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 Otira tunnel, over 8 km long. Large ships cannot access the shallow ports on the West Coast. That's why the coal from the West Coast is moved by train to the port of Lyttelton for export. The heavy coal trains maintain a shuttle service between the West Coast mines and the port.

The train has left the Otira Tunnel behind, passed through the township of Arthur's Pass and now crosses the Bealey River. It is dwarved by the mountains around it. In the background is the Mingha River Valley. I took the picture from Bealey Spur, a mountain ridge overlooking the valleys in this area. [Mar 2013]

Shortly after, the train passes the confluence of the Bealey and Waimakariri Rivers. The area is also known as Klondyke Corner. In the past trains stopped here to set down and pick up trampers as they headed for another adventure in the mountains. Today trampers still start their tramps from here, but they come by car. In the background is part of the beech forest, which covers mountainsides here.[Mar 2013]
The line leaves the Waimakariri River for some time and passes through the small settlement of Cass. Here, the beech forest gives way to pasture, tussock, scrub and scree slopes. The mountains with forest and snow still provide a backdrop as this loaded coal train swings away from Cass. [Feb 2024].
Heavy coal trains have to travel up the grade of Cass Bank. In steam days this was a spectacle to behold. In diesel days the engines smoke it up a bit less, and the sound is quite different. [Sep 2021].
With the snow-covered peaks of the Black Range in the background, two DXC locomotives battle up the Cass Bank with their heavy train of 30 coal waggons. [Sep 2021].
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. [Jan 2005]
After electrification through the Otira Tunnel was removed in 1997, the coal trains are now given the assistance of diesel banker locomotives through the tunnel. These banker locomotives are serviced in Christchurch and return there after their spell of duty. Two DXC locomotives travel up Cass Bank quite easily without a train on their way to servicing in Christchurch. [Sep 2021].
The bankers are switched around about every week or so. Two DXC locomotives travel through the wide open spaces of the Craigieburn Highlands. [Sep 2021].
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. [Aug 2005]
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. [Oct 2007]
Another shot across the river. Here the coal train is about to enter the tunnel before crossing over Staircase Stream viaduct. [Oct 2007]
With the Torlesse Range in the background, DXC 5287 and DXC 5520 brint the coal train into Springfield. From here it is downhill the flat Canterbury Plains to Christchurch. [Sep 2021].
The last glow of day dims over the mountains in the West as a coal train makes its way eastward across the Canterbury Plains at Aylesbury. [Sep 2021].
This is an empty coal train, running south-east as the normally loaded trains. These coal trains do not take coal from the West Coast, but rather from Southland and take it to the dairy factory near Darfield for use in the boiler that supplies heat to the milk powder dryer. Near Kirwee a DC and DXC haul the train from Darfield to Christchurch, where the wagons will form part of a train to Invercargill. There the coal containers will be loaded again to bring coal to dairy factories throughout the South Island. [Jan 2024].
In Christchurch, the two DX locomotives are usually taken from the train and go to servicing. Meanwhile, two Dc locomotives take the coal trains through the Lyttelton tunnel to the port. A coal train arrives at the Port of Lyttelton, passing the general cargo area to make its way to the coal terminal. [Apr 2013]
In later years the coal dump was hauled by a variety of locomotive classes. A part-train is brought to Lyttelton by two DXC class locomotives. [Oct 2023].
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. [Dec 2003]
About 18 years later two DC engines haul a train of coal waggons across the unloading facility at the Lyttelton coal terminal. A lot of reclamation has occurred at Lyttelton since then. [Sep 2021].
The coal for which so much effort is expended to bring it across the mountains to the port. A view of a loaded coal waggon from above. [Sep 2021].
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. DCP 4559 and DC 4951 haul the empty coal dump train through the Port of Lyttelton to Christchurch. [Sep 2021].
Not only DCs, but also other locomotive classes were used as there were less and less DCs available. DXB 5120 and DFT 7132 haul the coal dump that day. [Jan 2023].
Two DXC locomotives haul an empty coal dump through the Port of Lyttelton. The train is about to enter the Lyttelton Tunnel. A fertiliser ship is berthed at one of the wharves. [Sep 2023].
The entrance to the Lyttelton Tunnel is underneath the road just left of the centre of the picture. DC 4628 and DFT 7104 haul an empty coal dump from Lyttelton Port through the Lyttelton Tunnel to Christchurch, from where DXC locomotives will haul the train across the Southern Alps. [Mar 2024].
Two DXC locomotives bring their empty coal train out of the Lyttelton Tunnel through the former Heathcote Station area. [Oct 2023].
Two DXC locomotives head with their empty coal dump through the Heathcote Valley and past the Ferrymead Heritage Park. [Sep 2023].

Two Dc locomotives haul the empty wagons from the Port of Lyttelton to Christchurch. Here they cross the Heathcote River at Opawa. Even though this picture was taken five years after the formation of Kiwirail, the lead locomotive is still in the old New Zealand Rail fruit-salad colours, while the trailing locomotive is in the TranzRail safety colours. [June 2013]
In Christchurch the larger DXC locomotives are attached to the train of empty coal waggons to make the journey back to the West Coast. Here a train is seen in Rolleston, southwest of Christchurch. [Sep 2020].
The Midland Line itself really only starts in Rolleston, where it branches off the Main South Line. Of course, just about all the trains run through to Christchurch on the main line, while the coal trains continue on to Lyttelton on the Lyttelton branch. Two Dx locomotives swing around the curve in Rolleston, having just turned onto the Midland Line. They haul empty coal wagons back across the Alps. [Oct 2013]
Between Rolleston and Springfield the Midland Line runs across the Canterbury Plains. Springfield marks the beginning of more mountainous country. In the days of steam a substantial locomotive depot and yard were at Springfield. The powerful Kb steam locomotives were based here, which hauled trains through to Arthur's Pass. Today, engine crews sometimes swap over in Springfield. They get to and from their train by car. [Jul 2021].
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. [Aug 2005]
North-west of Springfield the line crosses several rivers, skirting the mountains, before it comes to more mountainous country. Here two DXC locomotives haul an empty coal train through Kowai Bush on a winter day. [Aug 2022].
Two Dx bankers are returning to Otira after servicing in Christchurch. They have been spotted just north of Staircase near the Waimakariri River. [Oct 2007]
Shortly after, the two bankers are seen trundling across the Broken River viaduct. [Oct 2007]
Not just coal is carried across the Midland Line. This train hauls dairy products and general freight. The first few wagons carry tanks to bring milk from Canterbury to Westland Dairies in Hokitika. A few empty wagons returning to Hokitika to load more milk powder followed that. The train was hauled by six DXC locomotives. The first four locomotives are bankers that return to Otira from Christchurch. Here it passes through tunnels above Broken River. [Jan 2024].
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 Toll Rail colours, haul a train of empty coal wagons through the high country near Avoca. [Aug 2005]
Northwest of Cass the line again runs alongside the Waimakariri River. Two DXC engines haul a train of empty coal waggons alongside the river near Mt White Bridge. [Sep 2021].
From the confluence of the Waimakairiri and Bealey Rivers the railway line 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 haul a train across the Bealey Bridge. [Mar 2013]
The same bridge, but from a very different angle. Two Dx engines smoke it up, as they move a train of empties across the bridge. [Aug 2005]
On the north-western side of the Otira Tunnel sits the small township of Otira, which now has very few residents. Here the banking engines are normally stabled and also refuelled. Four DXC bankers wait for their next duty in Otira. [Jan 2022].
The Southern Alps keep the rain on the West Coast. Therefore once trains pass through the Otira Tunnel, they travel through a wet countryside. A train of empty coal waggons passes through the station of Moana on the shores of Lake Brunner. [Jul 2020].
The West Coast of the South Island is a wet and wild place, which is only sparsely settled. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful place, so that tourists come here to see the natural landscapes. When the clouds lift, it is breath-taking. A rainbow of Lake Brunner. [Jul 2020].
The small station of Moana on the shores of Lake Brunner is still used, when the TranzAlpine Express, which runns from Christchurch to Greymouth and return, stops here. It still has the classic look of a New Zealand country station. [Jul 2020].
The Tranz Alpine Express leaves Moana and heads westward towards the fishing port of Greymouth. [Jul 2020].
A few hours later the TranzAlpine Express returns to Moana from Greymouth on its way back to Christchurch. The passenger train crosses a train of empty coal waggons in Moana. It is hauled by two DXC class locomotives. [Jul 2020].
The TranzAlpine has a viewing carriage with open windows, so that passengers can take photos and take a breath of fresh air. This is the view from the viewing carriage to the front of the train as the two locomotives haul the TranzAlpine Express through a West Coast valley. [Jul 2020].
Arthur's Pass is a mountain pass with an altitude of 920m in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It is surrounded by mountains up to 2,000 m high. About 5 km south of the pass is the township of Arthur's Pass with an altitude of 740m. It is from this township that the Otira Tunnel descends to the Rolleston River at an altitude of about 580m. The TranzAlpine has arrived at the station of Arthur's Pass. [Jul 2023].
The railway line curves away from the tunnel over the bridge across the Bealey River. It then descends to Arthur's Pass Station. Here the TranzAlpine has just left the tunnel and is passing over the bridge to arrive in the Arthur's Pass station yard. [Jul 2023].
The TranzAlpine Express emerges from the Otira Tunnel and heads across the Bealy River into Arthur's Pass. It is hauled by two DC engines and one DX engine. This was considered plenty at the time and many passenger trains ran with less engine power. The Russell lupins in the foreground are introduced but by now well established in the mountains. [Jan 2005].
In 2020 considerably more engine power was used. To pass through the Otira Tunnel two banker locomotives are attached at the front of the train and two at the rear. That is in addition to the two DXC engines that haul the train. In 2005 the engines that hauled the train had a total power output of about 6,000 hp; in 2020 the output was about 16,500 hp, nearly three times. But train size has not increased significantly. The TranzAlpine Express exits the Otira Tunnel at Arthur's Pass on a rainy winter day. [Jul 2020].
The additional power on passenger trains is required due to new safety regulation. This also includes new fire extinguishing equipment on the locomotives, additional crew and other on-board safety measures. The two rear banker locomotives are attached to the TranzAlpine in Arthur's Pass before it enters the Otira Tunnel. [Jul 2020].
All this shunting requires quite some effort, time, fuel and additional personnel. It makes the train trip slower and more expensive and has little safety benefit, considering the quite good safety record in the tunnel over a century. The front bankers have already been attached at Arthur's Pass, while the rear bankers can be seen in the background. [Jul 2020].
On this train that has just come through the Otira Tunnel the two front bankers have detached from the train locomotives and slowly move away to a siding. Arthur's Pass has an island platform with an Alpine station building. There are some additional sidings. The former goods and servicing yard is not used any more. Near the bottom of the picture is the former electric locomotive depot, which is no longer in use. [Jul 2023].
Several locomotives lift the TranzAlpine over the bridge across the Bealey River from Arthur's Pass Station and to the Otira Tunnel entrance. [Jul 2023].
The TranzAlpine Express arrives at Arthur's Pass Station. [Jul 2020].
In 2012 KiwiRail introduced new scenic carriages on the TranzAlpine, after it had run similar carriages on other services. The baggage car at the left was rebuilt from English carriages that served some time on the Auckland suburban network. The rebuilt carriage was used on the TranzAlpine from 2020. Here the TranzAlpine crosses a bridge over Rough Creek near Arthur's Pass. [Jul 2020].
The next view is not of the TranzAlpine, but of a special passenger train, bringing cruise ship passengers to the mountain. I don't think it went all the way to Greymouth, but probably did go through the Otira tunnel to the West Coast. Here it approaches Klondyke Corner at the confluence of the Bealey and Waimakariri Rivers. [Mar 2013]
At a similar point as the previous picture, the TranzAlpine is spotted with the new carriages introduced in 2012, racing along the flats of the Waimakariri River. That day a helicopter accompanied the train, taking scenic shots for promotional purposes. [Mar 2013].
Hauled by a DXC and DFB, the TranzAlpine crosses over the Waimakariri River Bridge towards Cora Lynn. In the background is the Black Range. [Jul 2023].
Another view of the TranzAlpine crossing the Waimakariri River on its way to Arthur's Pass and the West Coast. [Apr 2021].
On its way back to Christchurch the Tranz Alpine crosses the Waimakariri River on a rainy summer afternoon. [Feb 2024].
The TranzAlpine passes Mt White Bridge, a road bridge where keen kayakers launch their boats into the river. [Jul 2023].
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. 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. [Jan 2005]
From 2024 Pounamu Tourism operated occassional excursion trains from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass. The train was called Mountaineer and hauled by a class DA heritage diesel locomotive. Here the train has just passed through Cass on its way back to Christchurch. [Feb 2024].
The Mountaineer train heads towards Cass Bank, where trains heading eastward have to climb an incline to St Bernard Saddle. [Feb 2024].
The TranzAlpine curves down Cass Bank on its way to Arthur's Pass and the West Coast. In the background the snowy Polar Range is partly shrouded by clouds. [Feb 2024].
A little before, the Tranz Alpine heads up the Craigieburn Flat to the St Bernard Saddle at the top of the Cass Bank. In the background Mt St Bernard is topped by clouds. Two DXC locomotives haul the train. [Feb 2024].
The Mountaineer train makes its way up to the St Bernard Saddle. During New Zealand Railways days DA locomotives never ran in the South Island. They were too large for the tunnels. Now, as heritage locomotives, DAs are sometimes seen even on the Midland Line. [Feb 2024].
The new carriages have large panoramic windows. Children enjoy the scenery from the train. There is also a commentary on the countryside, which can be accessed by plugging earphones into the ports. [Jul 2020].
This is the interior view of the new carriages at night. [Jul 2020].
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. [Aug 2005]
And that's the departing view as the train heads on to the mountains. The prominent mountain is Mt. Binser. [Aug 2005]
The TranzAlpine is dwarfed in the mountain landscape. Here it travels across the Broken River Viaduct on its way to the West Coast. [Oct 2007]
Returning to Christchurch, the TranzAlpine Express skirts past the Waimakariri River Gorge. In this view from the other side of the gorge, the river is hidden. [Oct 2007].
The TranzAlpine has left the Waimakariri Gorge behind and travels along the foot of the Torlesse Range before swinging eastwards after crossing the Big Kowai Viaduct. With the sun setting behind the Torlesse Range, the TranzAlpine is about to arrive in Springfield behind two DXC locomotives. [Aug 2023].
A special passenger train hurries through Springfield on its way back to Christchurch about 20 minutes before the TranzAlpine would pull into the station. The train is hauled by DCP 4513, which at that time was owned by the separate company TranzScenic. [Feb 2005].
Two DXC locomotives haul the Tranz Alpine back to Christchurch on a rainy afternoon. The train has left Springfield behind and passes the small locality of Annat. [Feb 2024].
The track is straighter on the flat Canterbury Plains. The TranzAlpine powers away from Darfield with its new carriages. Notable is the DFT and DX combination for a relatively short train. Apparently, KiwiRail wanted to ensure this train would be on time. [May 2013]
The design of the new carriages is a bit easier to see in this view. They have windows for panoramic views and a trendy new colour scheme. The carriages were built in New Zealand at the Hillside workshops in Dunedin. Making these carriages was one of the last major projects of the Hillside workshops, before they were partially closed.
In this view the TranzAlpine has left Darfield and passes the large dairy factory. The high voltage lines give an indication that a major industrial user is close-by. [June 2013]
DA 1431 heads the Mountaineer back to Christchurch across the Canterbury Plains near Kirwee. The locomotive and carriages are owned and operated by Steam Incorporated, which has its base in Paekakariki near Wellington. The train is chartered and commercially marketed by Pounamu Tourism. [Jan 2024].
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. [Oct 2007]

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.
Also of note, is that the vehicle belonged to Transfield Services. This was the Australian company that maintained the track on behalf of TranzRail, when that company decided to outsource as much as possible. [Aug 2005]

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. [Aug 2005]