This particular loco belongs to one on the major steam preservation groups in NZ, [
www.steaminc.org.nz] All trips are planned in advance in conjunction with Kiwirail, the Locomotives must have a current Mainline Certification. You may have noticed on the rear of the Cab just below the footplate, Enginedrivers side, a sign displays the cert. speed. A
B 608, the first of her class, was named "Passchendaele" after that great Battle in WW1, was built by NZGR in 1915 and withdrawn in 1967.
Excursions are popular here, only just last weekend I heard a Whistle passing through my village, probably one every 5 or 6 weeks on ave. Protection power is rare, the Diesels put on during both videos were for transiting the Otira tunnel, a 5.32 mile bore that Steam never operated through it.
More on the A
B Pacifics here: [
en.wikipedia.org]
Part Two if anyone didn't watch, has the better weather, and some faster running.
[
youtu.be]
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/10/2018 02:51AM by Chris Walker.