Community Response |
Locomotive Details |
Location/Date of Photo |
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» KiwiRail (more..) » DX (more..) |
» Otira » Otira, New Zealand (more..) » April 12, 2008 |
Locomotive No./Train ID |
Photographer |
» DX 5402 (more..) » 849 (more..) |
» Darryl Bond (more..) » Contact Photographer · Photographer Profile |
Remarks & Notes |
Bottoming out.
A pair of DXs in the nasty "Toll Rail" livery bring empty coalie 849 off the grade and into the Otira yard.
All very well for descending empties, but loaded trains traveling in the other direction must have three extra DX locos added for the grueling 14km 1 in 33 (3%) journey up to Arthur's Pass, which includes the 8.5km (5.3 mile) Otira Tunnel.
This section (often wet, except in the tunnel!) was electrified from its opening in 1923 until 1997 when a tunnel portal door and fans came into permanent operation. Hence the cool-air intake chutes on the coal route DX long hoods - NZ's 'tunnel motors' |
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Photo Comments (1) |
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