International Railroad Discussion > KiwiRail DXCs 5419 and 5223

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Here are a couple of images taken on the second of 14 days of a wonderful hike + bike tour of New Zealand's South Island. These were shot along the Otago Central rail trail, passing through the Poolburn Gorge. Note the tunnel -- one of 2 in the gorge -- in the upper right corner of the first image. The Poolburn Viaduct in the second dates from 1901-1904, with piers made from locally quarried schist.

A bit more lively scene in the video, as I happened to catch a short freight passing the platform at Greymouth, an old coal shipping town on the west coast.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/23/18 23:43 by ajax247.

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Excellent thanks, does anyone know what was in the containers?

86235 Wrote:
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> Excellent thanks, does anyone know what was in the
> containers?

Dried or pickled Kiwis for export, probably.

Love it - Subway in New Zealand. I wonder if they offer lamb as well? Also where's the "mind the gap" signage on the platform? Errr, I guess that's only when the platform is curved ;>)

BB

86235 Wrote:
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> Excellent thanks, does anyone know what was in the
> containers?

That line runs south to Hokitika, where the largest rail customer is Westland Milk Products. NZ does a lot of export business with Korea and China, including milk powder, milk protein, caseinates, etc. So I'd guess -- milk products!

Export coal is still shipped from the NW (Reefton?) south to Greymouth, then eastward through the 8.5 km Otira Tunnel to Christchurch and its port of Lyttleton. The tunnel eastern portal is in Arthur's Pass, which still has an active turntable, plus 3 very rusted derelict steam loco boilers and a crushed tender frame -- see below!

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The Otira Tunnel E portal is at the end of a long bridge across the Bealey River, one of the many glacial streams on the W cost of the South Island. Sort of like Alaska!

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Very good thread.
Thanks for sharing it with us.

Posted from Android

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

Greymouth used to be an active port, loading coal for export, but the harbor has a dangerous bar, and so shipments are made now from the east coast, at Lyttelton. The Greymouth port has preserved some of the loading facilities, with a couple of cranes and old 4-wheel coal cars on display, see the next 2 images. The last picture shows Lyttelton from above, from the high ridge that separates it from Christchurch. The KiwiRail yards can be see just in front of the loading docks.

New Zealand is an amazing place to visit, highly recommended!!!

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pedrop Wrote:
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> Very good thread.
> Thanks for sharing it with us.

You are very welcome!!!