After a few two days of poor weather (lots of rain, some snow, had to use chains for the first time in my life, heh) and two mediocre days with limited success the weather was surprisingly good to... (more)
A freight train to Picton crosses lake Grassmere, which has an active salt industry. It produces about 30'000 tons of salt per year, which covers about half of New Zealands salt consumption.
(See photo ID 451287 for the "after"). During July 2013 RRL Grindrod South Africa imported two decommissioned Kiwi Rail / Tranz Rail Class DQ - G12C (DQ6347 / DQ6382) locomotives from New Zealand... (more)