Trains 545 & 544 On The Westmere Bank

South & Northbound freight trains are seen on the Westmere gradient on New Zealand's Marton - New Plymouth Line. Both scenes were recorded in Matipo Reserve on the outskirts of Whanganui. Train 545 is decending with DL's 9750 & 9544 on the head. 545 has come from the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Whareroa. There are 8 wagons of empty milk tanks on the tail. The ascending service we see is Train 544 being hauled by DL's 9020 & 9521. This time the milk wagons are loaded and are placed right behind the locomotives. Both these trains crossed each other at East Town Yard which is 3.5 km down the line. Both trains in the video probably had the same driver, who changed trains where they crossed. The Westmere Bank is one of New Zealands steepest railway gradients. The gradient averages at about 1/35 (2.86%) but has sections as steep as 1/33 (3.03%). It was opened on 28 June 1879 and is the ruling gradient of the Marton - New Plymouth Line. The KiwiRail DL class was manufactured by CRRC Dalian 中车大连机车车辆有限公司 with engines from MTU. Introduced from 2010 onwards, they are the most powerful diesel-electric locos in service in New Zealand. The class represents the first order for a Chinese-built locomotive from a western country. The 9000 series allocation was chosen for this class of locomotive as the number 9 represents longevity and good luck in Chinese culture. On the Day of the is video, September 29th 2025, there are 73 of the class in existence, with a few class members from the first batch now laid up at Hutt Workshops