Invercargill and Southland

Invercargill and Ohai, Southland

The southern coalfields at Ohai were reached by a branch from Invercargill.

Df 5356, Invercargill	Dfb 7241, Invercargill		Ohai Coalfield noticeboard
Mining equipment at Ohai	Mining equipment at Ohai	The end of the line, Ohai	The end of the line, Ohai

Riverton, Southland

'Black Maria' once transported logs from Longwoods through the Porakino Valley to sawmills at Riverton. It was built by J. Johnston & Sons foundry, their class 'A', in Invercargill in 1902, retired in 1954 and restored in 2013.

Johnson class A 'Black Maria'

Johnson class A 'Black Maria'

Johnson class A 'Black Maria'

Johnson class A 'Black Maria'

Tuatapere, Southland

The Tuatapere branch was opened to Riverton in 1879 and reached Tuatapere by 1909. It was extended from Tuatapere to Orawia from 1925 until 1970. In 1976 the Tuatapere Branch was truncated to Riverton.
The logging loco was one of 7 locos of this general design built by H A Melhop of Invercargill.

Melhop logging loco, Tuatapere	Melhop logging loco, Tuatapere	Melhop logging loco, Tuatapere	Melhop logging loco, Tuatapere
Tuatapere Station	Tuatapere Station	Tuatapere Station	Tuatapere Station wagon
Tuatapere Station water tower	Tuatapere Station, Ab 784, 1966

Waikawa Museum, Catlins

Waikawa Museum has this interesting logging loco parked up outside. Unfortunately I can find no reference to it or anyone who seems to know of it. It may have been built by A & T Burt of Dunedin who took over from Frank Trail, who built 35 locos in the 1920s to 1930s.

Tunnel Hill or Hunts Road Tunnel, Catlins

Tunnel Hill or Hunts Road Tunnel is near Owaka on the Balclutha to Tahakopa railway and was commenced in 1891 using bricks manufactured locally.

A & T Burt or Traills logging loco	A & T Burt or Traills logging loco		The building of the tunnel
Tunnel Hill North portal	Tunnel Hill North-bound trackbed	Tunnel Hill South portal	Tunnel Hill South portal
Inside Tunnel Hill	Inside Tunnel Hill	Tunnel Hill South-bound trackbed	Tunnel Hill South-bound trackbed

Dunedin, Queenstown and Otago

Arrowtown

Arrowtown was a vibrant gold-mining town with a population of c7000 in the 1860s. The Arrowtown Chinese Settlement was the home of the many Chinese labourers at that time. The Mace Valley ran up to the goldfields but I didn't have time to explore it very far.

Chinatown, Arrowtown	Chinatown, Arrowtown	Chinatown, Arrowtown	Chinatown, Arrowtown
Chinatown, Arrowtown	Chinatown, Arrowtown
Cooper's Terrace, Mace Valley	Mace Valley pipeline, Arrowtown	Mace Valley pipeline, Arrowtown	Mace Valley pipeline, Arrowtown
Mace Valley pipeline, Arrowtown		Arrowtown Museum	Arrowtown Museum

Bluff Fort

Bluff Fort radar station was built in February 1941 and the turntable gear and frame are all that's left. The rangefinder in the observation post could plot the fall of shots within 13kms. A 6inch gun sat in front of the magazine, cleverly hidden inside what appeared to be a wooden bugalow. The camp for the gunners was further up the hill behind the magazine.

Bluff Fort radar station	Bluff Fort radar station	Bluff Fort radar station	Bluff Fort obervation post
Bluff Fort obervation post	Bluff Fort magazine	Bluff Fort magazine	Bluff Fort magazine
Bluff Fort camp	Bluff Fort camp	Bluff Fort camp

Bluff Maritime Museum and other kinds of transport

The Maritime Museum is the home to the oyster boat 'Monica', one of the oldest in the Bluff Oyster fleet, being built in 1909 for Lyttelton owners as the Monica II. She was one of many small steamers working the bays of Banks Peninsula and in 1930 was converted into a fishing boat. She came to Bluff in 1937 for Stewart Island canneries and her steam engines were removed and two 165 bhp diesel engines installed in December 1947.

On the way to Bluff, I passed a loco and some crumbling tramcars near Haywoods. Unfortunately I can find no details of the trams at all, I would have thought someone would know and recorded it.

The oyster boat 'Monica'	The oyster boat 'Monica'	The oyster boat 'Monica'	The oyster boat 'Monica'
The oyster boat 'Monica'	The oyster boat 'Monica'	The triple-expansion engine	DSG 3114 leaving Bluff
Derelict Dunedin trams	Derelict Dunedin trams	Derelict Dunedin trams	Derelict Dunedin trams
Derelict Dunedin trams

Dunedin

In and around the station, some difficult-to-photo locomotives at the Settlers Museum and ships that pass in the daytime.

DC 4421 at Dunedin Station	DC 4853 at Dunedin Station	DJ 1227 at Dunedin Station	DJs 1240 and 1227 at Dunedin
DSC 2464 in Dunedin yard	DSG 3087 in Dunedin yard	DSG 3087 in Dunedin yard	RM 24 at Dunedin Station
NZR Hillside works, Dunedin	'Milburn Lime and Cement Co Ltd'	'Milburn Lime and Cement Co Ltd'
Ja 1274 at the Settlers Museum	'Joshepine' at the Settlers Museum	Dunedin tram No 1	Dunedin tram No 106
Dunedin trolleybus No 10	Dunedin trolleybus No 10	'Bougainville' leaving Dunedin	'Lica Maersk' leaving Dunedin

Fort Taiaroa, Otago Peninsular

Fort Taiaroa, at the far end of the Otago Peninsular, is now the home of the Royal Albatross Centre. The fort was built in the 1880's during the perceived threat from Tsarist Russia and features a series of underground tunnels leading to the Armstrong disappearing Gun and magazine area. The 6 inch Armstrong Disappearing Gun was installed in May 1889 and is the only one of its kind working and is still in its original gun pit.

Fort Taiaroa disappearing gun	Fort Taiaroa disappearing gun	Fort Taiaroa disappearing gun	Fort Taiaroa disappearing gun
Fort Taiaroa disappearing gun	Fort Taiaroa	Fort Taiaroa	Fort Taiaroa

Queenstown, Glenorchy and Lake Wakatipa

An official NZR railway Station but only a short length of hand-operated track. It was connected to the railhead at Kingston and served the gold and Scheelite mines in the hills around Lake Wakatipu. The Invincible Quartz Mining Co was just one of the goldmines, set up in 1879. Scheelite is used for hardening steel and invaluable in wartime so very busy during WW2.

Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa
Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa	Earnslaw, Lake Wakatipa
Glenorchy Pier, Lake Wakatipu	Glenorchy Pier, Lake Wakatipu	Glenorchy Pier, Lake Wakatipu	Glenorchy Pier, Lake Wakatipu
Glenorchy Pier, Lake Wakatipu	Mine dram, Glenorchy	Invincible Quartz Mine	Scheelite Mine, Lake Wakatipu

Kingston

The Kingston Flyer ran from Kingston to Fairlight from 1982 to 2012 since when it has not operated. Most of the stock is mothballed at Kingston

The Kingston Flyer, Ab '778'	The Kingston Flyer, Ab '785'	Kingston pier	The Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer, 'A 1172'	The Kingston Flyer, 'A 1172'	The Kingston Flyer	Kingston Station
The Kingston Flyer, Tr '350'	The Kingston Flyer, Tr '350'	Kingston loco yard	Kingston loco yard
Kingston loco yard and locos	The line leaving Kingston	The line leaving Kingston

Oamaru

Oamaru is home to the Oamaru Steam and Rail Society who operate the Harbourside Railway, the Steampunk Museum and an incredible assortment of old loco ironmongery rescued from the sea when the seawall was rebuilt.

The Harbourside Railway, Oamaru	The Harbourside Railway, Oamaru	The Harbourside Railway, Oamaru	The Harbourside Railway, Oamaru
The Steampunk Museum, Oamaru	The Steampunk Museum, Oamaru
NZR Uc 366 at Oamaru	More ironmongery at Oamaru	More ironmongery at Oamaru	More ironmongery at Oamaru
More ironmongery at Oamaru	More ironmongery at Oamaru	More ironmongery at Oamaru	Unidentified tractor at Oamaru
Stothert and Pitt steam crane	Stothert and Pitt steam crane	Stothert and Pitt steam crane

Sandymount Limekilns, Otago Peninsular

Limekilns seem very few and far between in New Zealand. These are the only ones I came across. They date from 1874 and were ultimately owned by the 'Milburn Lime and Cement Co Ltd' who donated them to the 'Otago Peninsular Trust' in 1976

Upper kiln, Sandymount	Upper kiln, Sandymount	Upper kiln, Sandymount	Upper kiln, Sandymount
Upper kiln, Sandymount	Upper kiln, Sandymount	Sandymount Quarry	Lower kiln, Sandymount
Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount
Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount	Lower kiln, Sandymount

The Taieri Gorge

The Taieri Gorge Railway

From Dunedin to Middlemarch

Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge
Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge	Taieri Gorge

Christchurch and Canterbury

Arthurs Pass

Arthurs Pass, DCP 4559

Arthurs Pass, DCP 4559

Arthurs Pass, DCP 4559

Arthurs Pass, DCP 4559

Christchurch City

Christchurch tram '152'

Christchurch tram '178'

Christchurch Tramway

Model Railway Disease

Around Canterbury

Ashburton, DSC 2746

The Little River Branch

On my first visit to NZ in 2004 one of the family took my photo on the SIMT at Dunsandel as you do... I didn't know until much later that it was a junction of one of the Canterbury branchlines. Last year I found myself at Little River, the terminus of one of these branchlines, open from 1886 to 1962. It now forms part of 'the Little River Rail Trail', a great walking route.

SIMT at Dunsandel, Canterbury

Little River Station

Little River Station

Little River Station

Waipara and the Weka Pass Railway,

A fortuitous conducted tour in 2017 as when I stopped the yard was deserted, then suddenly one of the members arrived and very kindly showed me around. Followed by a fleeting glimpse while passing on the Picton-Christchurch train in 2004.

'DSA 276' at the WPR	Waipara Station	Weka Pass Railway yard	Weka Pass Railway yard
Weka Pass Railway yard	Weka Pass Railway yard	Weka Pass Railway yard	'A428', Weka Pass Railway
'DE 1429', Weka Pass Railway	'DG 791', Weka Pass Railway	'DG 791', Weka Pass Railway
Weka Pass Railway, 'DSA 276'	'DG 770' and 'DG 791'	'DG 770' and 'DG 791'	Weka Pass Railway, 'DG 783'

Ferrymead Museum, Christchurch

Ferrymead Museum, Christchurch

Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum
Ferrymead Museum	Ferrymead Museum

Marlborough

Picton - The terminus of the South Island Main Trunk line

A genuine Picton cistern	Picton loco shed and DF 5520	Picton Station, DCP 4761	Picton Station, DCP 4761
Picton Station, DCP 4761	Picton Station, DCP 4761	Picton Station, DSJ 4004

Picton to Kaikoura by train - and back by road in 2004. The line was seriously closed in 2017.

Picton to Kaikoura, DCP 4761	Picton to Kaikoura, DCP 4761	Picton to Kaikoura, DCP 4761	Picton to Kaikoura, DCP 4761
Picton to Kaikoura, DCP 4761			Blenheim, DCP 4761
Kaikoura to Picton, DCP 4559	Kaikoura to Picton, DCP 4559	Kaikoura to Picton, DCP 4559