Dunedin. The Taieri Gorge train about to cross one of the many bridges in the gorge. Otago. New Zealand.
Central Otago Railway and the Taieri Gorge train.
The impressive Dunedin railway station, the most photographer building in NZ, was completed in 1906. It was designed by a government architect with tower, gables and dormer windows in an Edwardian Flemish extravaganza style reflecting the importance of rail travel at that time. Inside the pretty flour tiles are by Royal Doulton. The line from Christchurch reached Dunedin in 1878. But one of the first railway lines in NZ originated here on a narrow gauge line to Port Chalmers in 1873. The steam engine that opened the line is housed in the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin. But even before the railway came from Christchurch the Otago Central Railway was formed in 1877 with the first 27 km section opening in 1889. That line which we travel on today through Taieri Gorge was extended to Middlemarch in 1891. The line was extended every few years opening up land for sheep farmers until it reached Alexandra in 1906. The following year it was extended to Clyde and finally to Cromwell it’s most westerly point in 1921. Fat lambs and sheep were then railed to meat processing works at Pareora and later Mosgiel in Dunedin. This all came to a decline (but not a cessation) in the 1970s when Britain entered the European Common Market and road transport become cheaper. The western part of the rail line was closed by a new dam in 1980 and finally along its entire length in 1990. The Taieri Gorge section of the line climbs quickly to 437 metres (1,434 feet) with curves, a 200 metre tunnel and a long viaduct. The viaduct is the longest and tallest wrought iron structure in NZ. The line between Dunedin and Middlemarch has 10 tunnels, 16 major bridges and 4 major viaducts. Dunedin not only had trains but also cable trams
Dunedin. The Taieri Gorge train about to cross one of the many bridges in the gorge. Otago. New Zealand.
Central Otago Railway and the Taieri Gorge train.
The impressive Dunedin railway station, the most photographer building in NZ, was completed in 1906. It was designed by a government architect with tower, gables and dormer windows in an Edwardian Flemish extravaganza style reflecting the importance of rail travel at that time. Inside the pretty flour tiles are by Royal Doulton. The line from Christchurch reached Dunedin in 1878. But one of the first railway lines in NZ originated here on a narrow gauge line to Port Chalmers in 1873. The steam engine that opened the line is housed in the Otago Settlers Museum in Dunedin. But even before the railway came from Christchurch the Otago Central Railway was formed in 1877 with the first 27 km section opening in 1889. That line which we travel on today through Taieri Gorge was extended to Middlemarch in 1891. The line was extended every few years opening up land for sheep farmers until it reached Alexandra in 1906. The following year it was extended to Clyde and finally to Cromwell it’s most westerly point in 1921. Fat lambs and sheep were then railed to meat processing works at Pareora and later Mosgiel in Dunedin. This all came to a decline (but not a cessation) in the 1970s when Britain entered the European Common Market and road transport become cheaper. The western part of the rail line was closed by a new dam in 1980 and finally along its entire length in 1990. The Taieri Gorge section of the line climbs quickly to 437 metres (1,434 feet) with curves, a 200 metre tunnel and a long viaduct. The viaduct is the longest and tallest wrought iron structure in NZ. The line between Dunedin and Middlemarch has 10 tunnels, 16 major bridges and 4 major viaducts. Dunedin not only had trains but also cable trams