Mountain Thunder

At Longburn, DA 1431 leads DA 1410 with 13 Steam Inc carriages in tow. The train is presently conveying passengers who boarded between Paekakariki and Palmerston North

6 August 2022

As the day begins, the pair of DAs roar into Palmerston North

6 August 2022

At Palmerston North, DBR 1254 and the GVR mainline carriages were added, to make a massive train with 19 carriages and an AG van. Seen here through Bunnythorpe, DBR 1254, DA 1431 and DA 1410 make easy work of the massive passenger train

6 August 2022

DBR 1254, with KiwiRail crew at the helm, leads the pair of DAs through Bunnythorpe

6 August 2022

At Feilding, the train stopped for passengers and for a crew change. From here to Raurimu and back, the train is crewed by GVR personnel

6 August 2022

DBR 1254, DA 1431 and DA 1410 make plenty of noise as the train gets under way from Feilding

6 August 2022

On the climb to Greatford, the locomotives work hard to get their long and heavy train up the hill

6 August 2022

The locomotive trio climb towards Greatford and Marton, briefly turning south before heading north again

6 August 2022

After passing through Marton, the train heads across Porewa Road before crossing train 391T

6 August 2022

The length of the train is apparent here as DBR 1254 and the two DAs lead the train out of Marton

6 August 2022

Heading along straight track at Silverhope, the train heads north on its way to Raurimu

6 August 2022

In this view, the relation between the DBR and DA classes is clear, with similar long hood shapes. Behind the locomotives, the 20-total train stretches out along the straight track

6 August 2022

A close up view of DBR 1254 as it passes through Silverhope

6 August 2022

Heading onto the Makohine viaduct, the train slows down to give the passengers a better view. Crew on all locomotives sounded the locomotive horns across the viaduct, as railfans at ground level watched on

6 August 2022

DBR 1254, DA 1431 and DA 1410 stand high above the ground as the train crosses the Makohine viaduct

6 August 2022

Steam Inc's carriages roll across the bridge one by one, behind the three locomotives

6 August 2022

Taking up the rear of the train, the yellow GVR mainline fleet stands out against the sky, with AG 49 taking up the rear of the train

6 August 2022

At Makatote, the train crosses State Highway 1, the only location on the NIMT where the road does so at a level crossing

6 August 2022

DBR 1254 leads DA 1431 and DA 1410, all in power as the train passes around the curves at Makatote

6 August 2022

Running as train B04, DBR 1254 leads the lengthy train underneath a road overpass at Makatote

6 August 2022

At Taihape, the train was put into the loop to wait for train 234S to overtake

6 August 2022

At the head of train 234S, DL 9607 and DL 9164 rest at the platform while the LE chats to the crew of train B04 and grabs a coffee

6 August 2022

DL 9607 and DL 9164 get under way with train 234S from Taihape, while train B04 sits in the yard

6 August 2022

The tail end of train 234S passes the three locomotives waiting to depart

6 August 2022