A Jaunt to Wellington

Our journey starts at Papakura station, where DFB 7307 arrives with train 201. On Platform 2, AM 960 and AM 932 wait to run a service to Waitematā

13 July 2024

On the rear of train 201 is luggage van AKS 5868, with our carriage AK 2053 being the last passenger carriage

13 July 2024

At Hamilton, passengers were able to jump off the train for a leg stretch. DFB 7307 undergoes a crew change while passengers wander around and new passengers board

13 July 2024

DFB 7307 waits for departure from Hamilton station at the front of train 201

13 July 2024

Cafe car AKC 2511 in the middle of train sits underneath Hamilton's blue skies

13 July 2024

Further down the line, the collection of stored SA and SD carriages has shrunk, with a number scrapped and GVR now starting to relocate theirs to Pukeoware. Seen here are SDs 5626, 5648 and 5999, all owned by KiwiRail

13 July 2024

A line of SAs and SDs in the yard at Taumarunui, owned by KiwiRail

13 July 2024

In Wellington station, DFB 7307 sits at Platform 9 after arriving with train 201, becoming the only active train in the platform. All Wellington metro lines were bus replaced out of Wellingtion station on this day

13 July 2024

Passengers leave the train for their final destinations while DFB 7307 waits for a tow back to the yard

13 July 2024

Later in our visit, we head for a short journey up the Johnsonville Line. FP 5131 sits at Platform 2 waiting to run a Johnsonville Line service

15 July 2024

We jump off the train at Crofton Downs, the first stop on the line after snaking through the hills out of the city

15 July 2024

Shortly after the departure of the outbound service, FP 5033 arrives at Crofton Downs in the other direction, with the two trains crossing at the next station at Ngaio

15 July 2024

FP 5033 arrives at Crofton Downs station on its way back into Wellington

15 July 2024

At Petone station, FP 4218 heads to Wellington on its own as a 2-car set

15 July 2024

Some time later, FP 4339 and FP 4322 pull into Petone station on a run into Wellington

15 July 2024

FP 4339 takes the lead on the Hutt Valley service into Wellington

15 July 2024

Our train now arrives at Petone, with FP 4316 leading a Melling Line service to the namesake Melling station

15 July 2024

FP 5200, soon to lead the train back to Wellington, sits at Melling station. The station was originally due to close temporarily in July 2024 for construction of a new interchange, however was pushed back for replanning of the project

15 July 2024

FP 4316 stands at the end of the line at Melling, with the modern stop block in place. The block was replaced after two different units overran the end of the line, with one ending up on top of the old concrete stop block

15 July 2024

FP 4316, now on the rear of the train, sits under the Melling station building waiting to return to Wellington

15 July 2024

FP 4316 in front of the stop block and alongside State Highway 2 at Melling

15 July 2024

On our journey back to Wellington, we spied DCP 4801 fresh off Q4 shunt from Hutt Workshops. The locomotive returned to the South Island the following day

15 July 2024

Next to DCP 4801 is DH 2839, fresh out of Hutt Workshops with a repaint into the KiwiRail livery

15 July 2024

A number of other locomotives were also sitting in the yard waiting for their next duties. Here, Wairarapa locomotive DFB 7348 waits for its next train, with DL 9792 and DFB 7145 sitting behind

15 July 2024

DFB 7145 sits in the yard until its next assigned duty, train 1608

15 July 2024

Also in the yard are spare luggage vans AKL 19 and AKS 5926

15 July 2024

DFB 7322 paces our train as it sets back onto its train, forming train 1606

15 July 2024

DFB 7322 sits at the head of train 1606, bound for Masterton. The train is made up of 8 carriages, a mix of SW and SE types

15 July 2024

DFB locomotives used for Wairarapa services have been fitted with low emission kits, primarily aimed at reducing fumes in the Rimutaka tunnel

15 July 2024

After departure of the Wairarapa Line service, a 6-car train made up of FP 4149, FP 4126 and FP 4558 depart Wellington on an express service bound for Taita

15 July 2024

After train 1606 clears Platform 8, DSC 2665 shunts the Capital Connection set into the platform. The train was recently re-equipped with SR carriages, ex-Auckland SA carriages refurbished for long distance use and the same type as Te Huia

15 July 2024

DSC 2665 pushes the 7-total train into Platform 8 at Wellington

15 July 2024

DSC 2665 uncouples from the train shortly before heading back to the yard

15 July 2024

Now without a locomotive, the Capital Connection set sits on the platform. At the front of the train is former SD carriage, SRG 6182. The cab has been disabled by the removal of the brake handle, so cannot be used to lead trains

15 July 2024

The interior of SRG 6182 standing at Wellington platform, similar to Te Huia's SRV carriages

15 July 2024

At the other end of the train is SR 5975, a former SA carriage refurbished with long distance seating

15 July 2024

The entire 7-car consist sitting at Platform 8

15 July 2024

SR 6010 sits above a new crossover being installed between Platforms 8 and 9. This replaces an earlier crossover that was situated slightly further south

15 July 2024

SRG 6182 at the front of the Capital Connection set waiting for its locomotive

15 July 2024

FP 4610 pulls into Platform 9 alongside the Capital Connection

15 July 2024

DFB 7282, the assigned locomotive for train 1206, sets back onto the Capital Connection set on Platform 8

15 July 2024

DFB 7282 couples to SRG 6182 and starts preparing for depature

15 July 2024

The carriages used for the Capital Connection feature a livery specific to that service, like Te Huia's sets

15 July 2024

Nearby on Platform 6, DFB 7145 has coupled up to its Wairarapa carriage set in advance of departure of train 1608. On Platform 7 sits FP 4322 waiting for a Hutt Valley Line service

15 July 2024

DFB 7145 sits at Platform 6 waiting for departure of train 1608 to Masterton

15 July 2024

FP 4316 departs on an express Kaptiti Line service just ahead of train 1206, while DFB 7282 waits to depart right behind it

15 July 2024

At the end of our trip, we boarded the Northern Explorer again to return home. At Platform 9 at Wellington station, DFB 7307 has coupled up to the train after a last-minute carriage swap

17 July 2024

On Platform 8, DFB 7200 now takes the lead on a Wairarapa service, taking over the lead duty on train 1602 from DFB 7322 on the other end of the consist

17 July 2024