A Ride on Goldfields

The Goldfields Railway train sitting at Waihi station, waiting for the 11:30pm departure to Waikino

1 March 2024

The locomotive hauling the train is a Baguley-Drewry built locomotive, with build number 3652 (which we will use as our identifier for the locomotive). The locomotive was built in 1968 for a hydro project, before being assigned in 1973 for the Kaimai tunnel project

1 March 2024

The Goldfields Railway train sitting at the platform at Waihi. The carriage closest to the camera is A 1358, initially preserved in 1980 as just an underframe with the current wooden sides added in 1993 by the railway

1 March 2024

At the end of the train and sitting next to the Waihi station building, the Aa carriage provides indoor passenger capacity for the day's return trip

1 March 2024

The carriage is the only enclosed carriage on the train, with the other two on the 3-total train being open carriages

1 March 2024

Hiding away in the shed at Waihi are the railway's largest locomotives, DBR 1282 with DBR 1199 behind it. The locomotives are two of the 6 DBR class locomotives owned by DBM Contracting, with these two arriving at the Goldfields Railway by road in November 2022

1 March 2024

Behind the train is another locomotive owned by DBM, a Niigata locomotive built in 1983

1 March 2024

Underneath the station shelter, with a clock to keep an eye on time until departure

1 March 2024

Now on board the train, 3652 waits for departure towards Waikino

1 March 2024

The Niigata-built locomotive clearly visible from the open carriages on the train

1 March 2024

The Waihi goods and carriage sheds at the end of the line, viewed from the train

1 March 2024

After traversing down the line, 3652 sits in the backshunt while the points are changed, as the locomotive starts the runaround for the return journey

1 March 2024

The train stabled at the platform at Waikino station. The carriage nearest the camera, UG 79, was originally built as a horse wagon in 1931, and converted to carry bikes upon preservation in 1990. Bikes are frequently seen on the train as the Hauraki rail trail also starts here

1 March 2024

3652 now coupled on the other end of the train, shut down as departure time is still some time away

1 March 2024

3652 sitting at the platform at Waikino with its train for the day

1 March 2024

The train departs Waikino back to Waihi, passing the station building and café on its way out

1 March 2024

Out of Waikino, the railway passes directly alongside State Highway 2, following the road for most of the railway's length. Many passengers wave to passing cars, receiving toots from motorists in return

1 March 2024

With a cliff face on one side and State Highway 2 on the other, there's not a lot of room for trains in this area

1 March 2024

The train passes over the bridge near Waikino, which takes the line over the Waitekauri River

1 March 2024

State Highway 2 curves around to follow the line again, with train passengers enjoying the views

1 March 2024

As the train heads towards Waihi, the line passes through a small cutting away from the main road

1 March 2024

Approaching the main feature of the line, 3652 slowly heads towards the bridge over State Highway 2

1 March 2024

3652 enters the bridge over State Highway 2 with its small train

1 March 2024

Looking towards the rear of the train, cars pass underneath at their full 100km/h speed limit while the train passes overhead at crawling speed

1 March 2024