Southland Railscene

In the far South, near the tourist resort of Queenstown for many years there was one of the main heritage railways in the South Island: the Kingston Flyer. Formerly operated by New Zealand Rail, a local group then was in charge of this tourist venture. From the southern end of Lake Wakatipu this train ran several kilometres along the otherwise closed Kingston Branch. In this overview of Kingston the wharf and station area is clearly visible. In the past, trains connected with the steamships on Lake Wakatipu. The Kingston Flyer stands waiting on the station tracks. The turntable and service area are east of the station. The other Ab engine not used on the train that day also stands there. [Dec 2004]
While the tourists still look through the train and snap some photos, Ab 795 stands in the morning sunlight, ready to haul the train out of Kingston, once the signal has been given. [Dec 2004].
A profile view of the Ab locomotive at the head of the Kingston Flyer. [Dec 2004].
In Fairlight the Ab locomotive turns on the turning triangle near the station. In the background are the white peaks of the Eyre Mountains. [Dec 2004].
Along a track lined by gorse the Ab steam engine slowly chugs down the line returning to Kingston from Fairlight. On my visit the dry gorse along the line caught fire caused by the sparks of the passing locomotive. [Dec 2004]
At the end of the day Ab 795 joins Ab 778 in the coaling and yard area. Only one engine was used for train services that day. [Dec 2004].
The South Island Main Trunk connects the cities of Invercargill and Gore as well as other smaller communities to the national network. A DX and DC combination head a freight train through Waiwera South. Most of the wagons carry curtainside containers, used to transport milk powder from the factory to wharfside storage. [Jan 2007]

Eva-Maria Frank took this picture in Southland, with myself standing next to a rest-room for railway staff. The DXR loco hauling the train was the only representative of its class. It was rebuilt in 1993 from a DX locomotive with the aim of improving performance. A new trendy cab was also added. But to save costs none of the other DX engines were similarly rebuilt, for long continuing in service with only minor modifications. [Jan 1999]

A DFT and DC combination haul a train near Pukerau northwards. [Dec 2004].
Once upon a time branch lines connected many rural Southland areas to the Main Trunk. Today nearly all of them are closed. But the formations are still often visible. Near Mandeville there's clear evidence of the former Waimea Plains Railway, passing through this area. Today the formation is used as a vehicle track. [Jan 2007]
Ohai was the terminus of the only remaining branch line in Southland. The line was then 86km long and had a speed limit of 40km/h. In comparison to other lines that mainly carry coal the volumes on this line are not big and the coal is mainly destined for the domestic market. [Dec 2004]
A DFT slowly hauls its rake of coal wagons from the loading facility in Ohai, Southland.[Dec 2004]
The DFT then hauls the loaded train to Invercargill. Here the train crosses a road near Wairio. [Dec 2004].