Railfans

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Glad no-one got injured/killed this time, like the last time she/he visited the West coast

[Dale]

Very true John, I think people were aware this time around. It can visit here anytime it wishes

[tgsnoopy]

Yes that was rather unfortunate. Best I say no more.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

I see that Ja 1240 caused a few trackside fires between Herbert and Maheno yesterday.
I saw the trip advertised and thought it was strange running a steam train in the dry summer months?

[tgsnoopy]

When they were still running the steam train between Waihi & Waikino I recall they had to use some expensive special coal that didn't spit sparks/hot embers to prevent fires in summer. Even then it still happened occasionally.

Not sure why they stopped running the steam train, haven't seen it going for years. I could speculate (low passenger numbers, no skilled operators, high costs), but that's what it would be (Speculation). The line still runs, but it's a small diesel now. No idea of the fate of the old steamer, but did hear a rumour of pending diesel conversion of the boiler a while back.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Is that the Barry Bricknell railway? ....or what ever his name was

[tgsnoopy]

Not sure if they had a strong personality it was nicknamed after by enthusiasts. Certainly have never heard it called that before. As far as I recall a society was formed in the early 80's which acquired the line between Waihi and Waikino. The station at Waikino is the old one from Paeroa that got relocated.

Mind you, Google is your friend, seems they have a diesel converted boiler steam and a coal steam in their collection to this day.

[Razor]

Looks like a $100,000 plus bill coming the engine owners way from the weekend Maheno etc blaze. Ouch, hope they have the right liability insurances in place

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

...either that or run heaps of excursions in the winter months to help cover coasts?

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

I see that Kiwi Rail made a $167,000,000 loss this financial year.
It's like going back to the days of numerous branch lines and overstaffing of workshops,etc of the 1950s, 60's, whatever.?
Maybe they should close down, sell off their land and use the existing tracks to railway enthusiasts groups to run steam excursions on, maybe to run the odd railcar on.
Container traffic could go by road, to increase the use of truck usage where railway runs by road
The Trans Alpine Route through Arthurs Pass would make a good Rail Trail, like the one that goes through Central Otago.
Imagine cycling through the Otira Tunnel
Cycling up the Cass Bank, where the mighty KB once stormed
If Kiwi Rail don't get bailed out like Solid Energy, it looks likely that rail will become a thing of the past for NZ.

[Simon Culling]

A magnificent piece of British engineering returned to the tracks today after a long re-fit. The steam locomotive, The Flying Scotsman, undertook its first public trip for many years and it will soon be out and about regularly.

It was the first steam locomotive to officially exceed 100mph way back in the thirties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35263024

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Yes, it was on the 6pm news here tonight.
A NZ$7million refit.
A 100 miles and hour is a great feat with these locomotives, the side rods would be just a blur.
There were un-official reports of Ja locomotives getting up to 70 mph on straights over the Canterbury Plains with the old steam hauled expresses of the 1950s and 1960s.
The trouble with steam trains, these days, the Greenies, don't like it.
Coal to run it would be expensive as resources seem to be running out in Wales and other coal regions.

[Simon Culling]

Hello John, I take the point about coal, but the UK railways switched to diesel many years ago and in the last 20-30 years most of the network has been electrified. Very little coal is now mined in the UK because we are closing the coal fired power stations and foreign coal is much cheaper - most UK mines are rather deep.

The Flying Scotsman will be used for leisure travel and they will obviously be able to charge for the experience. If it comes anywhere near me I will get some photos.

[Simon Culling]

After a few hiccups on its first outing a few weeks ago, the Flying Scotsman will be making another trial run today but this time on a mainline - to prepare for fare paying trips in the spring and summer. I hope it ventures near enough for me to get a few snaps.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-la ... e-35504951

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

I see that the NZR or nowadays Kiwi Rail are not going to re-new their Cook Strait ferry's with railway tracks inside their ferry's.
Interesting to see what comes out of this in the future?

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Interesting.
I see a man was killed by a train in Nelson today.
Nelson hasn't had a railway since 1955 ?

[Nev]

FYI... 'Man killed after being hit by train in Blenheim' - Stuff

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

FYI... 'Man killed after being hit by train in Blenheim' - Stuff

That's Stuff for you, stuffing things up, yet again

[GSVNoFixedAbode]

The recent snow (dammit, missed the big dumps down here again - but that's another matter) reminded me of this favourite from last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ov4Gnnu65s

And flipping seasons, here's a shot of the Taieri Gorge train from a couple of years back (sorry 'Dunedin Railway' now).

TGR_Wingatui1.jpg

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

According to an article on Stuff, a train driver was shot at near Arthurs Pass.
Just shows you how dangerous driving trains can be these days.
thank goodness I gave that up years ago.

[Orion]

Something different:
London Post Office Railway, more commonly known as the Mail Rail. From 1927 to 2003, 50 driverless, electric trains shifted 30,000 items each day, running up to every five minutes during peak times, serving eight stations and major sorting office beneath the snarl of urban traffic overhead.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/06 ... mail_rail/

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

Something different:
London Post Office Railway, more commonly known as the Mail Rail. From 1927 to 2003, 50 driverless, electric trains shifted 30,000 items each day, running up to every five minutes during peak times, serving eight stations and major sorting office beneath the snarl of urban traffic overhead.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/12/06 ... mail_rail/

Interesting.
I have a train driver friend of mine who drives on the Northern Line on the London Underground.
He is saying that now, the LU trains are becoming driver-less,, so he is just there to assure the public that the trains that there is someone in control if something happens?

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

With the north line out of action, because of the Waiau based earthquake on November the 14th, rumoured are afoot about reinstating the Southerner Service to Dunedin. Makes sense.

[Orion]

Article here: https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/sout ... ute-mooted

It would be good; not sure where or whether one could board at Ashburton now though, since the station building has gone.

[NZ Thunderstorm Soc]

The platform is still there, maybe they would provide a shelter for waiting 'customers' ?
(They call them customers instead of passengers, these days.)
I remember in the old days, Ashburton was a refreshment stop, with the railway pies and those thick Temuka pottery cups and saucers for tea or coffee.