WEKA PASS RAILWAY - NEW ZEALAND
The Weka Pass Railway is a heritage railway located at Waipara, 40 minutes north of Christchurch, in the South Island of New Zealand. This film was shot in the summer months when the train was pulled by a 1955 Dg diesel locomotive. At other times the train may be pulled by a vintage steam engine.
Weka Pass Railway, Waipara - NEW ZEALAND DRONE (HD VIDEO)
Flying around A428 at the Weka Pass Railway with our drone camera
By: WHITE BUS FAMILY PRODUCTIONS
New Zealand - Weka Pass Railway
Weka Pass railway branch line from Waipara to Waikari north canterbury East Coast of the South Island New Zealand. We take the train jurney from Glenmark to Waikari and ride in the cab of A 428 return to Glenmark station 3 December 2006.
Weka Pass Railway From The Air (Waipara) NEW ZEALAND HD Drone Video
Train headed by steam locomotive A428 on The Weka Pass Railway
HD Drone Video
Don't forget to look at our other videos! There are always new ones coming.
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A trip up the Weka Pass Railway, New Zealand
On the 5th of November 2015, the Weka Pass Railway Inc. in North Canterbury staged a railfans run up the old Waiau Branch to Waikari. The trip was double headed with visiting locomotive Ab 608 from Steam Incorporated, Paekakariki preceding a South Island Tour, and A 428, the Weka Pass societies own steam locomotive. Both locomotives are early (1915 & 1909) examples of the 4-6-2 'Pacific' type pioneered by the New Zealand Railways which later spread to Southern Africa, America and Europe (notably the United Kingdom). This was the first pairing of these locomotives in preservation.
The Weka Pass Railway runs similar night trains annually albeit hauled only by A 428 and the Weka Pass carriage fleet. For those of who who cannot make it to Waipara to experience one of these night runs first-had, Notch 8 have produced this video which we hope is the next best thing from actually being there.
Tickets for future night runs are available from
Silver Fern to the Weka Pass Railway - May 2019 (HD)
Wednesday 29th May saw Dunedin Railways operate their Silver Fern Railcar from Christchurch to Waipara as part of their East Coast rail tour of the South Island. At Waipara, the railcar ventured onto the Weka Pass Railway and was docked at Glenmark station where passengers boarded behind Dg's 791 & 770 for a trip through to Waikari. Here the majority boarded couches bound for Hamner Springs, whist the remaining passengers returned to Christchurch on the Silver Fern. We catch up with the action at Waipara, shortly before the Dg's left for Waikari, where we follow them up the pass and return before capturing the railcar on its way back to Christchurch in the afternoon. This is to be one of Dunedin Railway's last rail excursions utilizing RM 24 before the lease from KiwiRail expires, requiring the railcar to be handed back to its owner in June, enjoy!
New Zealand Trains: Weka Pass Railway - Waikari to Glenmark
The Weka Pass Railway is about an hours drive north of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s south island. It has been run by volunteers since 1983.
The 13km trip runs between Glenmark station in Waipara, and Waikari, across the Weka Pass
The diesel loco was DG770, built by the English Electric Company & Vulcan Foundry Limited, England in 1955.
A 428 - Pride of the Weka Pass Railway (HD)
The Weka Pass Railway is a heritage railway located at Waipara in North Canterbury 60km from Christchurch. The line runs 13km up steep grades and travels through the scenic Weka Pass including the stunning limestone cuttings such as Frog Rock before arriving into the small township of Waikari. They operate a 1909 built steam locomotive A 428 which travels up this interesting railway with people on board enjoying the countryside and the smell of pure coal smoke as 428 works hard. Also a photo opportunity is held half way up so people can witness a steam locomotive thunder past them and feel the ground shake. A 428 runs the Weka Pass excursions during the winter months while a couple of Dg diesel electric locomotives take over during the fire ban in summer. In our video documentary we capture 428 at scenic points along the railway in wet and dry weather plus bonus footage on board, turning on the turntable, the spectacular photo runby, and much more!!!
Full Steam Ahead, A428 on the Weka Pass railway (HD)
On October 6th 2013, The Weka Pass Railway ran their A class pacific number 428 for the first time since its 10 year survey repairs. Here we see the Locomotive working hard through the scenic Weka Pass during the two runs of the day including some on board footage plus some line side footage. We also have a look at the locomotive being turned at Waikari for the trip back to Glenmark, then we see the train return to Glenmark to be packed up after a great day on the Railway, sorry for the wind noise in these shots.
Di 1102 on the Weka Pass Railway - July 2018 (HD)
On Sunday 15th July 2018, Di 1102 began to be put through its paces for testing and certification on the Weka Pass Railway after a nine year restoration job undertaken by the Diesel Traction Group. The locomotive was restored to haul the railway's commercial passenger services through the scenic Weka Pass to Waikari and we capture the Di doing what it was built for along the 12.8km long railway in wet winter conditions. The sound of a Di, hard at work has not been heard of for almost 30 years until now as Di 1102 will be based at Waipara until October, enjoy the sweet sound of English Electric at its finest!
Weka Pass Railway - English Electric Showcase 2018 (HD)
On Saturday 6th October 2018, the Weka Pass Railway & the Diesel Traction Group joined forces and operated a special English Electric motive power themed day with 5 different locomotives, built by the English Electric Co. for the New Zealand Railways in action. This was the biggest live display of English Electric locomotives in operation in New Zealand Railway Preservation. Held as a tribute to the Diesel Traction Group and their completion of their restoration on Di 1102 earlier this year, highlights through the day included Di 1102 & Dg 772 in action, Dg's 791 & 770 on a goods train, DE 1429 on special shunting duties, plus the ultimate unlikely to be repeated 4 loco lash-up to Waikari. Enjoy the sweet, unique and beautiful sounds of English Electric at full noise!
A428- The Weka Pass Express
A 428, built in 1909 by A & G Price of Thames, New Zealand, pulls tourist trains on the 13km Weka Pass Railway, formerly part of the Waiau Branch. The Weka Pass Railway is open on the first and third weekends of every month and more frequently over the summer. Trains are either hauled by A 428, or when fire bans are in place, behind a vintage DG Class Diesel.
New Zealand Trains: Weka Pass Railway - Run round at Waikari
The Weka Pass Railway is about an hours drive north of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s south island. It has been run by volunteers since 1983.
The 13km trip runs from Glenmark station in Waipara, across the Weka Pass to Waikari.
At Waikari, the single ended locomotive makes use of the turntable, in the process of running round it’s train.
The diesel loco was DG770, built by the English Electric Company & Vulcan Foundry Limited, England in 1955.
Taken on Sunday 20 April 2018.
Weka Pass Railway - 'Get Real' With Paul Markholm & 'A' 428
Filmed on the Weka Pass Railway, North Canterbury, New Zealand
TVNZ 1996
Full Steam Ahead on the Weka Pass Railway
A428 pulls a passenger express through the scenic Weka Pass from Waipara to Waikari. A428 was built in 1909 and was used on New Zealand Lines until it was withdrawn in 1969. The Weka Pass line, was a mainline in the 19th Century. The original plan for the South Island's Main North Line was to leave the coast at Waipara and go inland towards Culverden, Hanmer Springs, Murchison and Nelson. The line construction stopped at the town of Waiau, 15 km South-east of The Springs and 10 km North of Culverden, because there was no safe way to get up the mountains. The line was renamed the Waiau branch. Then a line was built to Picton via Cheviot, Kaikoura and Blehniem. This line was much more successful than the Waiau Branch. The Weka Pass Railway Runs vintage trains from Waipara to Waikari.
The Weka pass Railway runs at least twice a month, normally on the first and third Sunday. Trains are normally hauled by A428, but in the summer months when fire bans are in place, A428 may be replaced by vintage deseils, Dg's 770 and 791
ENJOY!
Ab 608 & A 428 - Weka Pass Railway Railfan's Day (HD)
After Steam Incorporated had toured the South Island celebrating the 100th anniversary of steam locomotive Ab 608 Passchendaele, she teamed up with A 428 at the Weka Pass Railway in North Canterbury for some double header runs up the scenic railway. A railfan's day was held on Thursday November 5th 2015 which saw 2 runs up the 12.8km long railway plus an evening train utilizing Steam Incorporated's wooden carriages plus the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's F guards van. We capture the train on board and lineside plus some spectacular shots in the cab of Ab 608. Sit back and relax as we see the 2 steam engines work their way up the steep gradients of the Weka Pass bringing back memories from the past as A & Ab class locomotives worked on this branch line when in use by New Zealand Railways, enjoy!
AO Class Carriages - Delivery to New Homes (HD)
On Thursday August 30th 2018, eight ex-Tranz Scenic carriages, stored down south in Otago made their way north to their new owners. 3 were off to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, 2 to Steam Incorporated & 3 to Mainline Steam's Christchurch Depot. We capture the arrival of the passenger carriages into Christchurch early that morning, then witness the delivery of the Mainline Steam carriages to the Christchurch depot that afternoon and finally pay farewell to the remaining 5 carriages as they make their way north to their new homes in the North Island, enjoy!
Weka Pass Railway Slideshow
Weka Pass Railway
Waipara to Waikari
North Canterbury
Christchurch
New Zealand
A428 running on the Weka Pass Railway
A428 has just been recommissioned after its 10 year overhaul and hauls a tourist train through the scenic Weka Pass to Waikari and return on Sunday 6 October 2013.
This footage will feature on 'Weka Pass- THE STORY OF A RAILWAY' released onto DVD next year
Our website- notch8.weebly.com
Sorry about the wind noise
A 428 - Steam on the Weka Pass Railway (HD)
During the Easter Weekend, the Weka Pass Railway located in Waipara in North Canterbury, held their Easter special trains under the name The Cottontail Express. The Trains were hauled by Steam Locomotive A 428 (which came out of maintenance late last year) as fire bans had been lifted for the Pass.
Here we chase the 2.00pm train on the Easter Monday from Glenmark - Waikari and back. At Glenmark Station we film the loco turning on the turntable and filling up with water before departing. The Easter Bunny was also on board the Train as seen at Waikari.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of A 428 in the Weka Pass!