Te Huia Delivery

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

Behind DFB 7077, SRV 5993 leads the four carriages in the consist

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

EF 30059 and EF 30134 lead train 225S into the loop at Owhango, crossing train B04

10 October 2020

Train 225S rolls into the loop, approaching train B04 out of sight

10 October 2020

The lengthy freight train rolls into the loop at Owhango

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

DFB 7077 powers up out of Owhango on its run north to Hamilton

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

DFB 7077 brings the train to a stop at Taumarunui

10 October 2020

DFB 7077 stopped with the second Te Huia set at Taumarunui station

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

In contrast to the stored carriages, SRV 5993 and its set gleam in the sun

10 October 2020

SRC 3436 brings up the rear of the train as the set departs Taumarunui for Hamilton

10 October 2020

Through Ongarue, DFB 7077 leads train B04 at speed through the remote settlement

10 October 2020

Just north of Te Kuiti, DFB 7077 picks up speed for the relatively straight run to Hamilton

10 October 2020

Train B04 crosses Te Kumi Station Road on the last leg of its journey to Hamilton

10 October 2020