5 July 2010

Back in the 'Naki

I've commented before that I like Taranaki. It's beautiful: all that green green grass turned into white gold by the alchemy of cow consumption. Today was quite clear at home, but as I got further north it became more and more cloudy, and now I can hear the wind whistling around the motel and I'm assuming that because it isn't raining right now, it will be raining in the morning.... I seem to be spending a lot of time up here at the moment: I think this is my fourth or fifth trip to Hawera this year. Why Hawera, you ask? Well, Hawera is right in the heart of dairy country here, with the largest dairy plant in the country, Fonterra Whareroa, just down the road. So we spend a lot of time here!

I didn't have as memorable a trip up as the one at the beginning of June in terms of what I saw, but I spotted something quite awesome. Just south of Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast, State Highway 1 runs alongside the Main Trunk Line for a while. I saw a huge billowing of smoke just ahead of me and was wondering where the fire was, when instead a steam locomotive thundered past me down the Main Trunk Line! I originally thought it was a Ka-class, but it may have been a Ja-class, and apparently there is still an operational Ja-class loco down the line at Paekakariki. Unfortunately I couldn't stop and watch it as I was heading in the opposite direction on open road, but I got a good look as it went past. I'm not a train spotter particularly (unlike big bro Sphenodon, who used to have a huge railway model that he was always working on), but I am very fond of these big engines, particularly the Ka-class as I climbed all over one as a small child!

The Ka class is also famous for its participation in NZ's worst rail disaster. Ka949 was pulling the overnight express train from Wellington to Auckland that went over the collapsed bridge at Tangiwai and into the Whangaehu River on Christmas Eve, 1953, following a lahar release from Mt Ruapehu that took out the supports to the bridge. 153 people died, mostly from suffocation and drowning in the mud.

4 comments:

Judah said...

Oopsy...

The Engine Shed at Paekakariki is that of Steam Incorporated who maintain and operate Ja1271 on many very popular steam excursions, hauling a train of red-painted vintage wooden carriages. Their locomotive Ka945 has been out of service for a number of years now, so it could not be that which you saw recently. How do I know? I am married to the President of Steam Incorporated, and am co-administrator of Steam Inc's Facebook page. :D

Pachyderm said...

Cheers, Judah! It looked like the Ka but I only got a quick glance so it could have been the Ja. Always possible!!! Thanks for the correction.

Pachyderm said...

Thanks, Judah! I have amended my post slightly - and looking at the photos of the Ja and Ka on the web, I think it was probably the Ja I saw on Monday. Still lovely though!

Judah said...

Yes, it would have been Ja1271, especially if it was hauling a vintage carriage set. It is a magnificent locomotive, very popular with the general public, well maintained and giving a very reliable service.

Ka945 is not currently in operating condition, and the only other Ka locomotive around (Ka942, which belongs to Mainline Steam Trust at Plimmerton - a rival operation) is busy being painted and has not run for a while.