Taieri Gorge Railway

Today we took the Taieri Gorge Railway trip to Pukerangi from Dunedin station. This is reputed to be one of the most scenic railways in theworld and it didn’t disappoint.

Dunedin Railway station

We left at 9.30am, at first the train followed the main line out of the city, then branched off onto the branch line, across the Taieri Plain before beginning to climb up the gorge. The Gorge was tree lined to begin with then the trees gave way to rock.

 There were 10 tunnels and a number of trestle bridges and viaducts. In places the Gorge is very narrow, it is a real feat of engineering and it hard to believe that the line was built in the 1860s. It climbs from sea level up to 254m.

       

We were in one of the older carriages built in the 1920s, it rattled and rolled a bit but felt more authentic than the more modern ones. We got back to Dunedin at 14.15hrs. 

     

I have checked in for our flight tomorrow morning and this evening we are going out for a meal. I may not have Wi-fi for a few days as we are planning to drive to Okains Bay on the Banks Peninsula.