New Zealand Railways Today

[Andy R]

Thanks for sharing your trip. I live in NZ and enjoyed reading your train travel information.

Andy R

[Nick Gough]

After three nights in Wellington it was an early start to board the MV Kaitaki, of the Interisland ferry fleet, to cross to the South Island. This ferry operation is owned and operated by Kiwi Rail.

 

Crossing Wellington Harbour:

 

A sister ship, MS Kaiarahi, seen in the harbour:

 

About to leave the Harbour and enter the Cook Strait, which separates the North and South Islands:

 

Cook Strait can be very rough, but we were lucky with a very smooth crossing. At the nearest points the two islands are only 14 miles apart but the ferry tracks a longer path.

 

Having crossed the strait the ferry enters the Marlborough Sounds:

A network of sunken valleys, heading to the port of Picton:

 

 

 

 

Arriving at Picton Harbour:

 

And disembarking from the vessel:

 

 

 

[Nick Gough]

Five minutes walk from the ferry port took us to Picton railway station:

The northern terminus of the line from Christchurch.

 

In the fenced-off rail yard, opposite the station, was the steam locomotive and carriages that operate the 'Marlborough Flyer' excursion from Picton on certain days:

 

Unfortunately, it wasn't operating that day and it wasn't possible to get into the yard for a closer look.

There is a turntable there:

[Annie]

6 minutes ago, Nick Gough said:

In the fenced-off rail yard, opposite the station, was the steam locomotive and carriages that operate the 'Marlborough Flyer' excursion from Picton on certain days:

Ab Pacific, - my grandad used to drive one of those when he was assigned to Morrinsville shed.

[Nick Gough]

Shortly after we got to the station, at about 12:40, the northbound 'Coastal Pacific' arrived, from Christchurch, with another open-air observation car on the rear:

 

The station building is still used for railway purposes, though another business uses part of the building:

 

The locomotive uncoupled and ran around its train:

 

Before heading into the yard for servicing:

 

At the head of the train was the luggage car - apparently a converted (and re-gauged) BR Mark II carriage:

 

 

A further look around the station:

 

 

As seen in earlier years:

[25kV]

Bringing back memories of my trip there in 2002/2003!  

Yes, a number of ex-Waterman Railways Mk2s were shipped to NZ and rebuilt in various forms a couple of decades ago.  The Bo-Bo-Bo electric locos in the Palmerston North depot shot were built at Brush Loughborough, and are related to the Class 89.

[New Haven Neil]

Lovely stuff - we have visited 3 times as the in-laws are Kiwis.  Rode the Kingston Flyer with one of those Ab pacifics, a sprightly performer and sound really good.  NZ is a beautiful country, but the thought of 24 hours flying there now at 64 puts us off.

[Nick Gough]

4 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

Lovely stuff - we have visited 3 times as the in-laws are Kiwis.  Rode the Kingston Flyer with one of those Ab pacifics, a sprightly performer and sound really good.  NZ is a beautiful country, but the thought of 24 hours flying there now at 64 puts us off.

I know what you mean. We stopped over in Singapore on the way out and Bali on the way back, but it still takes a while to adjust to the time difference.

[Johann Marsbar]

15 minutes ago, New Haven Neil said:

  Rode the Kingston Flyer with one of those Ab pacifics, a sprightly performer and sound really good. 

 

Have a look at what I posted on this thread earlier, just in case you weren't aware of it.....

 

[Nick Gough]

As departure time neared the locomotive left the yard to return to the station and train:

 

 

Coupled up, this time with the open-air observation car leading, ready for the 1:40pm departure:

This was to be the last 'Coastal Pacific' of the season, on 30th April, before the Winter.

 

Looking back over Picton and the harbour after departure:

The railway leaves the town from left to right then curves around, on right hand bends, as it climbs away.

 

Around 50 minutes later, after our first stop at Blenheim, we had a last view back over the Cook Straight to the North Island:

 

The 'Coastal Pacific', that day was quite a short train with just the open-air car, three passenger coaches and the luggage van:

 

A few minutes later we were passing vineyards:

[Nick Gough]

11 minutes ago, Johann Marsbar said:

 

Have a look at what I posted on this thread earlier, just in case you weren't aware of it.....

 

A couple of places there that I'm planning to show as well.

[New Haven Neil]

29 minutes ago, Johann Marsbar said:

 

Have a look at what I posted on this thread earlier, just in case you weren't aware of it.....

 

 

I wasn't, so thank you! 

[Nick Gough]

True to its name, the 'Coastal Pacific' follows the sea for a large part of the journey:

With nothing but the ocean for about five thousand miles to the east - South America.

[Nick Gough]

The next station stop, at Kaikoura, with the building re-purposed:

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Nick Gough

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, Nick Gough said:

The next station stop, at Kaikoura, with the building re-purposed:

 

The site of a major earthquake in 2016 that, unfortunately, killed two people and closed roads and railway for many months:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kaikōura_earthquake

[SRman]

Some great photos there, Nick.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon there in 1985, with a fly/drive package. We had a second honeymoon for our 30th anniversary in 2015, but followed a Lord of the Rings theme for that one, and used mostly connecting bus and coach services. I had put down the only absolute must-see for me was Hobbiton, which the travel agent duly arranged then added all the other connected stuff. We have promised ourselves a rail trip next time. Auckland and Christchurch are both a shade under 4 hours flight from Melbourne for us.

I did get a few rail-related photos or videos in though. One of exBR mark 2 coaches in Wellington. We also did the circular tram trip around Christchurch - a little ironic seeing as we can hop on any number of trams in normal service here in Melbourne! There was also a proper London Transport Routemaster bus in Christchurch, not just any old double decker painted red. I did take some videos as well, but strung them all together (not just the rail and tram ones) into a very long movie. I'll have to locate the individual clips again.

 

 

 

 

And one of Hobbiton, just for show.



 

Edited June 28, 2023 by SRman

[St Enodoc]

16 minutes ago, SRman said:

 

This is particularly interesting as the tram is running through the middle of a building, a small shopping mall called Cathedral Junction.

[Johann Marsbar]

19 minutes ago, SRman said:

Some great photos there, Nick.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon there in 1985, with a fly/drive package. We had a second honeymoon for our 30th anniversary in 2015, but followed a Lord of the Rings theme for that one, and used mostly connecting bus and coach services. I had put down the only absolute must-see for me was Hobbiton, which the travel agent duly arranged then added all the other connected stuff. We have promised ourselves a rail trip next time. Auckland and Christchurch are both a shade under 4 hours flight from Melbourne for us.

I did get a few rail-related photos or videos in though. One of exBR mark 2 coaches in Wellington. We also did the circular tram trip around Christchurch - a little ironic seeing as we can hop on any number of trams in normal service here in Melbourne! There was also a proper London Transport Routemaster bus in Christchurch, not just any old double decker painted red. I did take some videos as well, but strung them all together (not just the rail and tram ones) into a very long movie. I'll have to locate the individual clips again.

 

 

 

 

And one of Hobbiton, just for show.



 

 

Hadn't realised they had re-lettered it to Christchurch Tramways, though it still retains the Dunedin livery and fleetnumber......

 

 

[Rhys]

It is a brilliant addition to the city.

My brother drives trams there on weekends. He says its an ideal job as he gets to stand round and talk about Christchurch's history and gets paid for it. The loop was extended opening in July last year and the trip is now ~1 hr.

Another shot inside Cathedral Mall.

 

 

Another famous spot is Regent Street, one of those historic "accidents" where there was not enough money or reason to knock down a collection of old buildings in the 1970's and so they were still around to restore after the 2011 earthquake. Its now a mix of resturants and small business, with a tram running through it (and no barriers in sight)

My wife liked it enought to take a picture.

 

 

My brother did manage a "first " when the new loop was opened due to an engineering error. The 2 previous "excursions" had been due to points being set wrong in the depot.

 

 

He got a standing ovation when he finally returned to the break room later in the afternoon.

Edited June 28, 2023 by Rhys
added pictures

[Annie]

8 hours ago, Johann Marsbar said:

Hadn't realised they had re-lettered it to Christchurch Tramways, though it still retains the Dunedin livery and fleetnumber......

 

Apparently it used to confuse foreign tourists who tended to think they'd arrived in the wrong city.

[Nick Gough]

19 hours ago, St Enodoc said:

The site of a major earthquake in 2016 that, unfortunately, killed two people and closed roads and railway for many months:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Kaikōura_earthquake

Sad to hear. I wasn't aware of this one.

[Nick Gough]

16 hours ago, SRman said:

Some great photos there, Nick.

My wife and I spent our honeymoon there in 1985, with a fly/drive package. We had a second honeymoon for our 30th anniversary in 2015, but followed a Lord of the Rings theme for that one, and used mostly connecting bus and coach services. I had put down the only absolute must-see for me was Hobbiton, which the travel agent duly arranged then added all the other connected stuff. We have promised ourselves a rail trip next time. Auckland and Christchurch are both a shade under 4 hours flight from Melbourne for us.

I did get a few rail-related photos or videos in though. One of exBR mark 2 coaches in Wellington. We also did the circular tram trip around Christchurch - a little ironic seeing as we can hop on any number of trams in normal service here in Melbourne! There was also a proper London Transport Routemaster bus in Christchurch, not just any old double decker painted red. I did take some videos as well, but strung them all together (not just the rail and tram ones) into a very long movie. I'll have to locate the individual clips again.

 

 

 

 

And one of Hobbiton, just for show.



 

Some nice photos there as well.

A visit to Hobbiton was also a must for us - the day before the Northern Explorer.

[Nick Gough]

Christchurch Tram photos to follow later as well.

[SRman]

13 hours ago, Annie said:

Apparently it used to confuse foreign tourists who tended to think they'd arrived in the wrong city.

 

Damn furriners!! 😅

[St Enodoc]

5 hours ago, Nick Gough said:

Sad to hear. I wasn't aware of this one.

Surprised the on-board commentary didn't mention it.