30 photos in this gallery. Showing photos 1 - 21
Te Huia Delivery
Delivery of the refurbished carriages for the new Te Huia Hamilton to Papakura service
Passing through Otorohanga at speed, DFB 7295 leads four refurbished ex-Auckland carriages for Te Huia, now due to commence in February 2021
5 September 2020
DFB 7295, one of the three locomotives to be assigned to the service, leads SRV 5893 (formerly SD 5893) an SRC cafe car and two SR carriages (formerly SA carriages) through Otorohanga
5 September 2020
Although for this trip SRV 5893 was the leading carriage, it is expected that the cabs on these carriages are to be used on repositioning runs once in service
5 September 2020
The carriages received a new grey-based livery, with decals of the extinct huia bird on the sides
5 September 2020
Bringing up the rear is SR 5847. Although largely similar to SAs externally, the carriages received tail lights
5 September 2020
DFB 7295 powers out of Otorohanga with the four carriages, heading towards Hamilton station for a welcoming ceremony. Each carriage has unique designs for the extinct huia birds depicted
5 September 2020
At the base of the Raurimu Spiral, DFB 7077 brings the second Te Huia set through Raurimu station north to Hamilton, running as train B04
10 October 2020
At Oio, train B04 enters the loop to cross train 201, the southbound Northern Explorer
10 October 2020
Just one station up the line at Owhango, train B04 is stopped again, this time on the main to cross train 225S
10 October 2020
Now with train 225S out of the way, DFB 7077 has a clear run to Hamilton with the refurbished carriages in tow
10 October 2020
At Taumarunui, DFB 7077 passes the SA and SD carriages still stored in the sidings, growing moss, attracting graffiti and now with non-functional brakes
10 October 2020
Sitting in the sidings, SA 6010 and SD 5999 collect moss and dirt. SD 5999 was part of the set that ran the farewell trip for the SA sets
10 October 2020