Famine to Feast

Its good being a shift worker. While most of the country is at work, I can get out and enjoy the beautiful spring time sun that is bathing East Otago at the moment. 
Friday's are always a good day to chase. Not only can I snap some shots of my usual targets, 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight and  923 Middleton - Dunedin freight but Taieri Gorge's Seasider return passenger service between Dunedin and Palmerston also makes an appearance. 

We began our trip with the aim of catching 922 at Waitati, but railfan luck was alive and well with a chance sighting of the Seasider in the distance. We had plenty of time to get to Merton and snap DJ 3228 and its five car train as it came to a halt with a red on the main departure signal . A few minutes later the signal flicked to green and with a blast on the horn the Seasider continued on its trip to Palmerston.

Tairei Gorge Railway's northbound Seasider passes through Merton on the main behind DJ 3228. Great to see a DJ on the main south line. Not sure about the square windows though. 21/9/12.

After catching the Seasider, we continued on to Waitati, anxiously hoping we would get there before the arrival of 922. Shouldn't have worried. We had plenty of time. 922 duly arrived behind a grubby DXC 5370 and slightly less grubby DFT 7092.

922 was a long train of empty container flats. Kiwi Rail and Port Otago have just begun operating new container services between Dunedin and Timaru. Hopefully they'll be loaded on their return journey.

DXC 5397 and DFT 7092 lead 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight through Waitati. 21/9/12. 

Anybody who has chased north of Dunedin will know how hard it is to chase between Warrington and Seacliff. The road is windy, hilly and fairly narrow with a few railway crossings thrown in for extra fun. Just when you think you've managed to get ahead of your target you get caught at a crossing. A grin and a wave from the LE just add's salt to the wound. 
Eventually we got ahead of 922 and after skidding to a halt in a cloud of dust, I managed to get a shot I've been hoping to get for a while. Hope to bring you a few more shots of this station as part of a station profile in the future.

922 crawls past Seacliff station. 21/9/12.

I also got a  'dirty' away shot of DFT 7092.

Second loco DFT 7092 assisting DXC 5379 at Seacliff. 21/9/12.

With some shots of 922 on the SD card it was relaxed drive to Merton and a short wait before 922 arrived on the loop and came to a stop.

922 holding the loop at Merton. 21/9/12.

Close up of DXC 5379. Working on the coal route (Christchurch - West Coast) hasn't done these loco's any favours. 21/9/12.

Not long after we found out the reason for 922's delay. DJ 3228, long hood leading, cruised into Merton with the Dunedin bound Seasider.

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DJ 3228 cruises into Merton with the Seasider. 21/9/12.

After 922's departure we headed to Palmerston. Arriving in plenty of time we grabbed an icecream at McGregors before getting a shot of DXC 5379 and DFT 7092 shunting the gold siding.

DXC 5379 and DFT 7092 on the gold siding at Palmerston. 21/9/12.

With time running out we also managed to get southbound 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight as it headed out of Palmerston. 

DFT 7023 and DC 4421 head southbound on the MSL on 923. 21/9/12.

All in all not a bad days chasing.

One thing that surprised me was that out of the four locomotives I saw working on freight services today, none were painted in the yellow, red and grey Kiwi Rail livery. Maybe the Kiwi Rail liveries arn't as dominant as I thought.

Time for some DSG action

Black and white shot of DSG 3251 cruising through Port Chalmers tunnel. 20/9/12.

I got out for a few hours this afternoon and managed to snap two of Dunedin's DSG shunting locos in action. 
Kiwi Rail keeps these beasts working hard shunting the yards and hauling heavy trains around the greater Dunedin area so expect some more shots of these loco's in the future. 

Enjoy.

DSG 3251 on the siding into Port Otago. 20/9/12.

DSG 3170 pushes a short shunt from the Port Otago siding on Fryatt St into the Dunedin rail yard. 20/9/12

I'm still here.

DXC 5212 leads 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight as it grinds its way out of Oamaru up to the former junction station of Waiareka. 12/10/2011.

Hi team

If you’re a follower of this blog (I think there might be one out there) then you’ll know that this blog has been dormant for well over a year.

I’m hoping to change that and get back into posting on this blog. Wish me luck!

DC Paint Jobs

The DC class diesel-electric locomotives are the most numerious locomotive class in New Zealand and are used and abused by Kiwi Rail on almost all services, passenger and freight.

The DC's arn't actually 'new' locomotives. They are heavily modified General Motors DA class locomotives. Between 1978 and 1983, 80 locomotives were rebuilt by Clyde Engineering in Aussie and 5 in our very own Hutt Workshops. The rebuild included a modified low nose and cab as well as new engines.

While the DC's have given stirling service over the past three decades, not surprisingly they are getting a little tired yet they continue to be seen working hard on both freight and passenger workings.

With the introduction of the new DL class there is some talk that more and more DC's will be written off.

On the bright side Kiwi Rail has spent some hard earned cash tidying up and repainting a growing number of DC's to cope with increased traffic.

Hopefully the well-loved DC's will still be seen travelling across the Kiwi Rail network for many years to come.

DC 4133 seen in surprisingly clean 'Fruit Salad' while awaiting further duties at Timaru.
The 'Fruit Salad' livery was the first colour scheme worn by the DC's. 24/01/09.


DC 4784 wearing a very tired patched NZ Rail livery while waiting its next banking duty out of Oamaru. 14/08/09.

The NZ Rail livery come into service in 1990 after New Zealand Railways became New Zealand Rail Ltd, a state owned enterprise.
When Tranz Rail purchased NZ Rail in 1995, loco's in this livery had their NZ Rail logo covered (patched) with vinyl stickers with the Tranz Rail logo.

DC 4110 wearing its Tranz Rail livery passing by Hamilton station, its job of hauling the southbound Overlander between Auckland and Hamilton complete.

An EF class electric will haul the train across the rugged central North Island before handing over to a diesel in Palmerston North for the sprint to Wellington. 28/06/06.

DC 4317 wearing 'bumble bee' livery rests at Westfield. 18/05/08.

In the later years of Tranz Rail, a new black and yellow livery was introduced. This livery quickly became known as 'bumble bee' by railfans for obvious reasons.

DC 4254 in its MAXX livery hauls a southbound subbie past the site of the old Panmure station. 13/10/05.

A number of DC and DCP loco's are leased to the Auckland Transport Agency to haul suburban passenger trains around the Auckland suburban network. As loco's were leased they received a general tidy up including a repaint in the MAXX blue livery.

DC 4830 wearing its garish (is that a word?!) Toll Rail livery at Westfield. 27/08/08

In 2003 Toll, an Austrailian freight transport company purchased the rapidly crumbling Tranz Rail system. As if to stick to New Zealand, Toll introduced this atrocity.

The less said the better.

DC 4594 in its nasty Toll Rail livery but with a Kiwi Rail Patch. 21/05/09.

Common sense finally preveiled and in 2008, the then Labour government purchased the rail network from Toll for an inflated price. As part of the purchase agreement, the Toll Rail logo had to be either removed or covered. The red and grey Kiwi Rail patch was applied much improving green and gold Toll livery.

DCP 4559 in Kiwi Rail livery heads to Middleton loco for a service after returning to Christchurch with the southbound Tranz Coastal. 27/01/10.

A number of DC's have now been repainted in a red/grey/yellow Kiwi Rail livery that suits the DC class.

It will be interesting to see what colour schemes DC's will wear n the future.

Once you start you can't stop.

Isn't it funny how life gets in the way of things.
After a desperate rush to finish my assignments by December, I thought I would get time to catch up on my neglected blog. Wrong!
Exams rapidly approached and the material to be studied was massive. So with exams finished (I passed) I thought I would get time to catch up on my neglected blog. Wrong!
On the 22nd of February, Christchurch was devastated by a 6.3 magnatude earthquake which laid waste to much of the CBD and Eastern suburbs. The effects of the earthquake were far reaching even down here in Otago.
Immediately after the earthquake, my workplace sent a number of people to Christchurch to assist in the recovery efforts resulting in plenty of overtime to cover our normal workload in Dunedin.
Last week was my turn to head north to assist our neighbours to the north. It was an experience to say the least.
And now I'm back and hoping to get some time to catch up on my neglected blog.... unless something else comes up.

Once upon a time...

Once upon a time I lived in Auckland. After 7 years I left with a wife, young son, a dog, two cats and a goldfish. Thats about it.
One of the good things about the place was the number of trains you could catch. Mainly subbies but even they were interesting for country boy. Other good things included Dennys pancakes at 4 am and the Waitakeres. Which reminds me, should do a station file on Waitakere station.
Heres a selection of shots taken between 2004 and 2007.

A MAXX ADC/ADL diesel multiple unit (DMU) cruises around the curve at the Parnell Baths. 12/01/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery waits at Morningside for its next service. A ADC/ADL DMU also waits in the background. Both units were based here for the day as the line towards Auckland was closed for duplication work. 19/04/04.

MAXX DC 4369 at rest in a Papakura siding awaiting its next trip back into the city. 08/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU in the old Tranz Metro livery pauses at Newmarket before continuing its journey south on the Southern Line. 21/11/05.

A ADC/ADL DMU stops at Orakei station on the Eastern Line. The skytower can be seen in the background. 24/03/07.

Two sets of Silver Fern railcars lead by RM 24 arrive at Newmarket with morning express service from Pukekohe. 21/11/05.

Railfans luck? A city bound ADC/ADL crosses a Papakura bound SD/SA/DC push me / pull me set at the Parnell Baths. 13/10/05.

SD 3197 leads a push me / pull me set into Newmarket. 21/11/05.

A ADB/ADK DMU leaves the causeway behind as it approaches Parnell Baths and its destination of Britomart. 13/10/05.

A day at Marton Junction

The mid and late 1990's was a good time to be a young railfan in Marton.
During the summer holidays, I would cycle down to the junction on my trusty morrison sidewinder for a day of railfanning. Most of the day was spent waiting for trains, watching the CTC signals hoping they would come up indicating a train was on its way. But then there was the times of high excitement when a train would pass through or the TR would do some shunting. Good times.

DX 5448 in its new Tranz Rail paint waits at Marton with the northbound Overlander while the last few passengers hop aboard.

I'd try and arrive at the junction around 11am to catch the northbound Wellington - Auckland Overlander passenger train. I would position myself at the southern end of the platform. This spot gave me a clear view of the main trunk down to Greatford. Seeing the headlights of the approaching train I would make my way up the platform to catch its arrival in Marton, hoping to see a diesel on the front.
Sometimes my luck was in and a DX would be allocated to the Overlander for the day. Always a good catch when every main trunk train I used to see would be EF hauled.
After the passengers were aboard, a short blast of the horn and the DX would wind up as it continued its trip north.

Marton Railway Station with trusty morrison bike.

With the Overlander away, it was time to explore the yard and its buildings. I'd normally have a look around the station and try and imagine what the station was like when it was fully manned and busy instead of being boarded up

Marton locomotive shed

I'd then head down to the disused locomotive shed. I've always had a soft spot for this building but I don't really know why. Like the station it would have been good to see it in its heyday.

Hautuma Lime 'screwdozer'.

During the spring, Hautuma lime was one of the biggest rail users in Marton. Its sidings would be full of LPF 4 wheel highside fertiliser wagons. It was pretty rare that you could get a clear shot of the innovative 'screwdozer' fertilser unloader without a bunch of LPF's in front of it. Must of been a weekend when I got the photo above.

Weigh station with container gantry in the background.

I always tried to get shots of the different buildings around the Marton yard. Even as a teenager, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before most of these buildings would be demolished. Lookling back I'm glad I did. The weigh station and locomotive shed have been demolished and 'screwdozers' also gone after Tranz Rail stopped using LPF's for fertiliser traffic.

LPF 281

By now it was mid afternoon. After finishing poking around the yard, I'd have a look at any rolling stock in the yard. Normally the only thing in the yard would be the TR and empty LPF's. The LPF's were used solely on the lime run between Hautuma in Central Hawkes Bay and Marton.

Hillside TR 966

Hillside TR 966

Around 3pm, 966 would head down the long siding to the Canterbury Malting Comapny to pick up UK's with grain containers. It was always good to see 966 struggle up the steep piece of track leading up the east yard with a decent load.

Sorting out the UK's, 966 would head up to Hautuma and come back with a long rack of empty LPF's. 966 would then put the racks together ready for the shunt service from Palmerston North.

DA 1471

During the mid 1990's, the normal shunt locomotive from Palmerston North was heritage DA 1471. Arriving light engine, the shunter would open up the loop / yard points and slowly enter the east yard. After coupling up to the rack of UK's and LPF's, the crew would do some paperwork before slowly leaving the yard. after a short wait at the eastern loop departure signal, the shunt would get a green light and begin its trip back to Palmerston North.

EF 30163 and a southbound Overlander

The ringing of level crossing bells and an urgent blast on the horn would announce the arrival of the southbound Overlander. Coming to a smooth stop, the train manager would complete the station work before giving the driver a wave and radio call. With another blast of the horn, the driver would notch up for a quick departure. A wave from the driver and the southbound Overlander would be gone and with that my day at the junction would be at an end.

Looking back it wasn't a bad way to spend my school holidays. Good times.

Locomotive Profile: DFT 7199

DFT 7199. 16/10/09.

DFT 7199 is one of six South Island based DFT's that are assigned to general freights between Picton and Christchurch on the Main North Line and Christchurch and Invercargill on the Main South Line.

Entering service with the NZR as Df 1662 in September 1979, she was assigned to Christchurch to work general freight duties on the MNL as well as the occasional passenger service.
In the early 1980's, she received her new TMS number of DF 6110.

In the mid 1990's, she was the 18th DF to be converted to a turbo charged DFT at Hutt workshops before returning to her normal stomping ground of the South Island.

DFT 7199 is still hard at work hauling trains up and down the east coast of the South Island for her new owners Kiwi Rail and because shes a regular on Otago's rails, she's become a personnal favourite.

Heres a few shots of DFT 7199 in her natural habitiat and doing what she does best working freights along the East Coast of Otago.


DFT 7199 and DFT 7117 leave Merton and continue their trip south with train 923 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 22/04/10.

DFT 7199 with train 923, Middleton - Dunedin freight approaches Bushey TWC loop. 9/11/09.

The same train making near Seacliff.

DFT 7199 with Oamaru Banker DC 4726 leave Dunedin with a northbound freight. 16/10/09.

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.