Dunedin Railway Station Centenary

Dunedin Railway Station is without doubt New Zealand’s architecturally most impressive railway station. With its towers, artistic masonry and ornate interior it evokes the grandeur of rail travel. Stately, yet graceful, it could have come straight out of a fairytale.

It was designed by George Troup and completed in 1906. It was only appropriate that its centenary in 2006 should be celebrated in great style. For Labour Weekend 2006 (21st to 23rd October), the Taieri Gorge Railway, which operates from Dunedin, organised a great railway festival. Seven steam locomotives came together from all over the country. Three vintage diesels participated and Toll Rail also sent along two diesels in their new colour scheme.

The steam engines made their way slowly to Dunedin from all parts of the country, hauling railfan specials and pursued by photographers. I caught up with one of those trains in Timaru. Jb1236 and Wab794 make their way past the cemetery heading south. [Oct 2006]

On Saturday, the 21st, there was a great parade at the station as each of the participating engines rolled in. Speeches were held and a birthday cake cut. The crowds milled around marvelling at the locomotives and enjoying the activities. The weather wasn’t brilliant. Here is the parade of locomotives headed by A67 on display at the station. [Oct 2006]
Later on that day Harbourside Excursions along the Otago Harbour to Sawyers Bay were run. They continued throughout the weekend and thousands made the journey on this scenic rail line. Here’s Ja1271 with the first excursion on the causeway near Burkes. [Oct 2006]
The day turned wet and windy. Some trains were double-headed. Here Ab663 and Jb1236 return to Dunedin through Ravensbourne (my old abode during student days). [Oct 2006]
Wab 794 crossing the causeway near Burkes. [Oct 2006]
Here Wab 794 is on its return journey to Dunedin on the cuaseway between Roseneath and St, Leonards. [Oct 2006]
The last train of the day was hauled by vintage diesels De1337 and Dj1240. It seems this train was not such a crowd puller, as the carriages were fairly empty and fewer photographers lined the way. [Oct 2006]
Still, all credit has to be given to the Taieri Gorge Railway for restoring the locomotives so splendidly and recreating the original colour scheme. On this wet evening, the Dj leads the train over the causeway between Roseneath and St Leonards. [Oct 2006]
The weather on Sunday turned out a lot better. There was a steam-hauled train to Middlemarch and other trains running to the Hillside workshops. Unfortunately I also had other commitments that day, so wasn’t only out to take train pictures. The Harbourside Excursions continued. Here Ja 1271 has arrived at the Dunedin Railway Station. [Oct 2006]
I did not yet have a good zoom lens, so this is a rather panoramic view of Jb1236 hauling her train tender first along the Ravensbourne seashore, as seen from the other side of the harbour near Macandrew Bay. [Oct 2006]
The crowds on the platform of Dunedin Railway Station were great throughout the weekend. [Oct 2006]
That's what the train with Jb 1236 looked like going from Dunedin to Sawyer's Bay. Here it passes through Ravensbourne. [Oct 2006]
Rogers locomotive K88 puffed around the railway station yards, showing off the distinctive lines of an American-built engine of the 19th century. She was one of the original express engines that ran along the main line between Christchurch and Dunedin. [Oct 2006]
Ab663 has returned with the train from Middlemarch. [Oct 2006]
And then the Monday dawned. The first train of the day was hauled by Wab794. Here she steams along the St Leonards shoreline. Both TranzScenic and Otago Excursion Train Trust carriages were used. [Oct 2006]
The train steams away from St Leonards. [Oct 2006]
AB 663 also hauled a train to Sayer's Bay. Here, it is on the causeway near Burkes. [Oct 2006]
While the Ja was on its way to Invercargill, the Jb hauled most of the excursions to Sawyers Bay. The train from Dunedin crosses the causeway near Roseneath. [Oct 2006]
At Sawyer's Bay Jb 1236 runs around its train to haul it back to Dunedin. [Oct 2006]
The engines had to run through Roseneath tunnel to be able to change onto the other line again. Here, Jb 1236 steams towards the tunnel and then to Sawyer's Bay to couple onto the wagons. [Oct 2006]
For the return journey I positioned myself above the Roseneath tunnel entrance. The earth shook as the Jb hauled the train underneath me. Moments later a cloud of steam and smoke rose up. As the steam continued to pour out of the tunnel, I could just hear, not see, the train any longer. [Oct 2006]
I was not there to take pictures of the last excursion as I decided to take another ride. And so along with my wee nephew, I enjoyed another train ride joining the staff of Taieri Gorge Railway who had worked so hard over the weekend.
On the Tuesday the trains headed north. Ab663 and Wab794 thunder up the steep incline above Careys Bay. The hills around the harbour form a barrier, that can only be crossed by a very tortuous, but scenic route. [Oct 2006]
The two locomotives have rounded the curve and are about to enter the Mihiwaka tunnel. The carriages reflect the morning sun as the columns of steam indicate how hard the engines have to work to haul the train on this gradient.
Thanks to the farmer who allowed me onto his property to shoot these pictures. [Oct 2006]
That day the Taieri Gorge Railway also ran a Seasider Excursion to Palmerston. The train winds its way along the coast near Puketeraki above Karitane. [Oct 2006]
I had long wanted to take a picture of a train with the nice Maheno church in the background. And this train proved to be the perfect opportunity. Ja1271 and Jb1236 rumble over the bridge near Maheno on their way north from Dunedin. [Oct 2006]