844, 6 DX locomotives, 21 000 horsepower, 30 coal wagons, crossing the New Zealand South Island's mountainous interior near Arthurs Pass on 21 August, 2024. Thanks to the friendly driver.
Thanks Geoff, I always look forward to your dramatic videos. You have an uncanny ability to be in just the right place to capture these great videos every time!
Wow Geoff! - An absolutely spectacular video. Fabulous "filming" around Cass with the recent snow dump. The empty train, and 4 bankers going back to Otira, I presume. As a photographer, I commend you both. Cheers from Christchurch, David.
westbound trains as this 1 is will only have 1 engine working,4 of those engines will be unhooked at Otira and the train will carry on with just 2 engines
We didn't get to see the complete train in one of the trackside shots, so it is a bit difficult to determine the size of the train accurately. But from the aerial shots, it appears as though there were maybe 30~35 coal cars behind six locomotives, some of which may not have been "online". "Massive"? By NZ standards I guess it could be stated that this train is/was massive, as most freight trains I've seen around the country tend to have around 10~25 freight cars at most.
30 coal wagons usually only with 2 locos,the extra 4 would've been taken to Christchurch for servicing then returned to Otira where they are based,westbound coal trains on this line use 6 locos to pull themselves up the Otira Tunnel
they use 6 wagons to haul the loaded train from Otira to Arthurs Pass,once there they disconnect 4 locos and the train will continue on its way but when the lococs need servicing then all 6 will stay hooked up thru to the workshop in Christchurch,theres 30 wagons all up plus the locos
