NAL Upgrade Work Train

Arriving at Helensville on the loop after offloading sleepers, DFB 7077 leads a rake of empty ES wagons and ETR 17 on the end, with DFB 7049 dead on the ride

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 and DFB 7049 sit with their work train on the loop at Helensville, just before picking up the rake on the siding. The train spent the weekend offloading sleepers north of Helensville, as part of the upgrade of the line between Swanson and Whangarei

24 May 2020

The two DFBs head off to collect the ES wagons used the previous day

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 propels DFB 7049 towards the ES wagons on the siding

24 May 2020

Two rakes of ES wagons sitting at Helensville, being shunted together to return to Westfield

24 May 2020

Now coupled on, DFB 7077 charges the brakes on the rake

24 May 2020

ES 159, the first wagon on the train, shortly before being shunted off. The ES class are modified US class wagons for carrying sleepers

24 May 2020

The two rakes are brought together on the loop at Helensville

24 May 2020

The train inches closer to being complete

24 May 2020

Now coupled together, the wagons are prepared for departure

24 May 2020

After pushing the train back, DFB 7077 waits to depart Helensville with the empty sleeper wagons and DFB 7049 in tow

24 May 2020

With a clear line all the way to Swanson, DFB 7077 makes good time with the empty work train through Waimauku, running as train WT11 to Westfield

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 leads the work train through Kumeu, passing over one of the many crossings along the NAL upgraded with barrier arms and, in this case, extra flashing lights

24 May 2020

The pair of DFBs pass over Access Road with WT11 in tow

24 May 2020

After passing through Waitakere, DFB 7077 and DFB 7049 approach a private driveway

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 contrasts with the cloudy weather as it leads WT11 through Waitakere

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 and DFB 7049 head WT11 across a private driveway near Waitakere

24 May 2020

Now in the urban jungle, DFB 7077 powers out of the New Lynn trench with DFB 7049 and WT11 on the drawgear

24 May 2020

Providing contrasting colours to the concrete in the background, DFB 7077 climbs out of New Lynn

24 May 2020

Now definitely front and centre, DFB 7077 crosses Portage Road at New Lynn with WT11

24 May 2020

DFB 7077 glides down through Ellerslie with WT11 in tow. The digger at the end of the train rides along the ES wagons and is used to unload sleepers

24 May 2020