Trip to Raurimu Spiral

1St April 2007

 

Wab 794 coal fired loco & sister engine Ab 663 oil fired loco hauled a total 320-ton train to the must spectular engineering masterpiece the Raurimu Spiral.

Laid out in the form of an ascending spiral, incorporating a complete circle, three horseshoe curves, and two short tunnels, the Raurimu Spiral artificially increases the distance between Raurimu and National Park from 3+ miles, if the spiral was straightened out in a direct line it would measure 7 track miles.

This advent was a rare sight for the doubled headed train, the first time a Wab & an Ab on this line since the late 1940's.

 

      

 

    

 

 

 

   

 

   

 

  

 

 

 

 

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Photo’s By Stuart Anderson & Janine Evans

Created By Stuart Anderson