Coal and TranzAlpine

At Stillwater, coal is loaded into the coal wagons using a front end loader

12 July 2016

The front end loader dumps coal into the wagons. From time to time, a small amount of coal spills out and lands on the track

12 July 2016

DXC 5517 is in charge of moving the wagons when full

12 July 2016

DXC 5517, in power, and DXC 5454, shut down, at the head of the rake of wagons to be loaded

12 July 2016

Coal wagons stabled at Stillwater, to be added to the wagons currently being loaded. Logs are also loaded here, with the log wagons parked at the old platform

12 July 2016

Stillwater yard, viewed from the road overbridge

12 July 2016

A large scoop of coal is dumped into a CE class coal wagon

12 July 2016

As wagons are filled up, the train is moved forward by one wagon to allow the next to be loaded. A wagon has its first load dumped into it

12 July 2016

DXC 5517 and DXC 5454 further forward on the loading road

12 July 2016

After loading, the coal wagons are stabled in the yard to be made up into a 30 total train, departing later in the day

12 July 2016

DXC 5454 and DXC 5517 are stabled in the yard to run the train later in the day

12 July 2016

Crossing Blair Road next Stillwater, DXC 5264 leads DXC 5229 on train 803 into Greymouth

12 July 2016

DXC 5264 and DXC 5229 skirt State Highway 7 near Dobson with train 803, the TranzAlpine

12 July 2016

The TranzAlpine passes above State Highway 7 and the Grey River, near Stillwater

12 July 2016

Heading through Dobson, DXC 5264 and DXC 5229 head the TranzAlpine towards Greymouth

12 July 2016

Working hard, the pair of DXCs head through Dobson

12 July 2016

DXC 5264 and DXC 5229 approach Greymouth Station with the TranzAlpine

12 July 2016

The TranzAlpine enters Greymouth Station

12 July 2016

The end of the TranzAlpine stopped at Greymouth

12 July 2016

After running around and allowing time for passengers to explore Greymouth, DXC 5229 now leads DXC 5264 into Greymouth station

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 depart Greymouth station with train 804

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 pass along State Highway 7 again, this time heading back towards the Southern Alps

12 July 2016

The TranzAlpine passes above State Highway 7 as it heads back towards the Southern Alps

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 leads DXC 5264 back across Blair Road

12 July 2016

The train stops for a compulsory stop board before getting permission to proceed through the work site

12 July 2016

The train stopped at the compulsory stop board before passing through the work site

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 get the train under way again

12 July 2016

Entering Moana station, DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 slow train 804 to cross an empty coal train

12 July 2016

The train enters Moana station with no passengers to pick up or set down

12 July 2016

The train slows to a halt as it waits for an empty coal train to cross

12 July 2016

DXC 5212 leads DXC 5039 on train 849, an empty coal train heading to Ngakawau for loading

12 July 2016

DXC 5212 and DXC 5039 cross the TranzAlpine at Moana

12 July 2016

DXC 5212 and DXC 5039 slow down to stop at Moana

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 lead the TranzAlpine around the curve onto the bridge across Crooked River

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 lead the train onto the CrookedRiver bridge

12 July 2016

The train passes over Crooked River

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 come off the bridge with train 804

12 July 2016

The TranzAlpine passes alongside Lake Poerua near Otira

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264's bold livery contrasts with the bush clad landscape

12 July 2016

Near Otira, DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 pass over State Highway 73

12 July 2016

The train pulls into Otira to attach a banker locomotive at the rear

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 charge up the grade towards the Otira Tunnel

12 July 2016

At the other end of the tunnel, DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 come down the grade into Arthur's Pass, with DXC 5477 on the rear

12 July 2016

The TranzAlpine enters Arthur's Pass station

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 pass the pedestrian subway at Arthur's Pass

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 slow the TranzAlpine for a speed restriction across the Waimakariri River

12 July 2016

Back at Christchurch, the locomotives are taken off the train and a DSC attached to shunt the carriages away

12 July 2016

DXC 5229 and DXC 5264 return to the yard at Middleton

12 July 2016