Ja 1275 on Newmarket Curve

Between 1617 and 1623hrs on Sunday 7th June 2009, Ja 1275 became the first steam locomotive to run under her own power through the very sharp curves at Newmarket Junction. Previously this practice was prohibited due to suspected check rail clearance issues with 4-coupled steam locos, but a test in May 2009 proved that it could be done at slow speed.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Newmarket
• Auckland
• NZ
• Mainline
• Steam
• KiwiRail
• Locomotive
• Engine
• North
• British
• Train
• Rail
• Railroad
• Railway

[tutvideos]

notice the ADL going past at like 50 kph on that steam loco going about 20 kph!

[GeoffBlackmore]

The Ja was only doing about 2-3km/h.

[alexandgruntz]

How long did it take for the train to get round? :D

[GeoffBlackmore]

6 or 7 minutes.

[alexandgruntz]

DMUs can do it in 5 seconds LOL

[GeoffBlackmore]

DMU's take about 30-45 seconds to travel around this curve. This steam loco is only going slowly because of check rail clearances, not because of the curvature.

[leaderofearth]

@tutvideos those cars are part of the Tranzscenic charter fleet. Cars like that were the mainstay of the Auckland suburban system up until the ADKs and ADLs arrived in the early 90s.

[tutvideos]

what kind of carriages are those passenger ones? they do look a little like the common Western Line SA/SD's

[SINWGN]

it is the tightest curve in the nz rail network & the 25k curve @ britomart

[SINWGN]

that ADL shuld be going no more than 40kph