NZ RailAction, based in the South Island, covers items related to the New Zealand railway scene across the country, from KiwiRail to heritage rail operations, both on privately owned heritage railways and on the national network.
The South Island is the perfect location for these sorts of videos. I bet they would be hugely popular with train enthusiasts around the world, if they get discovered.
We used to build our own trains until Neo-Liberalism destroyed our industry. We wouldn't even give priority to locally built trains when they were the best value for money. The tender has to always go to the cheapest bid, not the best value for money, plus other flow on benefits from having trains built here.
The video brings back memories of the stunning scenery of the Southern Alps, I travelled the Tranzalpine in 2010, not behind steam but a regular service. With steam it's all that more spectacular, the loud thrash as the regulator is opened and the screaming whistle. The echo of the whistle at Arthur's Pass was wild. I guess footage was shot at a couple of trips? as the train composition changes during the film. Mainline Steam has now vacated the depot at Whitefield and are in the proces of moving to Springfield.
A very good introduction video to the DTG. I visited Ferrymead back on holiday in 2010 and met the young man who did get 511 back running later, he invited us to have a look around in the depot and explained things to us. I live in the Netherlands so on the opposite side of the sphere we are on and thus a bit far away, but in case I was a resident of Canterbury I would join the DTG as a volunteer no doubt.
Very nice man. good to see the Ja down here again, I was able to see her on ANZAC day and on Friday last week when she ran her last Excursion down here which was really cool to see. First time in 9 years that I have seen steam running under its own power on the mainline down here :D
HHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK! - (The Romanian Red Passenger Subway Train's Kenzwanes To Deukanaroku Express's Final Loud Horn Before It Drives Off The Poolburn Viaduct To It's Death)
Excellent quality images--crisp and bright.I didn't often travel by railcar.. Dun>>Alex, Dun>> Mt Allan.. return trip to Ch'ch in May 1972. 30 seconds of Otago Harbour and coming into The Station would have been expected.....
I own the English Electric works model of the DG. The works model of the DF is in the UK's National Railway Museum. Both commisioned by EE from Clarkson of York.
In the early 1950 I remember these Rail cars traveling through Matawhero Railway Station, where my father was the last station master there, to Gisbourne and return. I still remember the first 88 seater coming through and shortly after taking over the route. All the 88 seaters where installed on the tracks the same way around untill a special trip was done. I think it was RM2. It was from Wellington, up the east coast to Woodville, to the main trunk line at Parlmerston North and returned on the main trunk to Wellington. I still remember her coming through the first time as the wrong way around rail car. Thank you for awaking some old memory's.
This brought back memories of May School Holidays. For many years, in 1960s, we travelled from Blenheim to Kaikoura (father drove down later, so returned by car) for a two week holiday. To alleviate any boredom and keep we children (3), quietly active, we received a small wrapped gift at each station we stopped (usually a small corgi toy or book, reading and colouring), there were at least a dozen I recall mostly small rural stops and sometimes no buildings at all, just a sign, but it was a joy. Mostly stayed at Esplanade Motels and later the Blue Pacific Hotel (they rang a large gong for meals). Many thanks. Sad to not see any interior images or apparent passengers, as your car looks empty, so sad!! (Ooops, people seen aboard at Waikari)... Not much, if any, footage from south of Christchurch, like at the magnificent Dunedin Railway Station, just restored/cleaned!! Take care & stay safe. 💜💜 NB: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NZR_RM_class_(88_seater)
Used to travel in these from Wairoa to Wellington, awesome to ride in sad they're gone,I know, there's on in Pahiatua that doe's rides to Masterton I presume or Wellington
Hawera to Wellington - many return trips on Tokomaru and sister railcars in the late 1950s until they were withdrawn from the service. Refreshment stop at Palmerston North. They were always a better, more comfortable trip than the NZR Road Services buses on that route.
As a boy around 1943 I would travel in these Railcars from Napier to Wairoa for holidays. I loved the Streamline look of them and that added to the excitement of going somewhere.
The red & silver colour of RM-31 looks simply awesome & with various scenic backgrounds just confirms beyound all doubt that NZ has some simply "out of this world" scenery!! Correct me, I was aware that this class of railcar was built in the Lower Hutt NZR workshops but were they actually designed in England?? Appreciate any info thank you!!
