discovered that offer great photos too.

One of those spots is the Goodwood railway crossing in Palmerston. I was really surprised to arrive there and find we were all alone. Theres something quite satisfying about having a train all to yourself especially when there's a whole heap of people chasing the same train. It was at Goodwood Road where I got one of my favourite shots of the day.

The excursion at Goodwood Rd. 24/1/15.

By now the kids were getting a little restless so were bribed with an icecream at Palmerston. The excursion had stopped as well and as we passed the crew was finishing up filling the tender with water. Heading north we came across 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight at Bushey behind two DC diesel locomotives. 961 was holding the loop while waiting for the excusion to pass.

 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight at Bushy. DC 4277 doing its best steam locomotive impersonation. 24/1/15.

Grabbing a quick shot of 961 from the wrong side we continued our travels north to another favourite spot of mine just north of the Shag River bridge. Yes that really is the name of the river. 

This spot has been very kind to me in the past due to the large piles of metal chip that is stored here for roading projects. I've been told the key to good train photo's is height, height and more height. I'm sure that weather, the sun and the locomotive on the front not being a DL locomotive also play a part too, but those metal piles were great for getting some elevation. Not this time though. Must of been some road works completed recently because those big piles of metal were now merely small mounds.

It didn't matter though as I was still able to get a good shot with Puketapu in the background to boot. 

The excursion with Puketapu in the background. 24/1/15. 

Back on the road we once again headed north on state highway one to another spot I enjoy just south of Katiki. Ja 1240 was again looking pretty in the viewfinder as it approached the former Katiki station.

Ja 1240 looking good as it approaches Katiki. 24/1/15.

Crossing the overbridge at Katiki I could see the train had come to a halt at Katiki and plenty of people were hopping off. I'm guessing it must of been a photo stop for the passengers.

Shortly after we arrived at our final spot for the day at Hampden. There was a bit of a wait but it was worth it as Ja 1240 put on a show as it climbed up the grade to the site of the former Hampden station.

Ja 1420 climbing the grade to the former Hampden station site. 24/1/15.

Turning around I managed to grab a going away shot as the excursion headed deeper into North Otago.

And the going away shot.

While the excursion and the convoy continued their trips north it was time to call it a day and head back home.

Big thanks to the good people of the Taieri Gorge Railway, Mainline Steam and Kiwi Rail for putting on a great morning of entertainment. I feel guilty getting my photo's without contributing to the running of this train. Might have to pop into the Dunedin Railway Station to drop off a donation to the TGR.

Also a big thanks to the Otago Rural Fire Authority. Otago is in a total fire ban at the moment due to the 'big dry'. Throughout the morning I saw rural fire vehicles following the train checking for any fires. If it wasn't for these guys this trip would not have gone ahead. Cheers lads.

And thats about it.

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.  

Its been a while but this is a goody

At the end of September I headed up to Wellington for a short course for work. Trips to Wellington a few and far between for me so I made time to catch up with a few people. One of those of people was Evan who just happens to work for Kiwirail. So between learning about how adult learners take in and retain information I was able to get some shots of Wellington's electric multiple units. I also had the great fortune to get a cab pass on the Capital Connection up to Palmerston North on Friday evening. That night I was offered a ticket on a steam excursion heading back to Wellington. Wab 794 from the Feilding and districts steam rail society was towing Ab 663 back to its base at the Mainline Steam depot at Plimmerton. How could I refuse. 
So over three days I rode up to Johnsonville on a Matangi unit, visited A box, visited train control, had a look around the communications hub of Kiwirail (Ev's lab), visited the home of a modelling master by the name of Cabbage, had a cab ride on a rattly old DFT up to Palmerston North, stayed at the home of another modelling master by the name of Rhys (of motorised dandruff fame) and got a ride back to Wellington on a steam excursion. What a way to spend a few days in the capital!

Of course I had my camera with me and here are some the shots I managed to grab on my travels.

Matangi EMU's wait at Wellington for their next commuter service. The Matangi units are relatively new to the Wellington commuter network and have replaced the old English Electric EMU's and many of the Ganz Mavag EMU's. 27/09/13.

 DC 4058 waits at Wellington railway stations platform 8 with a northbound Wairarapa service. 27/09/13.

 Still soldiering on. Three sets of Ganz Mavag units sit ready for rush hour. 27/09/13.

DSC 2665 pushes the Capital Connection Wellington - Palmerston North commuter passenger train into Wellington station in preparation for its 1715 departure. Working on the passenger shunt, DSC 2665 is kept busy shunting Wairarapa commuter trains, the Capital Connection and the Overlander passenger trains. 27/09/13. 

 Another set of Matangi units ready for the rush hour. 27/09/13.

Wab 794 gets some TLC from the great team of volunteer's from the Feilding and districts steam rail society at Otaki. This excursion was a delivery trip to return Ab 663 back to Mainline steams Plimmerton depot. 28/09/13.

DC 4692 and an unidentified DC lead a northbound freight through the Otaki loop as it crosses the excursion on the main. 28/09/13.

The old and the new. Wab 794 takes a break after arriving at platform 9 while a Matangi unit waits for its next trip out of Wellington. 28/09/13.

Another shot of a Matangi EMU. FP 4420 and FT 4420. I had to get plenty of shots of these good looking units because who knows when I will be back in Wellington for another visit. 28/09/13.

 Matangi EMU FP 4155 and FT 4155 depart Wellington. 28/09/13.

Wab 794 pushes its train back towards Wellington yard. Here it will get turned for its return trip to Feilding and pack up Feilding and districts steam rail societie's 'new' passenger carriage.

A big thanks to Evan for acting as tour guide. He said he might be heading down Otago way later in the year. Plenty of time to come up with a plan for some chasing South Island style. I hope he likes DXC's. 

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.