Winter TranzAlpine

Prior to departure, the five car TranzAlpine stands at Christchurch station waiting for passengers to board

5 July 2016

The locomotives in charge of train 803 this day are DXC 5293, in Phase 1 KiwiRail livery, and DXC 5520, in Phase 2 livery

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 at the head of train 803 waiting for departure for Greymouth

5 July 2016

Passing the yard, DFB 7239 hooked up to wagons awaiting duty. DFB 7239 was a fire suppressed locomotive for Wairarapa Line passenger trains, before being brought to the South Island

5 July 2016

DCP 4755 and DXC 5460 parked in the yard at Christchurch

5 July 2016

After travelling along the Canterbury Plains, the train reaches Springfield, where DS 157 is seen parked in a siding. The locomotive belongs to the Midland Rail Heritage Trust

5 July 2016

The TranzAlpine passes Springfield station, with no passengers to pick up on this trip

5 July 2016

Looking towards the back of the train, emerging out of Tunnel 6

5 July 2016

The train stretches out behind the viewing car with Tunnel 6 in the background

5 July 2016

Just before Tunnel 7, the train stops while the LE gets out and corrects the points for the train, with no other trains around to cross

5 July 2016

Several work sites slowed the train's journey. Here, train 803 stops for one of many on the Midland Line

5 July 2016

At Arthur's Pass, the train stops next to the unique station building

5 July 2016

The KiwiRail logo prominently displayed on the side of the AK carriages at Arthur's Pass

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 and DXC 5520 at the head of train 803 at Arthur's Pass

5 July 2016

With the long Otira Tunnel ahead, the two DXC locomotives await departure while passengers stretch their legs

5 July 2016

At the back of the train, three of the five banker locomotives are added, today being DXC 5195, DXC 5391 and DXC 5419

5 July 2016

DXC 5195 stopped just behind the TranzAlpine. The locomotives were coupled up after passengers had reboarded the train

5 July 2016

DXC 5391 and DXC 5419 wait to be coupled up behind DXC 5195 and the TranzAlpine

5 July 2016

DXC 5419 looks back towards Christchurch

5 July 2016

The TranzAlpine sits at Arthur's Pass waiting for the tunnel exhume period to elapse. THe banker locomotives came up light, which required the tunnel to be cleared of fumes

5 July 2016

Arthur's Pass is the highest station in the South Island, the second highest that sees passenger trains (behind National Park) and the third highest in the country (with Waiouru being the highest)

5 July 2016

At Otira, the banker locomotives are removed and the TranzAlpine crosses train 820

5 July 2016

Train 803 heads out of Otira

5 July 2016

Out of the mountains and running through a gulley, the Southern Alps are visible in the distance as train 803 ploughs on

5 July 2016

At Stillwater, the line to Ngakawau branches off, serving coal mines in the area

5 July 2016

A coal train loads in the siding. At Stillwater, trains are loaded with front end loaders

5 July 2016

DXC 5212 and DXC 5039 wait at the front of the coal train while the wagons are loaded

5 July 2016

Logs are also loaded in another siding at Stillwater

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 and DXC 5520 skirt above State Highway 7 and the Grey River as train 803 reaches Greymouth

5 July 2016

Train 803 sitting at the platform at Greymouth, with passengers either spending an hour in town or making connections to other services

5 July 2016

The two DXCs wait for passengers to offload before heading to the yard

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 ahead of DXC 5520 on a terminated train 803

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 and DXC 5520 bring the now empty TranzAlpine out of Greymouth station and into the yard for cleaning and for the locomotives to run around the train

5 July 2016

DXC 5293 and DXC 5520 pass over Tainui Street, intersecting at a roundabout with State Highway 6

5 July 2016

Now back at Greymouth station, DXC 5520 now leads DXC 5293 back to Christchurch

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 under the shelter at Greymouth just before departure

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 and DXC 5293 skirt back over State Highway 7 and the Grey River with train 804

5 July 2016

Train 804 passes above the Grey River and State Highway 7

5 July 2016

DXC 5212 and DXC 5039 still on the head of the coal train at Stillwater as train 804 passes by

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 and DXC 5293 work the train into the Southern Alps

5 July 2016

The train passes Moana, this time not stopping for passengers

5 July 2016

The interior of AK 2053 as the train climbs up through the Otira tunnel

5 July 2016

For the upward journey, only DXC 5477 was added on the rear of the train

5 July 2016

Train 804 stops at Arthur's Pass, again letting passengers off for a leg stretch

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 and DXC 5293 wait at the head of train 804 at Arthur's Pass

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 looks on towards Christchurch

5 July 2016

The TranzAlpine again sees itself next to the station building at Arthur's Pass

5 July 2016

DXC 5520 among the mountain ranges at Arthur's Pass

5 July 2016