Right sorry about the delay, Brigettes birthday 2day.
Beautiful day for a train trip, started at the Middleton yards around 10.30 ( they really look like what I'm trying to model )
The view straight ahead of me as we eased out of the yard heading for the main line and then onto the north single track
We where running really light, two locos, we shut the second one off, and six flat cars
Darryl my engineer for the day, old GE loco not sure what model.
Our first stop we are sitting in the loop waiting on this train from picton.
This train coming round the corner asked us what happened to the rest of our train!! Cheeky.
An interesting system they use, no signal lights for track clearance, just radio train control in Wellington, they issue a track warrant for as far as they think you'll get before meeting another train. Then you are told to sit in the hole and wait.
Our gauge is so narrow ( 3' 6" ) that I'm hanging out over the water!! scary!!
We have met the Pacific ocean, the tracks run along the beach (nearly) up
the coast, constant maintenance keeps it running.
Back inland for a bit and our first tunnel 983 metres.
2nd rail tunnel and two tunnels for the main north south highway. They had to cut the highway tunnels at the top to get bigger truck/ containers thru.
same tunnel I think? it runs right next to the road but is cut into the hillside so they built vents into it to let steam ( in those days ) out
My arts fartsy shot!!
Tunnel number 3, when they were building it colapsed in the middle so they ran the rail round the hill, but didn't rename the rest of the tunnels so it's still number 3!!
Kaikoura, if you ever wanna see some whales up close this is da place.
passenger station is still used too.
Our destination. The red light indicates we have to take the loop, stop here and unlock the small box middle of pic, pushbutton moves the points and gives a yellow light.
My ride
Our return journey in the passenger train. Purple light indicates turnout is set for the main (us)
Two locos and 8 passenger cars ( a big train )
Thats about my day, had a couple of close calls with stupid motorists!! but along pull on the horn wakes them up
I took some video of the rock n roll of the loco but it's not to good, boy I thought we would derail at times it really bounced around
Hope you enjoyed my day.
Darryl has asked if I want to go to the other coast on the passenger train ( I said yes!! ) so that's coming up soon I hope.
Ken.
