The Great Flood of 2010

As most of you know, South Canterbury and Otago was hit by torrential rain last week. It just poured down for 5 days straight which lead to a lot of flooding, closed roads and a wife that couldn't take much more... You stay inside with a 2 year old for 5 days and see how you go!
Yesterday, the rain stopped and after a quick check on the net to see what roads were open, we headed out. Me to see the flooding, wife to see something other than 4 walls and the little one was just stoked with the lollies we gave him.
While the water levels don't look to bad in these shots, the rain had stopped about 12 hours before and water levels had dropped considerably.


Shag River at Bushey. 30/5/10.

Just out of town we stopped at Bushey to have a look at the Shag river. Normally a nice clear slow flowing river, there was a power of water coming down. On the northern bank was a mass build up of fallen trees up against the bridge. Ontrack had spent a lot of time and effort on this bridge over the last month. Hopefully their work hasn't been damaged or set back.


Big Kuri. 30/5/10.

Big Kuri. 30/5/10.

Big Kuri is a rocky little creek near the coastal village of Hampden. During the summer about a metre to a metre and a half below the bridges was cleared of gravel. Even with a deeper channel, the water was too much. SH1 was closed here after water went over the top of the Big Kuri road bridge.

Kakanui River at Maheno. 30/5/10.

Further north, we crossed the Kakanui river at Maheno, one of the main rivers off the Kakanui Ranges. Like the others, it was well up on its normal level but had dropped considerably by the time we passed through.

On the way home, we saw a digger clearing a slip at the old Shag Point station but because of its location couldn't get a shot.

I haven't heard any trains going through Palmerston for the last few days. Hopefully the hard working folks at Ontrack will have the line sorted and Kiwi Rail can get back to doing what it does best, moving freight.

Its been a long time

I can't believe its been a month since I last posted on this blog. With work, assignments and getting fire wood for winter, times been pretty short.

To make up for the lack of blogs, I've decided to go big and upload my first video.

Hope you guys have Broadband!

The video was taken at the Alliance freezing works sidings at Pukeuri on the 20th of May.

The Drewry DSA is ex NZR DSA 224. For modern image modellers this video is a perfect excuse to add an Online DSA to your 1:64 loco roster or if you're into NZ120, sounds like an etched DSA isn't that far away either.

A lot of the surrounding area is now under water with the recent rain we've been having here in North and East Otago over the last week. Not sure if the sidings were affected but some of the MSL north of here was under water.

I'll try and get some more posts up once we dry out abit.

More Bumble Bees

DXC 5229 leads DC 4726 and DC 4133 into Palmerston on 920D Dunedin - Middleton freight. 02/03/10.

Looking through the blog I've noticed that there isn't quite as many DX shots as a DX fan with a blog would like. So here's one of my favourites DXC 5229 in the 'Bumble Bee' livery. There are a few railfans that don't like the 'Bumble Bee' livery but I reckon its not that bad.

Having a look at New Zealand Rail Track (www.quicktrip.co.nz/rails/railtrack.htm) there's only 3 Bumble Bee DX's still running in New Zealand. DXC 5229, DXC 5419 and DXC 5517.

So if you want your DX 'Bumble Bee' shots better get out there before they get 'Kiwi Fruited'.

Just like the bad ole days

DFT 7077 and DC 4726 cruise round the curves at Tumai with 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight. 19/04/10.

The 'Beard' era of the early 2000's is seen by railfans as a bad chapter in the history of New Zealands railways.

Tranz Rail management cut maintenance on locomotives, wagons and infrastructure. Private sidings were out, unit trains were in and any piece of rolling stock that was deemed surplus including most of the remaining 4 wheel wagons were scrapped. Short sighted decisions by management helped the bottom line for a while but eventually brought New Zealand's rail network to its knees. The timely buy out of Tranz Rail by Toll Holdings saved rail from total collapse.

A common theme of the 'Beard' era was the number of trains running with empty wagons. Not a good look. So when I saw 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight today, I thought I had gone back in time to the bad ole days especially with DFT 7077 and DC 4726 both in the 'bumble bee' livery that was also introduced during the 'Beard' era.

922 Dunedin - Middleton freight passes through Katiki. 19/04/10.

Luckily 922 picked up a few empty goldies at Palmerston. The gold containers may be empty but its better than the empty decks behind them.

Not too sure why 922 had so many empty decks, maybe the derailment between Balclutha and Clinton had something to do with it...

We have DFT's too.....

DFT 7295 and a DC banker at the sharp end of 922 Dunedin - Middleton freight as it climbs out of Palmerston after shunting the gold siding. 9/11/09.

Just to prove we have other locomotive classes in Otago other than just DX locos, heres a shot of bumblebee DFT 7295.

The normal locomotive lashup through North Otago is a DX / DC or DFT / DC combination. It'll be interesting to see what happens to the locomotive fleet used in Otago and Southland after the DK class is introduced to the Kiwi Rail network.

Rusty Rails Revisited

During mid Feburary, members of the nz-rail-geography yahoo group travelled around Otago and Southland chasing trains on the operating lines and having a close look at the ghost branches of the past on their annual Rusty Rails expedition.
I wasn't able to get away for the week but I was able to spend a day with the boys as we chased a Taieri Gorge Railway cruise ship special.
Leaving Palmerston early Monday morning we headed south into Dunedin and then along the Main South Line to Port Chalmers. After some coffee and planning we ended up at Sawyers Bay, the junction for the Port Chalmers branch.
After a bit of a wait, the special passed through the 313m Blanket Bay tunnel and Sawyers Bay yard before leaving the MSL and heading down into Port Chalmers.

TGR DJ 3286 and DJ 3211 lead the cruise ship special through Sawyers Bay. 15/02/10.

After following the special into Port Chalmers and watching the it load up with a decent load of passengers. The sun wasn't playing the game and all the shots I got at the port weren't that flash. After the boys had a good look around we headed back south down the MSL to a favourite spot of mine, the Blanket Bay causeway. Always a great place to capture a train, today was no different.

With DJ 3211 on point, the Cruise Ship special heads south on the MSL. 15/02/10.

The road from Port Chalmers to Dunedin can get pretty congested in the morning and we had no hope of getting in front of the special before it got to Dunedin railway station.
After some more discussion, the decision was made to head to Wingatui, the junction between the MSL and the Otago Central Branch and then up the branch to Hindon.
Wingatui is one of my favourite places on the New Zealand rail network and I was looking forward to seeing another TGR train pass through and onto the OCB.
Here the sun played its tricks again and any shot of the southbound TGR train was a write off.
After the train had departed Wingatui, we began our drive to Hindon.
The road to Hindon isn't the greatest and some of the gravel parts are pretty hairy. I have to take my hat off to Steve Watts. Very good driving on a difficult road (must have been the great advice from the back seat drivers).
The TGR is world renowned for its scenery, tunnels and viaducts. Luckily my shot of the special exiting the 66m Ross Point tunnel and crossing the Taieri River viaduct captured all three features.


The cruise ship special crosses the Taieri River viaduct. 15/02/10.

After having a look around the Hindon yard we headed back to Wingatui. It was here that I farewelled the boys as they continued their expedition south.

DJ hauled trains, good photo spots and a great bunch of guys. What a way to spend a day off.

Time for a break

Getting home from night shift and seeing those damn assignments on the kitchen table, I knew it was time for a break and what better way to relax than go train chasing.
Hoping to get some shots of 937 Middleton - Dunedin freight I headed north. Not seeing any sign of 937 and thinking it might have passed me somewhere I decided to contiue onto Oamaru and maybe get a few detail shots the old loco and goods shed.
Oamaru is normally fairly quiet but my luck was in this morning.
A lengthy 920D Dunedin - Middleton freight was on the main and a late running 937 had just arrived and was being unloaded at Oamaru's container terminal (CT).
It was about then I realised I should get out more often because I was getting excited about 937 picking up its DC banker for the trip south.


DXC 5264 reversing through the Oamaru yard to collect its banker. 25/03/10.

After finishing at the CT, a work stained DXC 5264 made its way through the yard to pick up a personal favourite, DC 4133.

DXC 5264 couples up to DC 4133. 25/03/10.

With DC 4133 coupled up, both loco's headed up the yard to pick up the wagons left at the CT before returning once again down the yard.

937 being checked over. 25/03/10.

After being checked by one of the Kiwi Rail team, 937 was ready for the main.
With a DX on point and a light train of one DC and two wagons going along for the ride I knew I was in for a fast trip home to Palmerston. I didn't even get the chance of capturing 937 as it blasted out of Oamaru.
I had a few spots I wanted to get shots at but I didn't get the chance because just as I arrived at each one, 937 would fly past with a blast on the horn and a grin from the driver.
Time to just chase and hope.


937 climbs away from Waianakarua. 25/03/10.

I managed to get a shot of 937 as it climbed away from Waianakarua. Its a shame I don't have sound or video on this blog because the sound coming out of 5264 as it powered up the grade was fantastic.

937 rounds a curve after departing Hillgrove. 25/03/10.

After once again getting ahead of 937 at Hampden, I stopped just south of the Hillgrove loop at a spot I've used a few times. Not a bad spot but one that hasn't been that successful for southbound trains due to the angle of the sun. With todays overcast weather I thought I'd give it a go and I'm glad I did, getting my favourite shot of the day.

937 crosses the Shag river bridge. 25/03/10.

I managed to get a shot I've been trying to get for a while but have always been foiled by the sun. The overcast weather helped again as I captured 937 crossing the Shag river bridge north of Bushey.

As 937 continued its trip to Dunedin, I headed home, the assignments were still on the table but I don't feel like throwing them out the window anymore.

Saving for a rainy day

DX 5310 and DC 4726 round the reverse curves into Waikouaiti with 961 Middleton - Dunedin freight. 20/03/10.

Sitting at the computer on Saturday morning working my way through a pile of paper work and assignments, I heard 961 cruise through town. The weather wasn't flash but I needed a break, so I headed out the door and managed to catch up with 961 and heres the result, a hurried shot of DX 5310 and one of the regular DC's assigned to the Oamaru banker job, DC 4726 cruising through the reverse curves leading into Waikouaiti. An unchuted DX, bumblebee DC, a varied selection of wagons and some rain. Can't get better than that.

First Post (again)

DX 5483 and Oamaru Banker DC 4876 cruise downgrade into Palmerston. 29/01/10.

The people that follow this blog will know that I'm fairly new to this blogging thing and with all new things you learn as you go. Tonight I learnt that blogging and watching TV at the same time isn't a good idea. Before I knew it I had deleted all my previous blogs. Damn. So here we are an hour of unsuccessful attempts at finding my previous posts and a load of bad language later.
I have learnt a few good things along the way as well so hopefully the blog will be better than before.
Heres the first post (again) showing two of my favourite locos at one of my favourite photo spots.
DX 5483 is a regular in Otago and one of the last remaining 'standard' DX's on New Zealands rail network. DC 4876 is also a rarity. She's one of the few remaining DC loco's in the 'Fruit Salad' livery.
I hope to get more shots of these loco's before Kiwi Rail catch up with them and send them to the paint booth.