Miscellaneous and Happenings

AMA 1020 is the last vehicle on the train, as the new unit trails into Pukekohe

24 May 2025

Also around Pukekohe is AM 1005, the first of the third batch of AM class EMUs to arrive and enter service. The unit is seen here stabled in the new backshunt next to the bus stops

24 May 2025

AM 1005 stabled for the weekend at Pukekohe

24 May 2025

Heading south towards Hamilton, this Speno rail grinder heads down the Whangarata bank into Pōkeno. The identification of the rail grinder is presumably ETM 798

4 June 2025

DBR 1254 and DA 1410 heads down the Whangarata bank with train D059, en route to Tokoroa. The train is running a tour around the upper North Island before joining the festivities for the FRONZ 50th in Palmerston North

11 June 2025

Just hours later after the passage of train D059, Ww 644 rolls down the grade in the same location with train A061, en route to Hamilton on its 5 day trip to Palmerston North

11 June 2025

DFB 7307 rolls down the Whangarata bank into Pōkeno with train 201, running wrong line. A broken rail on the Down Main near Mercer closed that track between there and Pukekohe, forcing train 201 to run wrong line. In the consist is recently repainted AK 2024, wearing the newer Great Journeys of New Zealand livery

19 July 2025

DFB 7307, seemingly permanently assigned to the Northern Explorer, leads train 201 south through Puhinui station

28 July 2025

Recently repainted AK 2024 in the consist of train 201. The new livery features a "lighter" version of the black design applied to the AKP carriage, as well as a splash of colour

28 July 2025

At Manukau, newbies AM 1059 and AM 1114 sit next to each other, with the pair of units on the left departing first

29 July 2025

Part way through its return journey to Glenbrok, Ww 644 ran two shuttle trips from Hamilton, one to Morrinsville and one to Huntly. The locomotive is seen here ahead of departure to Morrinsville, the day after arriving at Hamilton

24 August 2025

After returning from Morrinsville, Ww 644 is serviced on Platform 2, then coupled back to its train

24 August 2025

With the GVR truck alongside, Ww 644 is serviced while passengers disembark and a new set board for the trip to Huntly

24 August 2025

The GVR truck unloads coal into the bunker of Ww 644, ahead of departure for Huntly

24 August 2025

Ww 644 puts on a show on the Whangarata bank, finally returning to Glenbrook after being away for two months

24 August 2025

In the distance, Ww 644 and its train are seen near the top of the Whangarata bank, heading home to Glenbrook

24 August 2025

At the end of a running day on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Ww 480 is reloaded with coal via tractor on the Pukeoware Road level crossing

25 October 2025

On one of the many rainy days through early spring, an AM unit sits under the grey sky at Puhinui, exchanging passengers as the rain falls. Here, just the pantograph is visible, as it contrasts against the grey skies

28 October 2025

A chance encounter with DL 9728 sees it leading train 211 through Puhinui, using the receontly completed third main

28 October 2025

One of the newest trains we've ever travelled on, AM 1183 sits at Manukau station just days after entereing service, ready to run a service to Waitematā

11 November 2025

AM 334 gets under way from Sylvia Park heading towards Manukau, with an unidentified partner. Despite being a weekend service, all trains on the Eastern Line were running as 6-car trains because of the recent opening of nearby IKEA

14 December 2025

At Glenbrook, wagon MUK 236 was previously left in the loop, requiring Ww 480 to shunt the wagon out of the way before the day's services could commence. The locomotive is seen here pretending to be on a semi-modern freight train as it propels the wagon onto the turntable

27 December 2025

Ww 480 sits on the turntable with MUK 236, while the wagon is secured. The locomotive will then return to the carriages to prepare to start the day

27 December 2025

A few days later, Ww 480 pulls into Glenbrook in pouring rain, running a regular service

3 January 2026

SRV 5893 leads DFB 7077 on train 1302 through Papakura without stopping, as passengers waiting for their service to Waitematā look on

3 February 2026

Sitting in the stabling yard during the first week of school holidays, AM 1018 rests at Papakura during a shutdown south of Puhinui

7 April 2026

Viewed from an RBS rail bus, SRV 5893 crawls through Te Mahia, with train 1302. Te Huia continuted running through the shutdown between Puhinui and Pukekohe, albeit with severe delays due to track work

7 April 2026

DFB 7295 coasts down the grade into Pōkeno, with train 1303 in tow. Of note in the consist, the SRC cafe car has been moved to the end of the consist - the class has been fitted with an anti-climber device in preparation for a DL class locomotive to pull the train in both directions

14 May 2026

Just a few minutes later, SRV 5859 leads a late running train 1320 up the grade, with DFB 7335 at the rear pushing up the grade. Behind the SRV is SR 6015, in place of where an SRC carriage used to be located

14 May 2026

DFB 7335 pushes train 1320 up the grade towards Pukekohe, with SRC 5994 directly in front

14 May 2026

AM 253 pulls away from Puhinui station, with out-of-sight AM 823 as the second unit

26 May 2026

AM 823 trails a 6-car Southern Line service as the train pulls out of Puhinui station

26 May 2026

At a private level crossing, AM 701 and AM 294 lead a Waitematā-bound service into Papakura station

16 June 2026

AM 701 and AM 294 approach Papakura station on their way towards Waitematā

16 June 2026

On the following service AM 334 and AM 306 head around the corner out of Drury and towards Papakura

16 June 2026

AM 334 and AM 306 head out of Drury towards Papakura in the rising morning light

16 June 2026

Heading the other way, AM 131 and AM 646 head towards Pukekohe, their next and final stop before returning to Waitematā

16 June 2026

AM 131 and AM 646 approach Drury on their run south

16 June 2026

Just seconds afterwards, SRV 5859 comes into view leading train 1302, with DFB 7295 on the rear providing power for the Te Huia service

16 June 2026

SRV 5859 approaches the level crossing with its headlights glitching

16 June 2026

To become less of a common sight in the near future, SRV 5859 leads train 1302 towards Papakura. With the requirement for Te Huia to use ETCS locomotives shortly taking effect, a DL locomotive will instead be on the head of the train in both directions

16 June 2026

DFB 7295 on the rear of train 1302, pushing the train towards Papakura

16 June 2026

A week after we last saw this train in this location, SRV 5893 takes up the lead role instead, leading DFB 7335 through Opaheke

23 June 2026

DFB 7335 pushes its train towards Papakura, passing a signal set to Advance Caution to Medium

23 June 2026

A semi-regular visitor, ETM 432 checks the tracks as it heads up out of Pōkeno, heading for Mission Bush

24 June 2026

Returning the other way a few hours later in heavy rain, ETM 432 returns from Mission Bush heading back to Hamilton

24 June 2026

A chance encounter with DL 9763 and DL 9786 on a test run at Mercer with a Te Huia consist. The test run terminated here and returned to Hamilton shortly afterwards. DL class locomotives will shortly be introduced on Te Huia owing to the new requirement to have ETCS fitted to all trains in the Auckland network

27 July 2026