You are a brave man to ride this train!! What amazing bridges and viaducts. I'm not sure I could walk across!! Very enjoyable, thanks again for sharing these gems. You know you are a lucky man with an indulgent wife, thank HER for all of us!!
Hi Scott, I'll have to hide this one from my wife. Every train trip cost me a shopping trip. She's a good sport and put up with my hobbies. I would not want to be the track walker who has to inspect those bridges.
Timsvideochannel1 P.s.. Track walking across a bridge .. isn't as bad as it sounds.. It's the BRIDGE GANG who has the more scarier tasks .. such as replacing beams UNDERNEATH the still in use bridge .. suspended as they need to be . via harnesses (stuff that for a job) .. it was bad enough replacing track fastenings .. especially as some former idiotic Ganger .. before us .. had insisted on using the THEN NEW Australian "made" double sprung (dual leaf) steel rail spikes (gooseneck dogs). They were a right bitch to Hammer home into the 5/8" auger drilled holes especially as MOST of the bridge sleepers were the Australian hardwood commonly known as IRONBARK..? But that wasn't half .. as bad as trying to lever the damned things out. Especially the ones on the OUTSIDE of the outer rail .. as the three pronged HEAVY long handled GOOSE NECKED extractor bars.. meant that a person was almost "swinging" in mid-air .. over the river/stream .. just to get them out. (& often we'd need the bridge gangs harnesses whenever extracting a LOT of them spring spikes). Although .. if only one or two sleepers needed replacing.. guess who in our gang .. got the wonderful job of 'inching them out"? Yep -- mwa had a knack .. of standing side on and literally THROWING the handle down .. (and sometimes I even got the relaxing job.. of swimming in the river .. whilst getting the bar back again?)
I was lucky to visit on a day when there were locomotives and units visiting from Ferrymead Railway Museum (Christchurch). It is a truly spectacular ride.
Luckily for me I was born & raised beside Galloway Railway Station on the OCB and for the next 49 yrs (on & off) lived on the Family Farm directly behind & adjacent to NZR's Galloway Station "YARD". I also worked for the NZR as a Draughstman-Surveyor based in the Dunedin District Civil Engineers Office, thus I ride Trains, Railcars & Motor Trollies (from the Waitaki Bridge at Glenavy South & on all Main & Branch Lines including Industrial sidings) also was inside the Matissa Track Recording Car
Hi QUIX4U Thank you for your comment, I would love to have been able to travel from Alexandra to Dunedin. The' Rogers K' in my photo was in prison when I photographed it, surrounded by a fence at 'The Kingston Flyer' railway whilst the railway was experiencing difficulties. Thankfully both have now been released.
Great Video Tim, wonderful to see a train going through to Middlemarch, I believe the Bike trails people are bused out to the next station now days, thanks for sharing
Hi, I'm pleased you found the video interesting. I was in the process of booking one of their holiday trains between Dunedin and Picton, stopping off for along the way with passengers staying in nearby hotels. Covid put an end to my trip as well as nearly putting an end to the Taieri Gorge Railway. I just looked at their website, it looks as though trains only go as far Hindon at the moment. I hope trains do start running to Middlemarch again.
Hi .. Spotted that old "ROGERS-K" .. up on the (old) Waimea Plains Branch Line corridor recently.. (Neatly sitting on a newly laid track - near to the original NZR Manderville Station .. where several old carriages & wagons were also "quietly" awaiting restoration - plus there's a TR Tractor over there too) .. Oh & I used to "ride" that RM Vulcan Railcar myself .. (frequently) when she ran between Alexandra & Dunedin .. in the 1960's & early 1970's
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed it, I've travelled this line three times now, but I have only recently learned of the Seasider from videos posted on UA-cam. There was a train advertised along the coast on my last visit, but it was not running during my time there. I will be visiting New Zealand in February, next year, hopefully I can include a ride on the Seasider.
sandiamat1935 You must have some wonderful memories of life working on the line. I am grateful that a part of the line has been saved to give an idea of life on the old Otago Central Railway and the wonderful countryside through which it passed.
+sandiamat1935 Haha - If you were the guard of the last Vulcan "can" car - then you may well remember the twenty TINS of track dets, that old George Beck placed along the line in front of his old railway house, beside the way & works maintenance trolley sheds.. Which also reminds me.. As the train's controller (the Guard always had control of the trains) .. it was YOUR DUTY to ensure the railcar "stopped" and maintained a stationary position, until you had "officially" ascertained that the all clear could be given to proceed.? The railcar never stopped, it just simply ran over ALL the dets, and left the station forever.!!! How do I know this.. Because my dear lad. I was an Inspecting grade two ganger, for the OCB (based out of those trolley sheds). I also "lived" at Galloway, behind the old Railway Yards thereabouts. Almost directly behind the actual 25 foot Galloway Railway Station BUILDING, that I bought in 1978 after the station itself was "closed".. My NZR service number -- for sure. 12655.
+pega17pl You will have taken the full tour of New Zealand soon. I first visited because my son emigrated to Wellington on the North Island, If I could persuade my wife to move there, it would be the place I would choose to live.
Oh and p.s Tim.. at 1:55 .. That bridge that everyone gets the name wrong.. No it's NOT the Wingatui Viaduct .. but the Taioma Viaduct Tioma Station was a short distance before that bridge, on the straight (on the Dunedin side of the clay cutting). After tunnel#2 - the OCB railway runs along Mullocky Gully (along which was the original site of Taioma Station at the ten mile peg). The fact that the railway crosses over the Mullocky Creek near the outflow on the 197 metres (646 ft) long #5 Viaduct, before joining the Taieri Gorge proper, doesn't MAKE IT the Wingatui Bridge (by default of Wingatui now being the closest station). It always was, and thus for authentic "original" NZR running reasons, should STILL be called by it's original name. The Taioma Viaduct.
+Quix Kiwi Thanks for that, the history behind names is often interesting, whilst travelling on the train I was told Wingatui was so called because a local farmer tried to shoot a Tui, but only winged it. Is that really true or was the guide pulling my leg?
Hahaha -- Sort of, as that was true at the Wingatui Station .. during the 1970's. But "not" from anywhere near that bridge. The story appears to have travelled slightly (up the line) over the years..?
I've put up some public pictures on my (main name) Facebook page .. so if you search for NZR Galloway Railway Station photo's // ? You could well see them there..
Tim...its very good.thank you. I saw yours swiss travels second time.They are magnificent. Yours railway travels about Switherland is the best,of i can seen. very well.good luck.
Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed taking a video trip up the Taieri Gorge with me. Switzerland is also a wonderful place with some of the worlds most remarkable railways, I have been incredibly fortunate to see some of the breath taking scenery both these places offer. Best wishes. Tim.
Plus: By being on a FREE STAFF PASS (with the District Civil Engineers STAFF job) I also "rode" upon every foot of the Otago Central Branch Line, by both Matissa Track Recording Car & Motor Trolley (plus "undertook surveying work" along actual trackage); Then I transferred to the WAY & WORKS staff, & purchased a 3wh Pull Pull Hand Trolley & "worked" ON_TRACK with the OCB4 track gang from 163.16Km peg to Cromwell Rock 236.58km (End Of Line). When Galloway Station was closed I bought the building
25 years later, the 1/2 I'd kept in good condition - was SOLD BACK to the local community & to DOC - (whom in 2003 were establishing the OCB Rail Trail "walking & cycleway") It was ONLY the "lined" Ladies Rest Room - as the open goods section had been to flimsy to be transpoorted via crane & farm trailer to our farm, and was cut-off by chainsaw -- before the building was moved (in 1978). However.. I sourced some light-duty railway iron 7 MADE my own railway -- that also survived for those 25yrs
When i was very little ,Me,My mum and younger brother would catch the rail car from the now long gone settlement of Mangapehei to Hamilton to visit relatives and go shopping... My dad was in charge of the traffic at the station at the time Around 1959. When I started work as apprentice at the railway workshops as an apprentice, i worked on the same railcar. We converted them to non motorised cars....which was a story in itself.
This railway really was part of your life, fantastic memories to have. I am grateful that part of the line has been saved to allow people like myself to still be able to marvel at the gorge from the balcony of an old railway carriage. Working the pickup goods train on a summers day as it made its leisurely way to Cromwell must have been a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing your recollections.
Great video, thoroughly enjoyed, Would have been nice to have mounted the camera so that it showed a forward view as well. Who else noticed the short track lengths at 90 degrees to the line, where the old 'jiggers' would be pulled off the main track by rail workers to let trains go by, or to be parked overnight? I hark back to the days when those jiggers were still manually operated with a central 2-man lever system, replaced soon after by a 4-stroke engine.
1/4 fare NZR staff rate tickets (Dunedin to Galloway) on the Central Otago Branchline's Vulcan Railcar service in the 1970's, plus my NZR FREE PASS "On-Service" tickets, as well as other perephenalia you will never see again.
when i was younger 60 years ago i used to go on this route at least 4 times a year when the steam locos were running and going up a lot of the grades you could get out and walk alongside the carriage wonderful memories but i think a lot of these lines have gone
Hi Micheal, thank-you for taking time to comment, what wonderful memories to have. Many of New Zealand's secondary lines are just memories now, finding new uses such as cycle tracks and walking trails, but at least the Taieri Gorge railway allows us to experience a little of days gone by, only with a diesel instead of a steam engine. I have been lucky enough to travel behind steam engines on the main lines with 'Steam incorporated', they use old carriages too, so it is still possible to experience NZ rail travel as it must have been 60 years ago...Thanks again....Tim.
I worked in the Dunedin District Engineers Office (1970 - 1972) and thus on several occasions .. had to be taken by motor-trolley (motor velocipede's they were called, as I still have "somewhere" my own NZR issued "Motor Velocipede Driver's Licence -- a blue booklet) .. Thus as I was saying, I had to be trolley'd into the Gorge to various curves that I was surveying, be that from either the Salsbury Station end (near tunnel two) or Hindon Station (halfway through) or from the Pukerangi Station (at the top of the gorge) ..! But there were also times that we travelled all the way in (from Wingatui Station .. or from Sutton Station).. depending upon where the track surfacemen had their trolley's, when they met me (& helped with the survey work), after the Ranfurly IPWay (Inspector of Permanent Way) arranged for them to meet up with me - whenever I arrived "out" (by car) from the Dunedin Office. Thus, as a semi-direct result of all that, I have thus at times "travelled over the entire section" of the old Otago Central Branch Line .. via various travelling methods (from Motor-Trolley, Matisa Track Recording Car, Goods Train Guards Vans & also in the "rear cab" of the Vulcan Railcars). And so .. Yes - ! I too have '"travelled" the entire original line.. all the way from Wingatui to Cromwell Station's rear-backshunt, and right up to the "end of line" (ROCK) which ended about 1/4 mile past the station itself to thus end behind the Goods Shed & cattle/sheep yards. Sadly -- those days will never return .. But I can see all of the route - whenever I wish to remember it .. (as it's still ALIVE & WELL .. in my own mind's eye). Plus: I also have (on my kitchen wall) a huge "framed" 2 foot by 18 inch picture .. taken of "Mick" on his two-man trolley & looking DOWN the Cromwell Gorge .. from just south of Doigs Station (near the site of Hinton's Packing Shed) looking towards the "new scar" on the Clyde Lookout Hill .. behind Fruitgrowers Road, where the NEW (well it was at that time) "Clyde Dam" was eventually constructed. However .. My own family's LINK with the branchline .. wasn't just with my employment within the NZR. As my Dad (himself now almost 100 yr old) .. had an Uncle "TOM" whom died in the Hyde Railway Disaster (and his - was the "VERY LAST BODY" that was eventually pulled-out from the mangled wreckage of the first carriage).
WSTLNZ Hi, thank you for taking time to share some of your memories. I have enjoyed reading books about the line, fortunately there are some very good photos taken during the heyday of railways around Dunedin, but there is nothing like having experienced the real thing. Did you ever walk across some of the viaducts with nothing but a hand rail on on side to hold (Wingatui Viaduct)? A trip along the full length of the line must have been a real adventure, thankfully the present day Taieri Gorge Railway does allow the traveller to experience a little of the wonderful line to Cromwell....thanks again for taking time to comment...Tim.
Timsvideochannel1 Yes.. And the highest of them all ..!!! Taioma. Outside the outside rail too might I add (but that was years before I got vertigo & now I couldn't walk over that same bridge if I tried - well not on the outside of the outer rail anyway .. maybe across the walkway.!!) I spent most of my 10+1/2 years.. on the last section between the 163.16Km point (just on the Lauder side of Auripo Station) ..and after I made grade 2 inspecting ganger .. I "track-walked" every foot of that line and all it's bridges and the tunnels (two tunnels we had) .. Tunnel 12 was nearly straight and easily seen through, whereas 13 had a vile curve from about 2/3rds of the way through "on the western portal" and thus it was almost pitch black inside .. something made all the worse when motoring through on a "rubber-tyred trolley" .. as often the motor trolley's headlamp was blown/failed ...as I never could hold the throttle halfway and always "let her rip" when moving). However.. by walking - it wasn't in the normal manner . but each & every ten feet .. I had to bend down with the automatic track gauge and check both the gauge and the "cant" (inclination of one rail above the other) checking for twists on straights or curves.. where the difference of cant wasn't all that easy to see .. but could often vary significantly to the eventual detriment of causing possible derailments) Also .. every 50 or 60 foot .. I also had to LIE "down" on the track, with my eye/s at "rail.top.height" and view the TOP .. by looking along the rail.top - to check for undulating trackwork. which one couldn't check with the "cant level" gauge Thus .. it was possibly the evilest job there was.. being an inspecting ganger .. as even the track gang grade two gangers .. didn't have to (every day) get down and dirty .. amongst the traces of graphite grease (from curves that were fitted with wheel flange lubricators), to entrails from deceased animals run over by trains .. through to "HUMAN TOILET WASTE" that was open.pipe DUMPED from railcars & or passenger trains (whenever an excursion train ran .. such as the Blossom festival train). Plus .. given that mostly - one was MILES away from any for of clean water with which towash one's hands.. most days it was simply a case of 'wipe them" on the dirty overalls and sit on the trackside .. eating one's sammies (sandwiches) and drinking half.cold thermos tea.. ? But that was half the FUN of working ON the railways.. The other half.. was the free travelling one got.. each and every day .. just to "run the cutter" .. out to the end of section & back. The only downfall being "TRAINS" (themselves) .. because .. between the "few & far between" (train control) track phones and often LATE running trains (or early if they were attempting to make up time .. to get home early say if they were running "Loco & Guardsvan" only) then - one would have to "sort of judge" .. was it even safe to put the trolley on-track & run a few hundred yards through that tunnel .. instead of walking through it (& back) to get to the phone (that probably wasn't working anyway that day) .. just to be told..? Uh yes .. he was LATE away from Ranfurly.. but he doesn't need to ring at Oturihua.. so? he could be there within a few minutes.. or he could still be over half an hour late (or more) .. meaning yet another mad dash home ahead of him .. or wait and get home way too late. (as overtime wasn't allowed for .. just because a train made me late) But then .. I was young, loved railways in all it's forms.. and so? ;-)
WSTLNZ What a wonderful insight into the working lives of the people were responsible for keeping the rails safe. Your description of the job reminds of a visit I made to White Island Volcano. It stunk, it was dangerous, it was all I could do to stand up in the wind, but It was one of the best experiences of my life. I bet you never got bored at work and I wonder how much the job has changed over the years.... Thanks again...Tim.
I also enjoyed this! Fascinated by the rail motor. Echoes the 620/720-class rail motor pairs that ran on the Newcastle-to-Dungog line between 1962 and 2007, though this was a single railcar, compared to the 620/720-class rail motors which were generally 621 paired with 721, 622 with 722 and so on, so that on an outward run, Newcastle to Dungog, 721 would be leading, and on the return leg, 621 would lead. Interesting also was those shared road/rail bridges, right of way would depend on who got there first, I guess, train or car.
The railcars were popular in New Zealand as a way of continuing to provide a passenger service on lightly used services. As for the bridges, I met a train on a reasonably long bridge on the Hokitika line on New Zealand's South Island, there is no question about who gives way when faced with a long freight train, because the car will always come off second best.
I guess it was easier to build one bridge and have road and rail craft share the space, than it was to build separate bridges for each transport type in some areas.
Back in the day when these bridges were built New Zealand had a small population and a limited budget, so money had to be spent wisely. Many of the bridges were wooden and only a few survive today, even the one where I met a train has been replaced by two seperate bridges now.
Hi, I did not have a the small camera that I now use to get forward facing views. But now I have have good excuse to return to the Taieri Gorge ralway.
I responded with a "musically altered video .. which has "pictures" of the Old EX_NZR Railway 3wh Pull_Pull Trolley I owned, along with several views of the Galloway Station Building, plus there's even views of the Taieri Gorge Passenger Coaches of the Alexandra Blossom Festival Trains (passing through there too), Plus the two foot & 531mm gauge Trains I either hand_made or were in some way - connected with (over the years) from Waitakeri, in Auckland Province - to Ferrymead in Christchurch etc.
Oh and if I'm ever back down near Riversdale & Mandeville (in Southland NZ).. I'll try to remember to walk up to the Old Roger's K locomotive (near the Mandeville Museum) and take a lengthy video; of that and of all the wagons, carriages, TR Shunter etc., However: If you want to go LOOK now, then take a virtual stroll around the town whilst you look at her (sitting there on some track).? 1571 Waimea Highway, Mandeville, Southland, New Zealand
Timsvideochannel1 Oh & p.s QUIX4U was my original (trademark/branded) channel.. But nowadays ..as I'm more active elsewhere on the internet (mainly on FB) .. I thus use my WSTLNZ ch here instead (as I'm semi-permanently signed in on google) .. However it's the one & same person behind both .. as QUIX4U was basically used for the videos I made with the "company" Nokia Cellphone .. (when I'm uploading any "as taken" videos .. when out & about) whereas this profile is using the initials of my NEW NAME that my NZ Company is now called. ie: Waitaki Sound Technologies Limited (in) New Zealand. Something easily verified .. by doing a due diligence via the NZ Companies own office.. And - if you want the direct way into the NZ Govt's Business Website.. (via my own backdoor) .. then try this ? www.WSTLNZ.co.nz
Assistir TimsvideochanneI1 em: 07/05/2022, ás 13:29 minutos, Sábado. Estado de Pernambuco- Brasil. Mais um momento de turismo virtual, junto com o Tim. Vamos viajar juntos nesta aventura agora...Acho que é na Inglaterra! Mesmo assim, vale a pena viajar.
Eu achava, que este vídeo fosse gravado na Inglaterra. Na verdade foi na Nova Zelândia. Em 2:06 segundos, a imagem mostra uma casa com a bandeira da Nova Zelândia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation#Mandela_effect - I looked it up, my wife says men and women live in different universes. Seriously most of the videos are rather long, I will take a look at one or two when I have a little more time.
The Good Son (1993) - Henry Evans's Death, September 24 1993 The Demons VS Henry Evans The Naughtiest Red Evil Demon Kid September 24th, 1993 - The Fishes Killing Henry Evans
+Emmanuel Habtegabre Hi, train starts from Dunedin over KiwiRail tracks, but the tracks through the Gorge are owned by Dunedin City Counci ... here is a link to a site that I think might answer your question better that I can .... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Railways
+Emmanuel Habtegabre There have been a few changes to Auckland's railways since I last visited. Lines re-opened, new electric trains, plenty going on. My son now lives there, so I will be be visiting this year to see the changes.
Otherworldly gorgeous! Props to NZ!
You are a brave man to ride this train!! What amazing bridges and viaducts. I'm not sure I could walk across!! Very enjoyable, thanks again for sharing these gems. You know you are a lucky man with an indulgent wife, thank HER for all of us!!
Hi Scott, I'll have to hide this one from my wife. Every train trip cost me a shopping trip. She's a good sport and put up with my hobbies. I would not want to be the track walker who has to inspect those bridges.
Timsvideochannel1 P.s..
Track walking across a bridge .. isn't as bad as it sounds..
It's the BRIDGE GANG who has the more scarier tasks .. such as replacing beams UNDERNEATH the still in use bridge .. suspended as they need to be . via harnesses (stuff that for a job) .. it was bad enough replacing track fastenings .. especially as some former idiotic Ganger .. before us .. had insisted on using the THEN NEW Australian "made" double sprung (dual leaf) steel rail spikes (gooseneck dogs).
They were a right bitch to Hammer home into the 5/8" auger drilled holes especially as MOST of the bridge sleepers were the Australian hardwood commonly known as IRONBARK..?
But that wasn't half .. as bad as trying to lever the damned things out.
Especially the ones on the OUTSIDE of the outer rail .. as the three pronged HEAVY long handled GOOSE NECKED extractor bars.. meant that a person was almost "swinging" in mid-air .. over the river/stream .. just to get them out.
(& often we'd need the bridge gangs harnesses whenever extracting a LOT of them spring spikes).
Although .. if only one or two sleepers needed replacing.. guess who in our gang .. got the wonderful job of 'inching them out"? Yep -- mwa had a knack .. of standing side on and literally THROWING the handle down .. (and sometimes I even got the relaxing job.. of swimming in the river .. whilst getting the bar back again?)
Brilliant video! Very spectacular scenery and some interesting locos to!
I was lucky to visit on a day when there were locomotives and units visiting from Ferrymead Railway Museum (Christchurch). It is a truly spectacular ride.
EXCELLENT i will have to do this trip one day
Luckily for me I was born & raised beside Galloway Railway Station on the OCB and for the next 49 yrs (on & off) lived on the Family Farm directly behind & adjacent to NZR's Galloway Station "YARD". I also worked for the NZR as a Draughstman-Surveyor based in the Dunedin District Civil Engineers Office, thus I ride Trains, Railcars & Motor Trollies (from the Waitaki Bridge at Glenavy South & on all Main & Branch Lines including Industrial sidings) also was inside the Matissa Track Recording Car
Hi QUIX4U
Thank you for your comment, I would love to have been able to travel from Alexandra to Dunedin. The' Rogers K' in my photo was in prison when I photographed it, surrounded by a fence at 'The Kingston Flyer' railway whilst the railway was experiencing difficulties. Thankfully both have now been released.
I went on this line, loved it! I believe they occasionally run steam trains, if so I bet it's something worth seeing.
Great Video Tim, wonderful to see a train going through to Middlemarch, I believe the Bike trails people are bused out to the next station now days, thanks for sharing
Hi, I'm pleased you found the video interesting. I was in the process of booking one of their holiday trains between Dunedin and Picton, stopping off for along the way with passengers staying in nearby hotels. Covid put an end to my trip as well as nearly putting an end to the Taieri Gorge Railway. I just looked at their website, it looks as though trains only go as far Hindon at the moment. I hope trains do start running to Middlemarch again.
Hi .. Spotted that old "ROGERS-K" .. up on the (old) Waimea Plains Branch Line corridor recently.. (Neatly sitting on a newly laid track - near to the original NZR Manderville Station .. where several old carriages & wagons were also "quietly" awaiting restoration - plus there's a TR Tractor over there too) .. Oh & I used to "ride" that RM Vulcan Railcar myself .. (frequently) when she ran between Alexandra & Dunedin .. in the 1960's & early 1970's
That brings back some great memories. One if the best railway journeys. Period. I hope you managed a trip on the Seasider up to Palmerston as well.
Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed it, I've travelled this line three times now, but I have only recently learned of the Seasider from videos posted on UA-cam. There was a train advertised along the coast on my last visit, but it was not running during my time there. I will be visiting New Zealand in February, next year, hopefully I can include a ride on the Seasider.
Enjoying all your work. Many thanks.
Thanks Rob, I appreciate your comment.
Old memories well done . I was the guard on the last Railcar to Alexandra many moons ago nice to see the old track again
sandiamat1935 You must have some wonderful memories of life working on the line. I am grateful that a part of the line has been saved to give an idea of life on the old Otago Central Railway and the wonderful countryside through which it passed.
Many stories could be told of 40 years on the job
sandiamat1935 Happy days.
+sandiamat1935 Haha - If you were the guard of the last Vulcan "can" car - then you may well remember the twenty TINS of track dets, that old George Beck placed along the line in front of his old railway house, beside the way & works maintenance trolley sheds..
Which also reminds me..
As the train's controller (the Guard always had control of the trains) .. it was YOUR DUTY to ensure the railcar "stopped" and maintained a stationary position, until you had "officially" ascertained that the all clear could be given to proceed.?
The railcar never stopped, it just simply ran over ALL the dets, and left the station forever.!!!
How do I know this..
Because my dear lad.
I was an Inspecting grade two ganger, for the OCB (based out of those trolley sheds).
I also "lived" at Galloway, behind the old Railway Yards thereabouts.
Almost directly behind the actual 25 foot Galloway Railway Station BUILDING, that I bought in 1978 after the station itself was "closed"..
My NZR service number -- for sure.
12655.
You're a good sport. I have on my agenda, along with about a hundred other items, an intention to visit the Taieri Gorge and do the rail trip.
Can't decide what's more breathtaking: gorge or railroad.
+pega17pl
You will have taken the full tour of New Zealand soon. I first visited because my son emigrated to Wellington on the North Island, If I could persuade my wife to move there, it would be the place I would choose to live.
+Timsvideochannel1
Really very strong temptation...
Nice footage! Hopefully I do the trip at one stage.
It's worth it .... Tim.
Oh and p.s Tim..
at 1:55 ..
That bridge that everyone gets the name wrong..
No it's NOT the Wingatui Viaduct .. but the Taioma Viaduct
Tioma Station was a short distance before that bridge, on the straight (on the Dunedin side of the clay cutting).
After tunnel#2 - the OCB railway runs along Mullocky Gully (along which was the original site of Taioma Station at the ten mile peg).
The fact that the railway crosses over the Mullocky Creek near the outflow on the 197 metres (646 ft) long #5 Viaduct, before joining the Taieri Gorge proper, doesn't MAKE IT the Wingatui Bridge (by default of Wingatui now being the closest station).
It always was, and thus for authentic "original" NZR running reasons, should STILL be called by it's original name.
The Taioma Viaduct.
+Quix Kiwi
Thanks for that, the history behind names is often interesting, whilst travelling on the train I was told Wingatui was so called because a local farmer tried to shoot a Tui, but only winged it. Is that really true or was the guide pulling my leg?
Hahaha -- Sort of, as that was true at the Wingatui Station .. during the 1970's.
But "not" from anywhere near that bridge.
The story appears to have travelled slightly (up the line) over the years..?
I've put up some public pictures on my (main name) Facebook page .. so if you search for NZR Galloway Railway Station photo's // ?
You could well see them there..
Tim...its very good.thank you. I saw yours swiss travels second time.They are magnificent. Yours railway travels about Switherland is the best,of i can seen. very well.good luck.
Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed taking a video trip up the Taieri Gorge with me. Switzerland is also a wonderful place with some of the worlds most remarkable railways, I have been incredibly fortunate to see some of the breath taking scenery both these places offer. Best wishes. Tim.
Plus: By being on a FREE STAFF PASS (with the District Civil Engineers STAFF job) I also "rode" upon every foot of the Otago Central Branch Line, by both Matissa Track Recording Car & Motor Trolley (plus "undertook surveying work" along actual trackage); Then I transferred to the WAY & WORKS staff, & purchased a 3wh Pull Pull Hand Trolley & "worked" ON_TRACK with the OCB4 track gang from 163.16Km peg to Cromwell Rock 236.58km (End Of Line). When Galloway Station was closed I bought the building
25 years later, the 1/2 I'd kept in good condition - was SOLD BACK to the local community & to DOC - (whom in 2003 were establishing the OCB Rail Trail "walking & cycleway") It was ONLY the "lined" Ladies Rest Room - as the open goods section had been to flimsy to be transpoorted via crane & farm trailer to our farm, and was cut-off by chainsaw -- before the building was moved (in 1978). However.. I sourced some light-duty railway iron 7 MADE my own railway -- that also survived for those 25yrs
When i was very little ,Me,My mum and younger brother would catch the rail car from the now long gone settlement of Mangapehei to Hamilton to visit relatives and go shopping... My dad was in charge of the traffic at the station at the time Around 1959. When I started work as apprentice at the railway workshops as an apprentice, i worked on the same railcar. We converted them to non motorised cars....which was a story in itself.
This railway really was part of your life, fantastic memories to have. I am grateful that part of the line has been saved to allow people like myself to still be able to marvel at the gorge from the balcony of an old railway carriage. Working the pickup goods train on a summers day as it made its leisurely way to Cromwell must have been a wonderful experience. Thanks for sharing your recollections.
Great video, thoroughly enjoyed, Would have been nice to have mounted the camera so that it showed a forward view as well.
Who else noticed the short track lengths at 90 degrees to the line, where the old 'jiggers' would be pulled off the main track by rail workers to let trains go by, or to be parked overnight? I hark back to the days when those jiggers were still manually operated with a central 2-man lever system, replaced soon after by a 4-stroke engine.
1/4 fare NZR staff rate tickets (Dunedin to Galloway) on the Central Otago Branchline's Vulcan Railcar service in the 1970's, plus my NZR FREE PASS "On-Service" tickets, as well as other perephenalia you will never see again.
when i was younger 60 years ago i used to go on this route at least 4 times a year when the steam locos were running and going up a lot of the grades you could get out and walk alongside the carriage wonderful memories but i think a lot of these lines have gone
Hi Micheal, thank-you for taking time to comment, what wonderful memories to have. Many of New Zealand's secondary lines are just memories now, finding new uses such as cycle tracks and walking trails, but at least the Taieri Gorge railway allows us to experience a little of days gone by, only with a diesel instead of a steam engine. I have been lucky enough to travel behind steam engines on the main lines with 'Steam incorporated', they use old carriages too, so it is still possible to experience NZ rail travel as it must have been 60 years ago...Thanks again....Tim.
I worked in the Dunedin District Engineers Office (1970 - 1972) and thus on several occasions .. had to be taken by motor-trolley (motor velocipede's they were called, as I still have "somewhere" my own NZR issued "Motor Velocipede Driver's Licence -- a blue booklet) ..
Thus as I was saying, I had to be trolley'd into the Gorge to various curves that I was surveying, be that from either the Salsbury Station end (near tunnel two) or Hindon Station (halfway through) or from the Pukerangi Station (at the top of the gorge) ..!
But there were also times that we travelled all the way in (from Wingatui Station .. or from Sutton Station).. depending upon where the track surfacemen had their trolley's, when they met me (& helped with the survey work), after the Ranfurly IPWay (Inspector of Permanent Way) arranged for them to meet up with me - whenever I arrived "out" (by car) from the Dunedin Office.
Thus, as a semi-direct result of all that, I have thus at times "travelled over the entire section" of the old Otago Central Branch Line .. via various travelling methods (from Motor-Trolley, Matisa Track Recording Car, Goods Train Guards Vans & also in the "rear cab" of the Vulcan Railcars).
And so .. Yes - !
I too have '"travelled" the entire original line.. all the way from Wingatui to Cromwell Station's rear-backshunt, and right up to the "end of line" (ROCK) which ended about 1/4 mile past the station itself to thus end behind the Goods Shed & cattle/sheep yards.
Sadly -- those days will never return ..
But I can see all of the route - whenever I wish to remember it .. (as it's still ALIVE & WELL .. in my own mind's eye).
Plus:
I also have (on my kitchen wall) a huge "framed" 2 foot by 18 inch picture .. taken of "Mick" on his two-man trolley & looking DOWN the Cromwell Gorge .. from just south of Doigs Station (near the site of Hinton's Packing Shed) looking towards the "new scar" on the Clyde Lookout Hill .. behind Fruitgrowers Road, where the NEW (well it was at that time) "Clyde Dam" was eventually constructed.
However ..
My own family's LINK with the branchline .. wasn't just with my employment within the NZR.
As my Dad (himself now almost 100 yr old) .. had an Uncle "TOM" whom died in the Hyde Railway Disaster (and his - was the "VERY LAST BODY" that was eventually pulled-out from the mangled wreckage of the first carriage).
WSTLNZ Hi, thank you for taking time to share some of your memories. I have enjoyed reading books about the line, fortunately there are some very good photos taken during the heyday of railways around Dunedin, but there is nothing like having experienced the real thing. Did you ever walk across some of the viaducts with nothing but a hand rail on on side to hold (Wingatui Viaduct)? A trip along the full length of the line must have been a real adventure, thankfully the present day Taieri Gorge Railway does allow the traveller to experience a little of the wonderful line to Cromwell....thanks again for taking time to comment...Tim.
Timsvideochannel1 Yes..
And the highest of them all ..!!!
Taioma.
Outside the outside rail too might I add (but that was years before I got vertigo & now I couldn't walk over that same bridge if I tried - well not on the outside of the outer rail anyway .. maybe across the walkway.!!)
I spent most of my 10+1/2 years.. on the last section between the 163.16Km point (just on the Lauder side of Auripo Station) ..and after I made grade 2 inspecting ganger .. I "track-walked" every foot of that line and all it's bridges and the tunnels (two tunnels we had) .. Tunnel 12 was nearly straight and easily seen through, whereas 13 had a vile curve from about 2/3rds of the way through "on the western portal" and thus it was almost pitch black inside .. something made all the worse when motoring through on a "rubber-tyred trolley" .. as often the motor trolley's headlamp was blown/failed ...as I never could hold the throttle halfway and always "let her rip" when moving).
However.. by walking - it wasn't in the normal manner . but each & every ten feet .. I had to bend down with the automatic track gauge and check both the gauge and the "cant" (inclination of one rail above the other) checking for twists on straights or curves.. where the difference of cant wasn't all that easy to see .. but could often vary significantly to the eventual detriment of causing possible derailments)
Also .. every 50 or 60 foot .. I also had to LIE "down" on the track, with my eye/s at "rail.top.height" and view the TOP .. by looking along the rail.top - to check for undulating trackwork. which one couldn't check with the "cant level" gauge
Thus .. it was possibly the evilest job there was.. being an inspecting ganger .. as even the track gang grade two gangers .. didn't have to (every day) get down and dirty .. amongst the traces of graphite grease (from curves that were fitted with wheel flange lubricators), to entrails from deceased animals run over by trains .. through to "HUMAN TOILET WASTE" that was open.pipe DUMPED from railcars & or passenger trains (whenever an excursion train ran .. such as the Blossom festival train).
Plus .. given that mostly - one was MILES away from any for of clean water with which towash one's hands.. most days it was simply a case of 'wipe them" on the dirty overalls and sit on the trackside .. eating one's sammies (sandwiches) and drinking half.cold thermos tea.. ?
But that was half the FUN of working ON the railways..
The other half.. was the free travelling one got.. each and every day .. just to "run the cutter" .. out to the end of section & back.
The only downfall being "TRAINS" (themselves) .. because .. between the "few & far between" (train control) track phones and often LATE running trains (or early if they were attempting to make up time .. to get home early say if they were running "Loco & Guardsvan" only) then - one would have to "sort of judge" .. was it even safe to put the trolley on-track & run a few hundred yards through that tunnel .. instead of walking through it (& back) to get to the phone (that probably wasn't working anyway that day) .. just to be told..? Uh yes .. he was LATE away from Ranfurly.. but he doesn't need to ring at Oturihua.. so? he could be there within a few minutes.. or he could still be over half an hour late (or more) .. meaning yet another mad dash home ahead of him .. or wait and get home way too late. (as overtime wasn't allowed for .. just because a train made me late)
But then .. I was young, loved railways in all it's forms.. and so?
;-)
WSTLNZ What a wonderful insight into the working lives of the people were responsible for keeping the rails safe.
Your description of the job reminds of a visit I made to White Island Volcano. It stunk, it was dangerous, it was all I could do to stand up in the wind, but It was one of the best experiences of my life.
I bet you never got bored at work and I wonder how much the job has changed over the years.... Thanks again...Tim.
I also enjoyed this! Fascinated by the rail motor. Echoes the 620/720-class rail motor pairs that ran on the Newcastle-to-Dungog line between 1962 and 2007, though this was a single railcar, compared to the 620/720-class rail motors which were generally 621 paired with 721, 622 with 722 and so on, so that on an outward run, Newcastle to Dungog, 721 would be leading, and on the return leg, 621 would lead. Interesting also was those shared road/rail bridges, right of way would depend on who got there first, I guess, train or car.
The railcars were popular in New Zealand as a way of continuing to provide a passenger service on lightly used services. As for the bridges, I met a train on a reasonably long bridge on the Hokitika line on New Zealand's South Island, there is no question about who gives way when faced with a long freight train, because the car will always come off second best.
I guess it was easier to build one bridge and have road and rail craft share the space, than it was to build separate bridges for each transport type in some areas.
Back in the day when these bridges were built New Zealand had a small population and a limited budget, so money had to be spent wisely. Many of the bridges were wooden and only a few survive today, even the one where I met a train has been replaced by two seperate bridges now.
NZ is slowly catching up with itself. It is good those bridges are being replaced as they are a potential hazard. Thanks for the info, Tim. Cheers!
The replacement bridges are undoubtedly safer, but a lot less interesting from a Rail enthusiasts point of view.
Hi, I did not have a the small camera that I now use to get forward facing views. But now I have have good excuse to return to the Taieri Gorge ralway.
I responded with a "musically altered video .. which has "pictures" of the Old EX_NZR Railway 3wh Pull_Pull Trolley I owned, along with several views of the Galloway Station Building, plus there's even views of the Taieri Gorge Passenger Coaches of the Alexandra Blossom Festival Trains (passing through there too), Plus the two foot & 531mm gauge Trains I either hand_made or were in some way - connected with (over the years) from Waitakeri, in Auckland Province - to Ferrymead in Christchurch etc.
Oh and if I'm ever back down near Riversdale & Mandeville (in Southland NZ).. I'll try to remember to walk up to the Old Roger's K locomotive (near the Mandeville Museum) and take a lengthy video; of that and of all the wagons, carriages, TR Shunter etc.,
However: If you want to go LOOK now, then take a virtual stroll around the town whilst you look at her (sitting there on some track).?
1571 Waimea Highway, Mandeville, Southland, New Zealand
Cheers I'll take a look....Tim.
Timsvideochannel1
Oh & p.s
QUIX4U was my original (trademark/branded) channel..
But nowadays ..as I'm more active elsewhere on the internet (mainly on FB) ..
I thus use my WSTLNZ ch here instead (as I'm semi-permanently signed in on google) ..
However it's the one & same person behind both .. as QUIX4U was basically used for the videos I made with the "company" Nokia Cellphone .. (when I'm uploading any "as taken" videos .. when out & about) whereas this profile is using the initials of my NEW NAME that my NZ Company is now called.
ie: Waitaki Sound Technologies Limited (in) New Zealand.
Something easily verified .. by doing a due diligence via the NZ Companies own office..
And - if you want the direct way into the NZ Govt's Business Website.. (via my own backdoor) .. then try this ?
www.WSTLNZ.co.nz
Assistir TimsvideochanneI1 em: 07/05/2022, ás 13:29 minutos, Sábado. Estado de Pernambuco- Brasil. Mais um momento de turismo virtual, junto com o Tim. Vamos viajar juntos nesta aventura agora...Acho que é na Inglaterra! Mesmo assim, vale a pena viajar.
Bem-vindos a bordo de outro incrível passeio ferroviário virtual. Esta viagem começa em Dunedin, uma bela cidade na Ilha Sul da Nova Zelândia.
Eu achava, que este vídeo fosse gravado na Inglaterra. Na verdade foi na Nova Zelândia. Em 2:06 segundos, a imagem mostra uma casa com a bandeira da Nova Zelândia.
Oi, este vídeo foi gravado perto de Dunedin na Ilha Sul da Nova Zelândia.
Check out the Mandela effect on youtube!! You will be astonished!!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confabulation#Mandela_effect - I looked it up, my wife says men and women live in different universes. Seriously most of the videos are rather long, I will take a look at one or two when I have a little more time.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
The Good Son (1993) - Henry Evans's Death,
September 24 1993
The Demons VS Henry Evans The Naughtiest Red Evil Demon Kid
September 24th, 1993 - The Fishes Killing Henry Evans
that's beautiful but one question does freight go down that line or any other services...
+Emmanuel Habtegabre
Hi, this is a tourist railway now, there are no regular freight trains, just passenger services.
+Timsvideochannel1 awesome so kiwirail dont own that part of the track anymore
+Emmanuel Habtegabre
Hi, train starts from Dunedin over KiwiRail tracks, but the tracks through the Gorge are owned by Dunedin City Counci ... here is a link to a site that I think might answer your question better that I can .... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin_Railways
Timsvideochannel1 thanks man i only know auckland rail aye haha my knowledge on south island rail is 0 let alone outside Auckland hehe
+Emmanuel Habtegabre
There have been a few changes to Auckland's railways since I last visited. Lines re-opened, new electric trains, plenty going on. My son now lives there, so I will be be visiting this year to see the changes.