Express to Picton

Just out of Christchurch, DXC 5310 leads DXC 5483 across the Waimakariri River with train 714

13 July 2016

Passing through Sefton, train 714 heads north to Picton

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 leads DXC 5483 and train 714 through Omihi. DXC 5310 sports a DXR long hood after it rolled off the track on the Bay Express in 1995

13 July 2016

Popping out from behind a bank, train 714 passes over Ethelton Road

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 hauls train 714 over Ethelton Road

13 July 2016

Train 714 crosses a private level crossing through Dormett

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 lead train 714 over the Waiau River

13 July 2016

DXC 5310's distinct long hood profile is visible here as train 714 crosses State Highway 1 at Hundalee

13 July 2016

After traversing the Kaikoura Coast on its own for a few kilometres, DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 meet State Highway 1 again at Oaro

13 July 2016

Train 714 exits a tunnel on the Kaikoura Coast, this one paralleling two one lane road tunnels. Several tunnels were built on this section of line to guard against slips

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 exit the tunnel alongside State Highway 1

13 July 2016

Train 714 pulls into Kaikoura station

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 pass the station building at Kaikoura. The building is now used as the whale watching headquarters

13 July 2016

Train 714 bursts out of Tunnel 15 north of Kaikoura

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 exit Tunnel 15 near Half Moon Bay

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 visible again as it exits Tunnel 20

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 skirt alongside State Highway 1 as it exits Tunnel 20

13 July 2016

Heading south, DXB 5097 and DXC 5500 lead train 725 past the coast near Clarence

13 July 2016

DXC 5097 and DXC 5500 lead the short train south towards Christchurch

13 July 2016

After a crew change with train 725, DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 continue north past the coast

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 lead train 714 past the coast near Clarence

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 skirt State Highway 1 again north of Clarence. State Highway 1 follows the Main North Line for most of the line's length

13 July 2016

Train 714 passes along the coast near Clarence

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 lead train 714 through an S curve near Ward

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 slow for a speed restriction near Ward

13 July 2016

At Lake Grassmere, a tractor shunts a wagon into the pickup road. The siding serves the salt works at the lake

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 pass through Lake Grassmere without stopping to pick up the waiting wagons

13 July 2016

Train 714 passes through Lake Grassmere and the salt works

13 July 2016

Train 714 passes over the Awatere River near Seddon. The bridge was a double decker bridge, carrying a single road lane below the railway. A new road bridge opened in 2007

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 lead train 714 across the Awatere River, using the original 1902 bridge

13 July 2016

Train 714 climbs over the Dashwood Pass, near Blenheim

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 pass through Blenheim station with train 714

13 July 2016

Train 714 passes the Blenheim station building

13 July 2016

Near its destination, DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 pass through Koromiko with train 714

13 July 2016

DXC 5310 and DXC 5483 in full dynamic braking descend the grade into Picton, passing over the Waitohi Viaduct above a holiday park

13 July 2016