Silver Fern to Mission Bush

After departing Otahuhu, RM 30 starts up the grade from Southdown to Penrose as it heads to Strand to collect passengers

30 July 2016

RM 30 shows signs of hard working as it tackles the grade. The railcar ran the loop from Otahuhu, heading into Strand via Newmarket then back to Otahuhu via Panmure to collect passengers

30 July 2016

Shortly before RM 30 passes through, DC 4951 hauls wagons to Tamaki to run around and take to Sylvia Park

30 July 2016

RM 30 departs Panmure after making a passenger stop

30 July 2016

RM 30 heads south from Panmure on its way to Mission Bush

30 July 2016

The railcar arrives at Papakura for its last passenger stop

30 July 2016

The highlight of the excursion was the run all the way to the steel mill at Mission Bush. The RES had not run into the mill itself for some time. Seen is a passenger's view as the railcar enters station limits

30 July 2016

According to onboard commentary, KiwiRail and its predecessors had not run a Saturday work train on the branch for 20 years, and a work train was coincidentally scheduled to run on the same day as the railcar. DC 4323 and DC 4916 wait at the head of the work train to head back out behind the railcar, with DCP 4663 and DCP 4790 also on the train

30 July 2016

After running back up the branch, RM 30 headed south to Huntly where morning tea was served. It had also been some time since the Huntly platform was used for passengers without a water stop also taking place

30 July 2016

RM 30 stands next to the tiny shelter on the Huntly platform

30 July 2016

View of RM 30's engine bay from the cab

30 July 2016

At Huntly, the RES also served a celebratory cake for the occasion

30 July 2016

Back at Papakura, the railcar drops off its first load of passengers before making the suburban circuit again

30 July 2016

RM 30 departs Papakura for Strand, running via Glen Innes

30 July 2016

RM 30 climbs the grade out of Newmarket towards Remuera

30 July 2016

RM 30 superimposed underneath the Newmarket viaduct. If the railcar carried every person in the cars visible here, it would only be half full (assuming average vehicle occupancy of 1.2)

30 July 2016

RM 30 heads up the grade towards Remuera

30 July 2016