Taken just moments after my previous image (No.597291), KiwiRail banker locomotives DXC5385-5419-5520 lead a 'Silver Fern' railcar out of Arthur's Pass yard and over the Bealey River. Immediately after the bridge, the train will plunge into the 8.5km long Otira Tunnel, which is on a formidable 1 in 33 gradient. Although traveling in the downhill direction, the bankers are attached as the railmotor does not meet fire suppression requirements. The three 'Silver Fern' railcars were built in 1972, this one is RM24, operating a charter for Dunedin Railways. Near the turntable can be seen three old locomotive boilers, and what appears to be the remains of a tender. I am not sure what locomotives they are from, but until recently they were located further down the valley in the river bed, where they had been placed at some point to help stabilise the bank. A road realignment has caused them to be relocated to their current site. Any further info or corrections would be most welcome!
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.
