Trains 535 & 534 At The Foot Of The Westmere Bank

#westmerebank #kiwirail #freighttrain South & Northbound freight trains are seen near the bottom of the Westmere gradient, on the outskirts of Whanganui on New Zealand's Marton - New Plymouth Line. Both scenes were recorded in Matipo Park Reserve. The first service is Train 535 and is decending with DL's 9319 & 9596 on the head. 535 has come from the Fonterra Dairy Factory at Whareroa. The second service we see is Train 534 being hauled by DL's 9158 & 9377. The white containers on the back half will be destined to be loaded with perishable goods from the Dairy Factory. 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, 14 Feb 2025, there are 73 of the class in existence, with a few class members from the first batch now laid up at Hutt Workshops