A Jaunt to Wellington

After departure, train 200 passes through the Wellington metro network on the Kapiti Line. Here, the train passes over the scenic bridge over the Porirua Harbour at Paremata

17 July 2024

Further north is Mainline Steam's depot at Plimmerton. Seen outside is three of their carriages, AO 215, AO 48 and a third unidentified carriage

17 July 2024

North of Plimmerton, the line passes through a large cutting as it heads north

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With commuter services also operating on the line, train 200 is bound to pass a few. Here, FP 4472 takes the lead on a run into Wellington

17 July 2024

The scenic Kapiti Coast between North and South Junctions attracts many passengers to the open air viewing car. Here, the Tasman Sea, State Highway 57 and the North Island Main Trunk all meet at various altitudes

17 July 2024

The rocky coast of Kapiti viewed from the open air viewing car, AKV 39

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At Paekākāriki is Steam Inc's depot, with a collection of various rolling stock stored outside. Just visible behind the shed is AG 239, Steam Inc's own open air viewing car

17 July 2024

At Palmerston North, passengers were able to disembark for a quick leg stretch. Here, DFB 7307 poses at the front of the train, facing the journey ahead

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Luggage is loaded onto AKS 5868 at Palmerston North for passengers boarding here

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As the train departs, we catch a glimpse of the low loader, ETM 595, parked at the depot

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In the marshalling yards, the tail end of train 234 sticks out behind a rake of YJ ballast wagons and plow

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DL 9792 returns to the head of train 234 in the yard at Palmerston North, with the train scheduled to follow our train north

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Arriving into the yard at the time of our departure was DL 9291, leading train 391

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A number of refurbished EF locomotives sit in the yard awaiting signoff for their next trips. Seen here are EFs 30163, 30232, 30042 and 30192, with TR 897 also making an appearance

17 July 2024

Sitting away from the other EFs is EF 30059, also awaiting signoff

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Some time later, the train passes through Mangaweka, nearing the Rangatikei viaducts

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The train approaches Waiouru, through the hilly tussic landscape

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Visible in the distance from the train is Mt Ruapehu, with a large snow cap at the top of the volcanic mountain

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At Tangiwai, train 20 crosses train 251, with DL 9037 and DL 9400 on the head. Train 251 carries wood and paper products from the pulp mill and sawmill in the area

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Train 200 arrives at Ohakune to exchange a load of passengers, before continuing north

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DFB 7307 leads train 200 across the Hapuawhenua viaduct, the longest on the train's journey to Auckland

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Train 200 crosses the Hapuawhenua viaduct, built in the 1980s as part of a deviation for electrification

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At the top of the Raurimu Spiral, DFB 7307 slows down to stop to gain permission to pass a work site

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DFB 7307 stops the train on top of the lower tunnel on the Raurimu Spiral

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The train's stopping position gave a perfect view of the track below is. The section visible here is between the two tunnels on the spiral

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After gaining permission to pass the work site, DFB 7307 starts descending the Raurimu Spiral, passing over the level crossing at the top

17 July 2024

Train 200 enters a cutting near the top of the spiral as it curves and descends the hill

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Between the tunnels, there is just enough room to see the carriages ahead of the viewing car before they enter the lower tunnel

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After exiting the tunnels, the train finishes the curve before snaking alongside the hills before the final descent

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Train 200 passes around the last curve before dropping down in a straight line and curving around into Raurimu station

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Track workers clear the way and wave to passengers as train 200 rolls past

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At the foot of the spiral, DFB 7307 leads the train into Raurimu station limits

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Heading out of Raurimu station, train 200 pulls away from the spiral and continues north

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Another "base camp" for track workers has been established near the crossing in Raurimu. With the sealed road ending here, the crossing is one of the few gravel road crossings with barrier arms

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Further north near Taumarunui, the train crosses the Whanganui River as it approaches its next stop

17 July 2024

Visible from the train are the remaining SA and SD carriages in storage in the yard. This line of carriages is mostly owned by the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, with the two SDs on each end owned by Steam Incorporated

17 July 2024

While graffitied, grubby and with several smashed and boarded up windows, the carriages are still mechanically sound with occassional visits from GVR. Seen here in the rake are SA 5638 and SA 5730, each with boarded up door windows

17 July 2024

Still sitting in the yard are SD 5999 and SD 6184, both now owned by KiwiRail. As carriages with S-ride type bogies, they are suitable for potential re-use and could be returned to service pending funding for KiwiRail projects

17 July 2024

Taumarunui station building visible from the viewing car on train 200

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In the same line of carriages are SD 5626 and SD 5648, also owned by KiwiRail. The carriages have no future plans as members with reused FM bogies, making them less suitable for reuse

17 July 2024

The less fortunate carriages are lined up at the northern end of the yard, ultimately bound for scrap. At the front of this lineup is SA 3212, with multiple windows smashed and missing

17 July 2024

A number of FM-equipped SA carriages sitting at the back of the yard at Taumarunui

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At the other end of the scrap lineup is SA 3266, with a large dent in the roof indicating the scraping process had begun on this carriage

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A pile of remnants of scrapped SA carriages sits at the northern end of the yard

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A closer view of the scrap pile shows a number of identifying features, including doors and destination boards

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Next to the scrap pile, a pile of FM bogies recovered from the carriages can be seen. It's possible that the bogies will be reused on other FM-like vehicles

17 July 2024

Now out of Taumarunui station, AK 2145 can be seen from the viewing deck of AKV 39

17 July 2024

A signal problem saw the train stop here, just beyond the departure signals of Taumarunui. The train set back a short distance

17 July 2024