Rotorua Branch Railway Leased to RNRT

[eurokiwi78]

Daily Freight in Penrose recently reintroduced a shunting tractor in their sidings, and I think the Otahuhu steel mill still uses theirs. Hatuma Lime does too.

Yeah there is still the odd place. But the customer has to get their staff involved certified in 'core stationary shunting' thanks to OSH regs and it might not be worthwhile for a small number of wagons. The training and paperwork would come with a cost.

[royce]

geoff_184 wrote:
Daily Freight in Penrose recently reintroduced a shunting tractor in their sidings, and I think the Otahuhu steel mill still uses theirs. Hatuma Lime does too.

Yeah there is still the odd place. But the customer has to get their staff involved certified in 'core stationary shunting' thanks to OSH regs and it might not be worthwhile for a small number of wagons. The training and paperwork would come with a cost.

How much is involved would it be similar to getting a forklift licence or a dangerous goods handling certificate. They relate to individuals but this would be a site thing. I think I see a rubber wheel shunting tractor at the coke siding as well. They would need to be a bit careful there because it is on quite a grade. I dont suppose a runaway could get to the mainline unless it derailed and toppled over on to it.

[eurokiwi78]

I dont think the coke tractor has been used for a few years. Last I knew they pushed the wagons around with the forklift. The mainline was protected by a backshunt at the south end last time I looked (which used to go around to another sidings of which I forget the name) but I understand the switchlock was to be replaced by motorpoints if it hasnt been done already.

As for the training cost it was enough to make a few switch to road bridging (McKechnie Metals switched to road bridging from there bell block site as the cost was prohibitive for example).

I suspect the lactose company at Kapuni may have switched to road for a similar reason as they used to pull wagons to/from the loading bay over a level crossing to an exchange road for the Roving Shunt to collect themselves.

I could think of a good number of sidings thats closures may have been partially due to the new regulations and it may have played in the thinking of the beard error.

[geoff_184]

Daily Freight in Penrose recently reintroduced a shunting tractor in their sidings, and I think the Otahuhu steel mill still uses theirs. Hatuma Lime does too.

Yeah there is still the odd place. But the customer has to get their staff involved certified in 'core stationary shunting' thanks to OSH regs and it might not be worthwhile for a small number of wagons. The training and paperwork would come with a cost.

I'm wondering more about how they move the wagons without air being connected. Or do they have rubber tyred tractors with air brake connections now?

[eurokiwi78]

Drop the tap to dump the air from the wagons' trainpipe, Pull the bleed wire (attatched to the wagons' triple valve) and it dumps the remaining air our of the triple valve and releases the air brakes (eventually the air would bleed out of its own accord, it could happen straight away or may take 48 hours).

[geoff_184]

I understand how they move them, but I thought moving wagons without working air brakes wasn't allowed.

[eurokiwi78]

I understand how they move them, but I thought moving wagons without working air brakes wasn't allowed.

I assume as long as the staff involved are trained in core stationary shunting it must be ok as it would come under the individual firms h&s policy. There are still examples of kiwirail sites that dont shunt with the air on come to think of it.

[Rolls-Royce]

Some links to photos of the two stations at Rotorua here:

Fiat railcar sitting at the platform at the old NZR Travel Centre at Rotorua Station in 1964:

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=rotoru ... x=62&ty=79

Old Rotorua central yard looking east from Ranolf Street crossing just before the rails were lifted in 1990 - such a huge mistake as the twice daily Silver Fern railcar service started just 1 year later but terminated in the dusty Koutu freight yard:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46769458@N08/4628019639/

The central city yard looking west from Fenton Street in 1984:

http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3064 ... s_hoarding

Koutu Yard with Geyserland service and connecting bus service to the city centre in 1991:

http://www.omnibus.org.nz/buslocation/man/reesby.html

Koutu yard in 2010 - note the Lake Road over bridge has now been demolished and the yard and main line have been seperated by a new four lane road. KiwiRail still own the corridor across the new road though:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46769458@N ... otostream/

Photos of the Lake Road rail overbridge being demolished 2012:

http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/photo ... demolition

[captgs]

Are these people crazy??
Hardly likely tracks will get built over a 4 lane highway anytime soon.

[rail_up]

Some links to photos of the two stations at Rotorua here:

Fiat railcar sitting at the platform at the old NZR Travel Centre at Rotorua Station in 1964:

http://www.google.co.nz/imgres?q=rotoru ... x=62&ty=79

Old Rotorua central yard looking east from Ranolf Street crossing just before the rails were lifted in 1990 - such a huge mistake as the twice daily Silver Fern railcar service started just 1 year later but terminated in the dusty Koutu freight yard:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46769458@N08/4628019639/

The central city yard looking west from Fenton Street in 1984:

http://www.nzmuseums.co.nz/account/3064 ... s_hoarding

Koutu Yard with Geyserland service and connecting bus service to the city centre in 1991:

http://www.omnibus.org.nz/buslocation/man/reesby.html

Koutu yard in 2010 - note the Lake Road over bridge has now been demolished and the yard and main line have been seperated by a new four lane road. KiwiRail still own the corridor across the new road though:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/46769458@N ... otostream/

Photos of the Lake Road rail overbridge being demolished 2012:

http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/photo ... demolition

Cheers for the photos RR - nice to see!

Are these people crazy??
Hardly likely tracks will get built over a 4 lane highway anytime soon.

Tracks won't get laid at all. Rotorua has spoken - they don't see any need for rail to their city, and it's all but been removed as a result.
When you've got a tourist destination like this, a really good idea is to have a centralised transport centre - where buses, trains, taxis and
coaches all meet (with a shuttle to the airport).
Rotorua City Council was a bit near-sighted. If they'd lobbied and worked with the previous incarnations of KiwiRail such a centre could
have existed, and brought tourists in from the main centres of the North Island.
We can be thankful that the Rotorua line wasn't pulled up completely, so there is some hope for the future.
However, they've disconnected it from the city and effectively built out so there is now little prospect of it ever reaching the CBD again.
Another nail in the coffin of NZ railways.

[Rolls-Royce]

Both Rotorua and Taupo are National Party strongholds, particularly when it comes to local government - hence the lack of support for rail development in these two regions.

[jeepney]

Would have been quite nice to hop on a steam train for the journey down to Rotorua after arriving in Auckland on a cruise ship.

[royce]

I was watching Marae investigate this morning. Some land was taken for the railway in 1884 under the public works act. The tribes involved want it back now that the railway is no longer used. Kiwirail want to retain it in case it is needed for freight or passengers in the future. They had a few seconds of the golf carts on. They looked kind of stupid.
The best thing would be to reopen the branch. I got the impression the Iwi would be happy if it was going to be used. I think they have got a good point. I believe they would have to purchase the land which I think would be fair. One of their argument is that the railway a barrier between two blocks of tribal land.

[geoff_184]

I note that KR document released yesterday stated that Rotorua and Taneatua are to remain mothballed, so that gives us an updated indication of their status, i.e., they are not officially closed.

[eurokiwi78]

I note that KR document released yesterday stated that Rotorua and Taneatua are to remain mothballed, so that gives us an updated indication of their status, i.e., they are not officially closed.

I wonder what causes them to want to keep those two in particular vs happy to close others (like Dargaville or Gisborne). Rotorua isnt likely to be a freight hub (although the Mainfreight Depot is close to the rail line) and theyve clearly no thought for passenger services (my personal opinion is nobody providing auckland to rotorua passenger trains is crazy given the tourist numbers that must travel between the two).

Also curious on the Pahiatua - Masterton section, Perhaps some of the rumoured traffic there could actually have some substance (milk, logs, lime)?

Maybe rehabilitating Putaruru to Rotorua is cheaper than Gisborne to Wairoa.

[royce]

I wonder what causes them to want to keep those two in particular vs happy to close others (like Dargaville or Gisborne). Rotorua isnt likely to be a freight hub (although the Mainfreight Depot is close to the rail line) and theyve clearly no thought for passenger services (my personal opinion is nobody providing auckland to rotorua passenger trains is crazy given the tourist numbers that must travel between the two).

Also curious on the Pahiatua - Masterton section, Perhaps some of the rumoured traffic there could actually have some substance (milk, logs, lime)?

Maybe rehabilitating Putaruru to Rotorua is cheaper than Gisborne to Wairoa.

Is Toll still in the old Kopu yard but apparently its cut off by a new road anyway. Where is Mainfreight.
Gisborne Port provides intense competition Rotorua and Taneatua dont have that problem. The other thing is a shunt up to Wairoa is scheduled to take 2.5 hours meaning a return trip can be done within the normal shift of the Locomotive crew the trip to Gisborne cant. Presumably if Rotorua or Taneatua were to be reopened their operation would be relatively straight forward. Also think about the Dargaville branch being cut back to Tangowahine. The plan states they want to run two shunts per day. Presumably the shorter distance makes it possible to do this within one shift. So I think we can see that Kiwirail is setting the boundaries of how it wants to operate long term. The Wairoa Gisborne section just doesn't fit anymore. Its probably a pretty good strategy and it would be exciting if Roturua or Taneatua were to be reopened.

[eurokiwi78]

Where is Mainfreight.

Depot St, 740m south of Lake Rd. Backs onto the old Railway ROW.

Presumably if Rotorua or Taneatua were to be reopened their operation would be relatively straight forward.

I wonder if maintenance of Wairoa - Gisborne could also be more problematic with the frequent storms, gorges, tunnels etc than the Mamaku's are.

Ironic really a CT site at Taneatua could see more rail traffic from Gisborne than the rail line itself.

[royce]

I wonder if maintenance of Wairoa - Gisborne could also be more problematic with the frequent storms, gorges, tunnels etc than the Mamaku's are.

Ironic really a CT site at Taneatua could see more rail traffic from Gisborne than the rail line itself.

I would think the Mamaku's would get more rainfall but the Wairoa Gisborne gets major storm dumps of rain plus the land itself is very erosion prone soft mudstone. The Mamakus are more free draining volcanic harder rock. As you say no tunnels or major bridges that I can think of ethier.
I had written Taneatua off but it would be great to see it reopen.

[eurokiwi78]

I would think the Mamaku's would get more rainfall but the Wairoa Gisborne gets major storm dumps of rain plus the land itself is very erosion prone soft mudstone. The Mamakus are more free draining volcanic harder rock. As you say no tunnels or major bridges that I can think of ethier.

I had written Taneatua off but it would be great to see it reopen.

Putaruru - Rotorua has also got some of the steepest grades in the country with quite restrictive load schedules. I guess any mainfreight connection would involve likely a level crossing of lake road.

[royce]

Putaruru - Rotorua has also got some of the steepest grades in the country with quite restrictive load schedules. I guess any mainfreight connection would involve likely a level crossing of lake road.

I suppose as long as they didnt shunt it during peak hours it wouldnt be too much of a problem.
If you had storage batteries on the loco the power generated going down from the summit could be reused for the next trip up. Maybe you could have a battery unit towed behind the loco. 50 times 12 volt lead acid deep cycle batteries would give 600 volts. It would be a bit radical for Kiwirail and the posters on this forum though.