April 2000. Are the rear bankers still used on this train? Also filmed a cabride through the Otira Tunnel. 15 minutes of headlights lighting a small portion of the walls would be a bit boring to most people :-)
Nope, haven't seen rear banking for a while now. Apparently when TranzScenic went private they didn't want to pay for bankers.
Cab rides through the tunnel are probably a thing of the past too; breathing gear is now compulsory. Also have giant fans & sliding doors at the Otira entrance to ventilate it.
Seems like only yesterday that the electrics were scuttling around; now it's mostly a DXB operation & you'd be hard pressed to see any of those locos still those paint schemes. Times change huh!
PS: If you have video entering and leaving the tunnel, I'd be very interested in seeing it. And presumably the sound effects would be great through the tunnel??
I'll find the tunnel video again and upload an edited version. With all the water in tunnel there is an instant whiteout when the door is closed. I was very disappointed to see a DFT/DX used as the bankers because the day before it was pair of DXs and the quad set of them would have sounded most excellent! Cab rides were easy to get back then. Just had to sign your life away and climb in!
I have posted a comment on this video to say we did the trip last Wednesday and there no rear bunkers on our train, what a awesome trip with all the snow, well worth it!
We did this trip last Wednesday and there were no rear bunkers on our train
enjay1976 1 year ago
Sweet are those GE's?
Espeelover 2 years ago
April 2000. Are the rear bankers still used on this train? Also filmed a cabride through the Otira Tunnel. 15 minutes of headlights lighting a small portion of the walls would be a bit boring to most people :-)
qr2605 4 years ago
Nope, haven't seen rear banking for a while now. Apparently when TranzScenic went private they didn't want to pay for bankers.
Cab rides through the tunnel are probably a thing of the past too; breathing gear is now compulsory. Also have giant fans & sliding doors at the Otira entrance to ventilate it.
Seems like only yesterday that the electrics were scuttling around; now it's mostly a DXB operation & you'd be hard pressed to see any of those locos still those paint schemes. Times change huh!
madleech 4 years ago
PS: If you have video entering and leaving the tunnel, I'd be very interested in seeing it. And presumably the sound effects would be great through the tunnel??
madleech 4 years ago
I'll find the tunnel video again and upload an edited version. With all the water in tunnel there is an instant whiteout when the door is closed. I was very disappointed to see a DFT/DX used as the bankers because the day before it was pair of DXs and the quad set of them would have sounded most excellent! Cab rides were easy to get back then. Just had to sign your life away and climb in!
qr2605 4 years ago
I have posted a comment on this video to say we did the trip last Wednesday and there no rear bunkers on our train, what a awesome trip with all the snow, well worth it!
enjay1976 1 year ago
Very interesting, when was this filmed?
madleech 4 years ago