Truncated Northern Explorer

DFT 7092 waits at Taihape with the Northern Explorer. The train was terminated here the previous day due to slips on the line ahead. Passengers were bussed as far as Palmerston North, after which all three roads into Wellington were closed

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 waiting at Taihape. The town was re-added as a stop to the Overlander in 2009, and lost its rail service again in 2012 when the Northern Explorer started

21 June 2015

Passengers boarding the Northern Explorer at Taihape, which the train does not usually stop at

21 June 2015

Passengers speak to the driver as DFT 7092 waits at Taihape

21 June 2015

Buses brought passengers from Wellington to Taihape to meet the train, as State Highway 1 had been reopened following a washout. The bus on the left brought passengers from Paraparaumu, Levin and Palmerston North, while the bus on the right went directly to Taihape from Wellington

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 gets under way from Taihape, running 75 minutes behind schedule

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 smoking out of Taihape

21 June 2015

The Northern Explorer making its usual passenger stop in Ohakune

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 at speed over the Hapuawhenua viaduct

21 June 2015

The Northern Explorer stops at National Park

21 June 2015

At National Park, a rake of wagons has been stabled in the siding without a locomotive pending reopening of the line south

21 June 2015

The rake of wagons going into the distance at National Park

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 begins descending the Raurimu Spiral

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 on the upper level of the spiral

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 passes the traditional photo stop location for excursion trains on the spiral

21 June 2015

The train navigates the lower horseshoe of the spiral

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 enters Raurimu station limits at the base of the spiral

21 June 2015

The train heads down the long straight of Raurimu station

21 June 2015

At Taumarunui, the train made a special stop to let off a group of passengers originally travelling on the return excursion with DA 1429. The train was unable to leave Paekakariki due to the line closures

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 next to the shelter at Taumarunui

21 June 2015

DFT 7092 gets under way from Taumarunui

21 June 2015