#KiwiRail #MilkTrain #Aramoho
Three trains (+ a Track Inspection Vehicle) make their way past the former Kempthorne & Prosser Chemical Works at Aramoho in Whanganui, New Zealand.
The first train is Southbound 545 being hauled by DL 9325 and is heading from the Whareroa Dairy Factory to Palmerston North. It passes through at about 1:00pm. In the consist are empty milk wagons for re-loading at Longburn. The second train is 535 being hauled by DL 9291 and is also travelling from Whareroa to Palmerston North. It passes through at 3:00pm. Next is a surprise Light Inspection Hi-Rail Vehicle, presumably on the look out for potential heat buckles on this hot Summers Day. The third train with DL's 9262 & 9210 is Northbound Train 544L and it passes by after crossing 535 at East Town. 544L has eight loaded milk tankers in the consist that are heading from Longburn to Whareroa.
Dominating the background is the derelect 1926 Kempthorne Prosser & Co Aramoho Chemical Works which was mostly closed in the 1980's. Further around the corner we can see the distant Whanganui River Railway Bridge which is Bridge Number 25 on the Marton - New Plymouth Line. Aramoho (opened 1877) is the Junction with the Whanganui Town Branch and was once a busy railway location with a large passenger station supported by signal boxes and goods handling facilities. In 2021 the yard still has two sidings in situ; one that leads to the local KiwiRail Network maintenance depot and another that leads to the Ravensdown Fertiliser Co-operative depot: But this private siding no longer receives wagons from KiwiRail. (A further pair of abandoned sidings still lead through to the old Fertiliser Works)
The KiwiRail DL class was manufactured by CRRC Dalian 中车大连机车车辆有限公司 with engines from MTU (Motoren- und Turbinen-Union). Introduced from 2010 onwards, they are the most powerful diesel-electric locos in service in New Zealand (3,600 hp). The class represents the first order for a Chinese-built locomotive from a western country. The 9000 series allocation was chosen for this class of locomotive as the number 9 represents longevity and good luck in Chinese culture. There are 63 of the class in service in 2021.
8 дек 2021