We booked on the public excursion from Dunedin to Middlemarch and return on the Central Otago line through the Taieri Gorge on October 25th.
The train was 12 cars which is beyond the capacity of an Ab, the largest steam locomotive allowed on the branch, so diesel assistance was provided by Dj 1210 and Dj 1227 Mitsubishi Bo-Bo-Bo’s of 1968 vintage.
The loading gauge in New Zealand was only 11’6†high by 8’0†wide and on the branches the axle loading was only 10tons. This is the reason that New Zealand locos are so much smaller than South African locos of the same era.
Ab 608 is the first of the class built in 1915 and is also named Passchendaele as a memorial to the New Zealanders who gave their lives in WW1
The train left from Dunedin station, an Edwardian extravaganza of granite and terracotta. Pictures of the station and its well preserved interior follow
For departure the two diesels were placed ahead of the Ab, a requirement of Kiwi Rail who own the track as far Wingatui on the main Dunedin to Invercargill line and up to the Dunedin Airport on the branch. After that the line is owned by Dunedin Railways and at the next passing loop the diesels were moved to the rear of the train.
From Wingatui to Middlemarch a distance of about 40 miles, there are 10 tunnels and 23 viaducts on a ruling grade of 1 in 50.
Photography from the train was difficult with the auto focus which my aging vision requires sometimes focused on telegraph poles and trees rather than the loco heading the train.
The first stop was Hindon where a run by was carried out, however a disciplined photo line was impossible to maintain and most shots were obstructed.
Carrying on from Hindon the next shot was taken crossing the Flat Stream Viaduct and approaching a 25 km/hr. speed restriction before entering the next tunnel.
End of Part 1
