Northern Waikato

DC 4790 leads train 201 across Kellyville Road near Mercer

15 July 2013

A hi-rail stands idle at the Island Block Road level crossing

15 July 2013

DL 9066 leads a mostly yacht fuel-laden train MP5 across Island Block Road in Amokura

15 July 2013

The hi-rail has now made it to Whangarata and ascends the (slight for a road vehicle) grade

15 July 2013

At the top of the grade, DL 9141 hauls train MP4 through Whangarata

15 July 2013

DL 9187 and DCP 4634 lead coal train 141 across the new Mercer bridge and cross Oram Road

15 July 2013

DL 9170 climbs towards Hitchen Road in Pokeno with train MP7 trailing behind

15 July 2013

The last Toll-liveried DC class locomotive, DCP 4830, pairs with blue-liveried DC 4231 to haul train 229 across Kellyville Road near Mercer

15 July 2013

Solo DL 9112 skips through Mercer on train MTT1, testing Energymiser

15 July 2013

With the size of the train dwarfed by the sheer openness of the area, DL 9072 hauls train 151 through Mercer, alongside State Highway 1

15 July 2013

The unusual combination of DFT 7322, DL 9135 and DL 9193 run light as train 132 through Whangarata

15 July 2013

Making plenty of noise, DXB 5108 leads loaded train MP6 through the S-curves of the Whangarata Bank

15 July 2013

Shortly afterwards, lower North Island visitor DCP 4634 and upper North Island resident DL 9187 lug coal train 142 up the Whangarata S-curves

15 July 2013

Train 142 shows the top of the grade as it heads through Whangarata

15 July 2013

Further on, the same train passes the site of a major derailment some months ago; the temporary speed restriction still appears to be in effect

15 July 2013

Fortunately, this time train 142 passed the derailment site without incident

15 July 2013

While train 142 waits to enter Mission Bush yard, a DSC shunts wagons around

15 July 2013

After much waiting, train 142 is able to enter Mission Bush yard, while on the other side of the bridge train 134 waits to depart

15 July 2013

DFT 7322 teams up with a barely visible DL 9135 and an out-of-shot DL 9193 to haul train 134 towards Westfield

15 July 2013

Finally, at Papatoetoe, train 134 pierces through impeding darkness

15 July 2013