Great trip Geoff, one of the most scenic in New Zealand in my opinion, I have done the main truck lines North and South, never got to Invercargill though. I did the last trip on the Southerner in February 2002. Such a shame it is not still going, but that is New Zealand for you. Thanks Geoff🌿
This would have to be my dream place to have a house, on a property high overlooking the ocean on one side and the railway lines on the other. The only way to make it better than that would be to add an airfield nearby so I can also watch the aircraft taking off and landing. This is really beautiful country.
Through which type of Volcanic Lava, was Cliff Tunnel cut? Lots of Goss about. I'd forgotten as to how magnificent the scenery truly is! Having lived in Christchurch so long. Almost makes me homesick... from 45:19 to 45:37; was this Double Tracked? Also: from 47:47 to 47:55; is there some sort of Track Curvature Easement about to begin? 48:10 to 51:27 is Mihiwaka Tunnel. Some 40 years ago, samples were taken from inside this Tunnel for analysis; so I believe. What became of that?
Unaware of this stretch of railway which looks as though it is quite well used. I get the impression that some of NZ railway lines are being used rather more but maybe I'm just being hopeful. Nice journey; shame it seems to end in a tunnel!
Was that a Dunedin Railway excursion train? I've been up to Seacliff and Karitane by rail from Dunedin several times over the years. This video brought home to me just how shortsighted the powers-that-were were in choosing the 3ft 6in narrow gauge. Living in the UK now, I'm used to trains running between 80 - 125mph. But the scenery on the NZ lines is usually so much better than in the UK. Thanks for posting this, Geoff. Brings back lots of great memories! 🙂
I don't think that 3ft 6in is any barrier to either a) speed or b) capacity. You only need to look at Queensland Railways to confirm this, on average 100m+ tonnes of coking coal per year for 40+ years from the mines to Hay Point or Dalrymple Bay and now, the main S-N line electrified through to Rockhampton and beyond from Brizzy means travel times are coming down over the past decades. The point about NZ is simply the physical geography determined what could and couldn't be achieved in the 19th Century. The physical geography bombards you from all directions wherever you travel. In addition, back in the 19thC 'Standard' gauge hadn't even been decided. Look at the total mess in Oz, 5'3", 3'6", 4'8.5" crazy... Let's take the simple run down the coast from Gisborne to Napier... simple eh? But no, 3 ranges to cross, the intense weather patterns washing away the infrastructure every few years, etc, Nope 3'6" was definitely the right choice for NZ - absolutely no doubt. Cheaper to lay, easier to build/rebuild, more suited to construction where physical geography is a barrier. Unfortunately, because the ball has been dropped by successive governments - and the people - since WWII. You now have the lowest uptake of public transport in the world, and ultimately your are turning Australian as a nation, loving your cars... Ford Ranger the most popular, what?
Chosing a gauge of 3ft 6inches was a carefully considered and very wise choice, both for the nature of the country and for economy. Why on earth would anyone want to blast through this beautiful land at 125 miles per hour?
56:51 to 57:22...is this Carey's Bay Tunnel? Or known as Upper Port Chalmers Tunnel? From 1:01:09 onwards, looks like a new roadway being constructed. Is this so? The old Sawyers Bay Station has been knocked down. When did this occur?
Journey was fine, but we didn't reach our destination, and we didn't have a route. A view from a side window (like they do on Swiss cab rides) would have been welcome.
Great trip Geoff, one of the most scenic in New Zealand in my opinion, I have done the main truck lines North and South, never got to Invercargill though. I did the last trip on the Southerner in February 2002. Such a shame it is not still going, but that is New Zealand for you. Thanks Geoff🌿
Sad when one has to go to the comments to find out *where* some video was taken.
Have driven the coastal road from Karitane to Port Chalmers a few times so that was a real pleasure to do it by train. Thanks for the upload.
What a great train journey…….thoroughly enjoyable. Thank you!
Good series Geoff. Great views.
This would have to be my dream place to have a house, on a property high overlooking the ocean on one side and the railway lines on the other. The only way to make it better than that would be to add an airfield nearby so I can also watch the aircraft taking off and landing. This is really beautiful country.
Great landscape. Tanks for uploading.
FANTSTIC SCENIC JOURNEY. Thank you
Through which type of Volcanic Lava, was Cliff Tunnel cut? Lots of Goss about. I'd forgotten as to how magnificent the scenery truly is! Having lived in Christchurch so long. Almost makes me homesick... from 45:19 to 45:37; was this Double Tracked? Also: from 47:47 to 47:55; is there some sort of Track Curvature Easement about to begin? 48:10 to 51:27 is Mihiwaka Tunnel. Some 40 years ago, samples were taken from inside this Tunnel for analysis; so I believe. What became of that?
Ah New Zealand, where the women are gorgeous, the men are men and the sheep are nervous.
🤣🤣🤣
Lovely place.
Thanks for posting.
Unaware of this stretch of railway which looks as though it is quite well used. I get the impression that some of NZ railway lines are being used rather more but maybe I'm just being hopeful.
Nice journey; shame it seems to end in a tunnel!
Man, Geoff is everywhere.
(From Amsterdam - Neth): Didn't realise this is NZ. Nice trip !
Nice video Geoff. have you thought about Oamaru to Merton Crossing Loop (Karitane), .Sawyers Bay to Dunedin. And Dunedin to Invercargill.
Was that a Dunedin Railway excursion train? I've been up to Seacliff and Karitane by rail from Dunedin several times over the years. This video brought home to me just how shortsighted the powers-that-were were in choosing the 3ft 6in narrow gauge. Living in the UK now, I'm used to trains running between 80 - 125mph. But the scenery on the NZ lines is usually so much better than in the UK. Thanks for posting this, Geoff. Brings back lots of great memories! 🙂
I don't think that 3ft 6in is any barrier to either a) speed or b) capacity. You only need to look at Queensland Railways to confirm this, on average 100m+ tonnes of coking coal per year for 40+ years from the mines to Hay Point or Dalrymple Bay and now, the main S-N line electrified through to Rockhampton and beyond from Brizzy means travel times are coming down over the past decades. The point about NZ is simply the physical geography determined what could and couldn't be achieved in the 19th Century. The physical geography bombards you from all directions wherever you travel. In addition, back in the 19thC 'Standard' gauge hadn't even been decided. Look at the total mess in Oz, 5'3", 3'6", 4'8.5" crazy... Let's take the simple run down the coast from Gisborne to Napier... simple eh? But no, 3 ranges to cross, the intense weather patterns washing away the infrastructure every few years, etc, Nope 3'6" was definitely the right choice for NZ - absolutely no doubt. Cheaper to lay, easier to build/rebuild, more suited to construction where physical geography is a barrier. Unfortunately, because the ball has been dropped by successive governments - and the people - since WWII. You now have the lowest uptake of public transport in the world, and ultimately your are turning Australian as a nation, loving your cars... Ford Ranger the most popular, what?
I think in Japan they may manage 150 or 160 kmph on 3'6" gauge. @@philbarker8219
Chosing a gauge of 3ft 6inches was a carefully considered and very wise choice, both for the nature of the country and for economy. Why on earth would anyone want to blast through this beautiful land at 125 miles per hour?
56:51 to 57:22...is this Carey's Bay Tunnel? Or known as Upper Port Chalmers Tunnel? From 1:01:09 onwards, looks like a new roadway being constructed. Is this so? The old Sawyers Bay Station has been knocked down. When did this occur?
Faltou mostrar o mapa do traçado e a localização dessa ferrovia
i said it wrong, my uncle tomtom kahui used to operate these locomotives in the 80s and 90s
Faltou a localização desse traçado, dessa ferrovia
Journey was fine, but we didn't reach our destination, and we didn't have a route. A view from a side window (like they do on Swiss cab rides) would have been welcome.
Informações sobre velocidade real e estado ou país, seria muito bom!!
Where is that?
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New Zealand
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