The Midland Line

The Midland Line crosses the Southern Alps and connects the West and East Coasts of the South Island. It runs through some spectacular scenery and required some major engineering work, especially the over 8km long Otira tunnel. Heavy coal trains shuttle coal from the mines on the West Coast to the port of Lyttelton for export. Large ships cannot access the shallow ports on the West Coast.

Two Dx engine haul a coal train up the Cass bank. Here the engines have to work hard again to lift the coal trains up the grade, after a long descent from Arthur's Pass.

After the Cass bank the heavy coal trains can mostly travel downhill to reach the port of Lyttelton. That does not mean the spectacular scenery is over, however. After passing through the Craigieburn high country, the trains reach the Broken River and travel through the Broken River Gorge and the Waimakariri Gorge through country untouched by roads. The line crosses high viaducts, clings to cliff-faces and ducks in and out of tunnels. We see two Dx locomotives haul a coal train over the Slovens Stream Viaduct near near the Broken River.
Further southeast the line travels along the Waimakariri Gorge, passing across the terraces above the river. Here two Dx locos haul a coal train past an old musterer's hut just north of Staircase. The waters of the Waimakariri run in the gorge between the terraces.
Another shot across the river. Here the coal train is about to enter the tunnel before crossing over Staircase Stream viaduct.
After its trip across the Alps the coal is stockpiled in Lyttelton, ready for export. A Dc and a Dq head a train of cement and coal wagons across the unloading facility at the port.
Once the coal has been discharged at the port the empty wagons have to be returned to the West Coast again for another round trip. Therefore the trains shuttling across the Midland Line are quite frequent. After crossing the Canterbury Plains, two Dx locos haul their train out of Springfield and onto the mountains beyond, while the last sunbeams touch the empty coal wagons. Here the line leaves the plain and enters the mountain landscape with its deep river gorges and steep hillsides.
Through the Otira tunnel the heavy coal trains need the assistance of banker locomotives. These are serviced in Christchurch and return there after their spell of duty. Here two Dx bankers are returning to Otira after servicing in Christchurch. They have been spotted just north of Staircase near the Waimakariri River.
Shortly after the two bankers are seen trundling across the Broken River viaduct.
Between Cass and Broken River the line runs through the relatively gentle Craigieburn highlands parallel to the Waimakariri River, but separated from it by hills and mountains. This is dry highcountry farming territory with where sheep feed on the sparse grass and brush hillsides and cattle meander in the valleys. Most of the year the grass is very dry.
The line mostly follows the wide valley of Slovens Stream. The only road here is an agricultural gravel track with a dozen gates across it.
Two Dx locos, one of them in the new Toll Rail colours, haul a train of empty coal wagons through the highcountry near Avoca.
Northwest of Cass the line agains runs alongside the Waimakariri River. From the confluence of the Waimakairir and Bealey Rivers it follows the Bealey River to Arthur's Pass. Trains cross the Bealey River twice. This is the lower bridge over the river near its confluence with the Waimakariri. Two Dx engines smoke it up as they haul a train of empty coal wagons towards the West Coast.
The TranzAlpine Express travels from Christchurch to Greymouth and gives tourists a glimpse of the varied landscape. On its voyage from coast to coast the train crosses the flat, dry Canterbury Plains, travels through gorges and across rivers, climbs to Alpine valleys, makes its way through the Otira tunnel and emerges on the wet, wild West Coast, where it makes its way along marshes, lakes and rivers towards the sea.

Here the TranzAlpine emerges from the Otira Tunnel and heads across the Bealy River into Arthur's Pass.

Three Dc engines head the TranzAlpine Express westwards one sunny morning. Running beside the willows of the Waimakariri River the train is about to pass Mt White Bridge, where keen kayakers launch their boats into the river. Note the TranzScenic logo on two of the engines. For a few years TranzScenic was run as an independent company and had its own engines. Some of these displayed the logo of the passenger train operator.
The TranzAlpine is the success story of New Zealand rail travel and certainly has the longest consists of all regular New Zealand passenger trains these days. Both the obersavtion and the luggage car have generators to supply power for the other carriages. When the scenery gets more spectacular tourists crowd onto the central observation car to experience the landscape from the open air. As I am generally a very considerate guy, I have not pushed myself into the best position when I travelled on the train, so that there are no pictures shot from the train here.
Here the TranzAlpine Express makes its way through the Craigieburn highlands. Greetings to the passengers who waved to the lonely figure on the hill.
And that's the departing view as the train heads on to the mountains. The prominent mountain is Mt. Binser.
The TranzAlpine is dwarfed in the mountain landscape. Here it travels across the Broken River Viaduct on its way to the West Coast.
At times steam exursions run across the Midland Line. A Jb loco returns from the West Coast and is snapped crossing Blakistons Stream above the Waimakariri Gorge.

In parts the railway line runs far from any road. That's why bimodal hi-rail vehicles are used to maintain the line. Here a small Suzuki four-wheel drive car is travelling along the line near Avoca. With its guide wheels lowered, this car becomes a rail vehicle.

Of course there are also more substantial track maintenance vehicles operating on this line. A Plasser & Theurer tamper stands on the siding of Craigieburn railway station, now no more than a few sidings and a staff hut. It is just a few hundred metres from the Craigieburn sheep and beef highcountry station.