Re: Tunnel Vision

GeorgeGaskill Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> What happened to the tunnel?


Tunnels #3,4 and 5 were very short, on curves necessitating any Container higher than 8"6" to ride on depressed centre flats to clear, and while the curves were 30MPH, there was a permanent speed restriction all trains at 15MPH and 9'6" containers on flats reduced to 10MPH special instruction. The double-decked car carriers were banned from passing through the line unless the upper decks were empty, which nullified their usefulness.

At this location was a great fissure in the Limestone formation between the #3 and #4 alongside the portal of #4, add in to that equation, being right on an active Earthquake faultline, the old NZR chose to avoid the issue. However in the late '90s the larger height export containers became too numerous for the small fleet of depressed centre flats to cope with, therefore the throwing $$$ at the problem was the only solution.

Link to picture of removal [teara.govt.nz]