Middle NZ Vol 08 F

8. Thanks to my friend who shot these videos around the lower North Island and upper South Island at the beginning of the 21st century. He wishes to remain anonymous but has made them available to me for editing and upload to CZcams.
This video was shot with a DV handycam. Now that I look back a couple of decades there is so much has changed in the middle region that these videos are already a fantastic record of railways in that area. I am still hoping that sometime in the future the original DV tapes may get re-discovered which will allow some upgrades with better picture quality.
This volume has more complete full length trains passing by. In many of his earlier chases the photographer left the scene smartly after the front end of the train had passed to overtake it and get the next shot. There are some final really nice shots of "The Twins" awaiting work and in service.
With friends made in both the North and South Islands on earlier visits this time the opportunity to video some locations close up and with some staff in everyday work. A special thanks to them for their help and guidance....
As always the photography is awesome and these videos are a good record around the "The Twins" era with changing lashups, shown in slightly longer sequences where available. There are several liveries included with Dc and Dx classes hauling freight and passengers, and metro action still in the North Island, and a number of operational changes taking place in the South Island as well.....
The second half of this video is around Picton and some shots further south as far as Oaro.
NB: during the second pacing sequence be on the lookout for the lead Dx "flaming out" in a throttle up, they were really spectacular especially when watched at night. It is nice to see into the past with the likes of Lake Grassmere still a working yard etc..... Dx's and Dft's paired with Dq helpers also working hard. I have included two pacing shots as it was well done freehand and care taken not to get the microphone full of nasty wind distortion as so often happens. Overall hours have been spent on the audio to enhance the video.
A section of this volume is shown in a reduced size, it is worth including as its different footage but the copy I have I am guessing is about 3rd generation. I enlarged it but it is such a small file its not nice so smaller picture is the way, it is more Wellington area shots. Keep the volume to a comfortable level as these rinsed out tapes have some less than good audio as well.....
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