Part of the NZ tour (Nov 2011) with Ka942 cab ride through tunnels on the now closed Napier to Gisborne line. Storm damage in early 2012 caused slips and washouts that lead to Kiwirail to mothball the line.
I came to New Zealand twice in the early 1990s and rode the rails as much as I could. My big regret is driving from Napier to Palmerston North with my wife and daughter when we could have used the train. The line is spectacular and should be the North Island answer to the Tranz Alps. Art Deco Napier should be on any tourist's list which is more than you say for aptly named Greymouth. I only wish I had come to New Zealand in 1964, when travelling home to the UK the long way round after working in Canada, and seen the railways when they still played a vital part in the life of the country and steam was still dominant and all those magical branch lines were still working. I have the picture books but they are not the same.
It's crazy how Nz had so much rail infrastructure before the war. And how much it has been lost and was allowed to become underused and underinvested-in.
Not just tourism. It would offer great opportunities for freight at least as much. But there are some beautiful vistas on this journey that are now lost.
Yes all the way thru to Taneatua would help develop the East Coast My Grandfather sold quite a bit of Land NZR very early 1900's Now they don't use that land .. Just Shear Crazyness
Kiwirail has neither the money nor desire to reopen the line. While it would be nice it's not realistic today as it's always been a money pit and freight / passenger volumes would never cover costs. Maybe patch up the two washouts to extend rail cart journeys? Taxpayers are not a bottomless pit and Gisborne has coped OK with just road access for years now. Look at the history of weather event damage to the Gisborne line over its life - the section south of Wairoa had a lot spent to re-open it but has been closed for extended periods on occasion due to weather related damage. A better case could be made for the Stratford - Okahukura line but I travelled SH4 last Labour weekend and didn't notice the combined road / rail bridge across the road and river where it connects to the main trunk. A look at Google Earth seemed to show its been demolished so that's now a dead end. The Wanganui line is again under threat due to low traffic volumes. Maybe the problem is Kiwirail? The ferry debacle appears to show a lack of business acumen.
Well done! You even got the shot crossing the runway at Gisborne Airport but I notice he didn't whistle to alert any aircraft! Ha Ha .What a shame for this line to close. Ka942 certainly looks better without the streamlining!
Wow I had no idea the rail crossed the runway, can't be too many airports like this in the world? reminds me of Gibraltar with the road crossing the airport! Who gets right of way?
