Double Thunder

Glenbrook Vintage Railway's De 507 (GVR #8) leads a 14-total passenger train into Waiuku's Victoria Ave station, with Ja's 1250 and 1271 on the other end

17 April 2011

A close up view of De 507

17 April 2011

The lengthy passenger train overruns the two-car platform at Waiuku by miles

17 April 2011

Crowds of people wait to board the fully-booked 13 carriage train as De 507 idles at the current terminus of the GVR

17 April 2011

Ja 1250 and Ja 1271 prepare to depart Waiuku, bound for Hamilton

17 April 2011

Glenbrook Vintage Railway's Ja 1250 and Steam Incorporated's Ja 1271 team up to haul a 14-total excursion train out of Waiuku station, heading down the Glenbrook Vintage Railway towards Glenbrook and ultimately Hamilton. De 507 can be seen in the background: this was detached at Pukeoware

17 April 2011

Having now just departed Glenbrook, the duo roll off the GVR and onto KiwiRail's Mission Bush branch. This is the first time in years that Ja 1250 has ventured onto the mainline

17 April 2011

Running wrong line due to track works at Tuakau and a lack of crossovers between Pukekohe and Mercer, the twin Ja's power through Buckland continuing towards Hamilton

17 April 2011

The pair accelerate down the North Island Main Trunk, having now cleared the road crossing

17 April 2011

Having now switched to the correct track, Ja 1250 and Ja 1271 cross the mouth of the Whangamarino River at Mercer

17 April 2011

In a bizarre twist, a single wooden sleeper remains among concrete sleepers on the Up Main of the NIMT near Ohinewai

17 April 2011

Ja 1250 and Ja 1271 following road traffic on SH1 through Ohinewai

17 April 2011

The train stops at Huntly to take on water

17 April 2011

Ja 1250 and Ja 1271 lead the excursion train over the Waikato River through Ngaruawahia, continuing towards Hamilton

17 April 2011