Videos

An update to the Puhinui station interchange construction, with the superstructure of the new station building largely in place. Passing by during the work day are DL 9089 on train MP5, running opposing main, and DL 9642 and DC 4594 heading back from Wiri to Westfield light locomotive

Just before the rain appears, DL 9538 leads train MP2S out of Pukekohe as ADL 810 arrives. Following soon after is Wairarapa escapee DFB 7010 with train 200 as the rain comes down, then heading south is DL 9106 with train MP9. Although the Northern Explorer is running, train 200 is terminating at Otahuhu as the Eastern Line is using The Strand while Britomart is closed. Train 201 however, continues departing from The Strand. With maintenance day in the Waikato now on Sundays, train MP2S is scheduled to depart at the same time as the rest of the week, but now sits in Hamilton for around 10 hours before heading for Auckland, hence the train running just ahead of the Northern Explorer

Christmas lights return to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway for another year, with the station and train decorated in lights for the festive season. DBR 1295 and Ww 480 provided the power for the evenings, usually with an 8-car train

A rare sight in Auckland, DXC 5293 returns to Wellington dead on train 221 behind DL 9360 and DL 9187, seen here passing through Buckland. DXC 5293 had earlier led train 220 into Auckland, presumably after a traction motor change in Wellington. Heading the other way, DL 9573 leads train MP8 up the hill

The third locomotive to be sent north for export to Australia, DC 4692, headed north on train 220 behind DL 9469 and DL 9210, on its last run on New Zealand rails. Train 220 as well as train MP5 heading the other way are seen here through Paerata, where regional speed restrictions are still in force

The second carriage set for the Te Huia service arrived in Hamilton from Wellington behind DFB 7077 on 10 October 2020. Here we see the delivery run between Raurimu and Hamilton. One more set is due to come up, with a late decision made to refurbish one more carriage to provide a complete spare set

After an absence of over six months, the Northern Explorer returned to the rails the day after Auckland's return to Alert Level 1, on 8 October 2020. The train is seen here, with DFB 7173 in change, passing through Takaanini, and northbound as an empty service through Papakura the previous day. The Northern Explorer had been planned to return earlier, however Auckland's second lockdown delayed the relaunch

The first Te Huia set went on its first training run in October 2020, with DFB 7295 making a run from Hamilton to Otahuhu and return. The return trip is seen here passing through Buckland, with DFB 7295 on the usual end of the consist. As a bonus, archive footage of the driving car, SD 5893 (now SRV 5893) is included, with DC 4375 propelling the set out of Papakura towards Britomart

On its last run on New Zealand rails, DC 4444 hitches a ride on train 220 behind DL 9256, seen here passing through Pukekohe and Papakura. Trains MP5 and 138 (right behind 220) also make an appearance

The first carriage set for the new Te Huia service between Hamilton and Auckland was delivered on 5 September 2020, with DFB 7295 leading the empty service. The train, running as B04, is seen here through Otorohanga on the last leg of its journey to Hamilton

Trains through Paerata on the first weekend of Auckland's second round of Alert Level 3. This is also the last weekend before all trains through Auckland are limited to 40km/h because of poor track condition and urgent rail replacements. Here, we see ADLs 802 and 808 on full-speed shuttle services, and DL 9573 on train MP6, one of the few trains that runs during all alert levels

On a great day for Auckland's water supply, DFB 7322 and DFB 7023 crest the Whangarata Bank with a heavy train MP4 in tow. The metroport services are usually the domain of the DL class, though a number of DFB pairs have been running some services over the last few days

Two of the second batch of 15 AM class EMUs entered service during the last week. AM 810 and AM 836 have been running exclusively on the Onehunga Line since introduction, and are seen here running weekend services on the branch

As part of the North Auckland Line upgrade project, covering Swanson to Whangarei, a number of work trains have been operating over weekends from Westfield to a number of locations. Here, we see one such train, which spent the weekend offloading sleepers before returning to Westfield empty. DFB 7077 and DFB 7049 provided the power for this weekend's train, with only DFB 7077 in power on the trip home. As a bonus, DL 9072 and DCP 4790 are seen descending into Ellerslie with the port shunt, running via Newmarket instead of the usual route via Panmure due to track work on the North Island Main Trunk

After 7 weeks of COVID-19 lockdown, New Zealand was finally free to roam around again, including for railfanning. Here we see some freight trains during the first weekend of Alert Level 2

DBR 1254 was let out onto the mainline running solo for the first time on 16 February 2020, running the Thermal Explorer from Waiuku to Kinleith and return. After dropping off passengers at Tokoroa and Kinleith, the train made a short side trip from Tokoroa to Hinuera and return

Three trains through Pukekohe in the evening sunset - DL 9469 on train 345, ADL 809, and DBR 1254 leading DFB 7160 on A04. The carriages on A04 were heading to Westfield empty before being relocated to Whangarei the next day

For the first time since restoration, DBR 1254 was let out onto the mainline on a trip from Hamilton to Waharoa and return, during Auckland Anniversary weekend. Seen here is the empty service from Glenbrook to Hamilton, and the train heading out to Waharoa and back. DFB 7160 went along for the ride acting as insurance

Christmas lights at Glenbrook returned for 2019, with additional lights and more carriages operating. This year, DBR 1295 joined Ww 480 to run 8-car services over nine nights

After 13 months of hard work by GVR volunteers, DBR 1254 was unveiled to RES members and GVR volunteers on 29 September 2019. The locomotive was completely stripped down and overhauled, eventually turning out in a fresh Fruit Salad livery. DBR 1254 is intended for mainline running and is at present not far off receiving certification as a heritage vehicle

For the first time in several years, a train ran from Auckland to the Fieldays at Mystery Creek Events Centre. This train was organised by the Railway Enthusiasts Society and comprised of DFB 7213 hauling the Glenbrook Vintage Railway mainline fleet. The train ran to Te Awamutu to drop off Fieldays passengers, then to Te Kuiti with the remaining passengers to turn the locomotive

Newly overhauled Af 1182 had a trial run on 25 May, on a six-total train simulating a normal running day. DBR 1295 provided the power for the trial, with GVR staff acting as passengers. Af 1182 has been overhauled as a dining car, to be paired with the parlour car

After arrival at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, DCP 4818 is towed from Glenbrook to its new base at Pukeoware, behind DBR 1295. The locomotive is expected to have the same duties as the DBRs after overhaul, namely mainline passenger excursions

A busy day at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway on 30 March, as the Vintage Harvest Festival, the Te Kuiti Muster excursion and a Grand Pacific Tours charter all fall on the same day. Shown here are shunt movements at Glenbrook in the morning, with DBR 1295 coming off the excursion and the arrival of DFB 7077 after the passage of train 140R. In the evening, we see the excursion depart from Pukekohe after waiting for train 143R to clear the branch line

Standard railcar RM 31 headed north from home base at Pahiatua to Auckland on 23 February 2019, for a private charter from Helensville to Mt Maunganui the day after. We follow the railcar from National Park to Pukekohe, and catch it again the following day at Takaanini

On the last day of 2018, DC 4260 ran the dairy shunts servicing the dairy factories at Waitoa and Hautapu. Here, we see the train departing Waitoa after collecting wagons and heading back to Te Rapa with a decent load for this line

Genesis Energy coal trains were recently re-introduced, to carry imported coal from Mt Maunganui to Rotowaro. Here, DL 9348 hauls empty coal train GC3 back to Mt Maunganui, with the rake of CET class coal wagons in tow

Over the two weekends prior to Christmas, Glenbrook Vintage Rail and Counties Power decorated Glenbrook station and the mainline fleet in Christmas lights for the festive season, with trains giving rides from Glenbrook to Pukeoware and return during the evening. Ww 480 provided the motive power, and the trips drew in large crowds

J 1211 marks its return to mainline rails by running the North Pole Express, a Christmas-themed excursion from Strand to Wiri and back, with several shuttle runs made over the course of the day. DC 4467 towed the empty service from the Glenbrook Vintage Railway and also provided motive power for the return trips to the Strand. Santa Claus boarded each Wiri-bound train at Orakei

Trains 200, MP8 and 334 through Paerata on a Sunday evening, along with some ADL class DMUs on Pukekohe shuttle runs

DL 9452 heads train 138 through Glenbrook to the steel mill at Mission Bush, with shunt locomotive DSC 2720 in tow

Glenbrook Vintage Railway took delivery of their latest acquisitions from KiwiRail, AO 198, ASO 110 and ASO 1, delivered by train 138 after a journey over several days from Middlemarch

RM 30 on a chartered run from Hamilton to Mission Bush and return, seen here crossing Heights Road on the second trip of the day. The railcar was charted for the weekend by the Railway Enthusiasts Society, with two trips to Kinleith scheduled for the following day. Shortly after RM 30 passes through, DL 9452 passes through the other way with train 142R

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Railway Enthusiasts Society, Silver Fern railcar RM 30 was chartered for a short jaunt from Auckland to Huntly via Glenbrook, with a side trip to Victoria Ave included hauled by DBR 1295. At Huntly, a celebratory cake was cut as part of the ceremonies

DL 9158 leads train 138 across Heights Road near Pukekohe, en route to the steel mill at Mission Bush, on a clear winter's morning

DBR 1295 and De 507 provided cab rides from Victoria Ave to Fernleigh, put on for the nearby Steel 'N' Wheels festival in Waiuku. The cab rides were popular and proved worthwhile for the GVR

Mainline Steam's Ja 1275 ran a number of shuttle trains from Whangarei to Portland and Kauri over Easter 2018, for the Big Steam event over the holiday. The train was run by Glenbrook Vintage Railway using their mainline fleet, with the services proving very popular with locals

DBR 1295 appeared at the biannual Day Out with Thomas weekend at Glenbrook Vintage Railway, appearing in a new livery. A steam train (hauled by Ja 1275) and a diesel train ran over the line to Fernleigh during the weekend

Six ex-Auckland SA carriages moved from Taumarunui to Palmerston North on 17 February 2018, and onto Wellington the following day. DL 9498 moved the carriages as train B55 from Taumarunui. The carriages are off to Hutt to be cleaned up and refurbished for a tourist train

A selection of freight trains on Waitangi Day 2018 - DL 9204 on train 138, DL 9233 on train 141R, DL 9112 on train MP2 and DC 4323 on train 192

Three trains in the Tauranga area on 12 and 13 January 2018. DL 9331 on train 354, DL 9279 on train MP5 and DL 9233 on train 483 all feature

DFB 7023 and DFB 7199 lead train 200, the Christmas Eve Northern Explorer, into Papakura station. Due to a recent spate of breakdowns of DFBs on Wairarapa Line trains, all of those trains and the Northern Explorer are double-headed as an immediate solution

The northbound Sunday daytime freight service, train 240, seen at Waiouru and crossing Makatote Viaduct, with EF 30226 and EF 30134 on the head

Making their first run as heritage locomotives, DBR 1254 and DBR 1295 made an appearance at the GVR, on an RES members only train. DBR 1295 was not performing well so was placed on the turntable at Glenbrook, leaving DBR 1254 to head the train on its own. Several photo runs were made during the day, to show off the GVR's new locomotives to members

Glenbrook Vintage Railway's latest acquisitions, DBR 1254 and DBR 1295, head north on train 234S, with DL 9141 and DFB 7267 hauling the 47-total train. DL 9141 and the two DBRs had left Hutt Workshops the previous day, with the DL just out after accident damage

Glenbrook Vintage Railway celebrated their 40th anniversary over Labour weekend of 2017, with the Mallet joining in on the celebrations. A recreation of the original opening weekend was staged, with the Mallet propelled by Ww 644 through the ribbon at Glenbrook, with De 507 on the back of the train

Following train 126 from Penrose to Maungaturoto, with DFB 7023 and DC 4571 on the pointy end. The train stopped at Helensville for a crew change and at Wellsford to shunt off empty log wagons

Over the weekend of 14-15 Octover 2017, Ab 608 ran a number of shuttles from Wellington to Trentham and return, to commerate the 100th anniversary of the Passchendaele Battle on 12 October. The locomotive and carriages were on display at Wellington on 12 and 13 October. One train each day during the weekend featured an onboard play, with three soldiers and a nurse expressing their excitement on the outward trip and reflecting on the battle on the return journey. The event was organised by Te Papa ion collaboration with Steam Inc. and KiwiRail