John M Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 There is a surprising amount of short haul rail traffic between the various Dairy Factories in the Waikato Region and the marshalling yard and distribution centre at Te Rapa, Hamilton. The Waitoa Branch was once part of a roundabout route from Auckland to the East Coast largely made redundant by the more direct Kaimai Tunnel Route opened in the late 1970s. Beyond the end of tthe line Brookville shunting tractor at Te Aroha. DSJ 4060 departing Waitoa with the afternoon shunt for Morrinsville. This loco is normally allocated to Morrinsville for shunting and trip work. The shunt passing through the old Piako Station site near Morrinsville. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted December 29, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 29, 2011 I've only just stumbled on this. A former colleague (who changed country & career several years ago) grew up in Morrisville & worked in the milk factory there. I seem to recall a lot of dried milk was produced - would that be the traffic in the containers on the train now? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted January 18, 2012 Author Share Posted January 18, 2012 I've only just stumbled on this. A former colleague (who changed country & career several years ago) grew up in Morrisville & worked in the milk factory there. I seem to recall a lot of dried milk was produced - would that be the traffic in the containers on the train now? Rich Just re stumbled on this. Yes the traffic is Milk Powder, 4060 is the regular Morrinsville yard shunter and trip loco working traffic between the Morrinsville Plant and yard and the occasional trip to Waitoa. John Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussellP Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I have a brother who lives in Matangi on the outskirts of Hamilton city, the branch is a short healthy walk from his wife's excellent cooking. An interesting little branch line with some modellable bridges. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John M Posted June 24, 2015 Author Share Posted June 24, 2015 Cold clear (un-foggy) winter day in the Waikato. I am not sure of the photo quality taken with an Iphone Main DC Class locos seem to have taken over Waitoa trip workings or possibly a shunting locomotive was un-available. DC 4790 arriving long hood leading at Waitoa Waiting to enter the dairy plant. Fonterra Waitoa with Te-Aroha in the background. Wagons with outbound traffic were placed in the loop by the Fonterra shunting locomotive. Former main line to the Bay of Plenty and Thames on the right. Traffic from Waitoa ready for up lifting in the small marshalling yard in Morrinsville, main running line and passing loop on the right. The yard at Morrinsville still functions as a marshalling yard for traffic from local industries and the Kinleith Branch. Brand new out of the box a pair of recently delivered DLs shunt at Morrinsville to attach traffic. The yard is fairly typical of New Zealand practice with a number of loops clear of the running line, although the locos had to occupy the main track and block the level crossing at the West End of the yard in order to set back onto the waiting wagons. Setting back to collect traffic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted June 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 24, 2015 Thanks for posting these, reminds me how much I enjoyed a 4 week break around NZ - already 9 years ago... Nice to see there's still traffic on these lines. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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