Three Freight Trains, A Railcar & An Inspection Vehicle; Up The Matarawa Valley

Observing an afternoon of rail traffic at kilometer-post 30 on the Marton - New Plymouth Line in New Zealand.
(1) The first movement through is heritage railcar RM31, running as 'Train EO53' returning to it's home base with the Railcar Society at Pahiatua. The railcar had been running a series of short excusions in New Plymouth over the weekend. 'Tokomaru' was one of a class of six that were in service between 1938 and withdrawn in 1972. These railcars worked on the North Island's lower network including the Marton - New Plymouth Line.
(2) The first freight train of the afternoon is 'Train 565' with DL 9740 on the head. This train is hauling containers from the Castlecliff Industrial Hub to the Port Of Wellington.
(3) Between trains, a Hi-Rail inspection vehicle comes whirling up the line. Presumably the track worker will be keeping an eye out for heat buckles on this hot afternoon.
(4) Northbound 'Train 534' is heading down the valley powered by DL 9659 & DL 9728. Under tow in the consist is DL 9129 & DL 9302. This train is conveying curtainsider wagons and empty containers from Palmerston North to the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Whareroa. The dead locomotives would be heading up the line to handle planned Southbound tonnage.
(5) The last movement in this video is 'Train 535' with DL 9319 & DL 9285 on the head. It is the opposite service to 'Train 534'
The Marton - New Plymouth Line was completed in its entirety in 1885. The rail route featured in this video is part of the 16km long Turakina Deviation which was brought into use on the 7th of December 1947. The old line had to climb out of the Matarawa Valley and over the hill; where as the new deviation allowed the rail route to stay on the valley floor and follow an easier gradient up to a tunnel.
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. Introduced from 2010 onwards, they are the most powerful diesel-electric locos in service in New Zealand. 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. On the Day of the is video, Monday 5th February 2024, there are 73 of the class in existence, with the two earliest class members now laid up at Hutt Workshops