DL Clearance Run On Whanganui & Castlecliff Branches 2013

This video records the first visit of a new 'DL' class locomotive into the township of Whanganui New Zealand.
MTT28 was a 'Mechanical Test Train' that arrived at East Town from Palmerston North on the morning of July 2nd 2013. DL 9129 split off this train at East Town and ran into Whanganui and out to Castlecliff.
9129 became the first of its class to visit the Castlecliff Industrial Line. It is interesting to note that no locomotive as large or as heavy as a DL has been along this branch before. Much of the rail on this branch is light and old. Some of the 70lb rail is from the 1930's. The most recent 85lb rail was laid in 1966.
The run was to check that the new locomotive would adequately fit through the turnouts and the siding at the Castlcliff end of the line.
This is an old private siding that was given a new lease on life in 2011 when it was put into service as a run-around loop for the container transfir depot nearby.
There was an old loading bank to check clearences against as well as the lean-to verander to pass under before this class of locomotive is given running rights on the line.
Later at 11am, 9129 returned to East Town and continued with the test train up the Westmere Bank and on to Waitotara.

[@tonymckeage1028]

Fabulous Video Mark! I'm not sure exactly what was happening, but great record

[@bboy-kv6pd]

I remember that line was closed for ages for lack of industry or something...good to see it up and running again

[@MarkSeconi]

The line lost it's traffic in 2002, when the then Tranz Rail decided to stop serving private sidings where the freight on offer was a less-than-train load. The railway changed its operations from a system where freight wagons were on individual journeys, to a 'hook & pull' system of operation where container wagons would be semi-permanently coupled together. The sidings of Castlecliff line did not fit this model of bulk trains. From 2002 onwards, trucks would now take the freight from the Castlecliff customers to the railway siding at Wanganui Yard. In 2011, it became feasible to create a 'freight hub' in the heart of the Castlecliff Industrial zone, and extend train services part way out the old line and eliminate the truck journey into Wanganui yard.So now in 2017 we have a 24 wagon container train, that is chartered by the ports of Wellington, that departs at 2pm each afternoon. The wheel got re invented!

[@DXC5500]

Nice Shots

[@MarkSeconi]

Thank you dx5051. Have you met DXC5500?

[@dx5051]

well done kid