SOL and Taranaki Trains 1991

This video was made in December 1991, when tablet working was nearing the end of operation in the Taranaki. It starts at Taumarunui, with a northbound shunt train that ran at the time, departing for Te Rapa. Then we go for a cab ride from Taumarunui to Tokorima on the SOL, before moving to Stratford. Here we see a train being made up for Taumarunui and the train’s departure. There is footage of the operation of the tablet machines at Eltham station, including the “tablet transmitter” machine for Te Roti so trains could access the Kapuni line. Also running at this time were a couple of return trips of a urea shuttle train between Kapuni and New Plymouth, plus daily shunting service to Kapuni. Coverage is seen of these trains, plus some of New Plymouth to Palmerston Norh trains that were running back then. Sit back and enjoy.

46:37                                                                                                                                                                                                                          17/10/23

Credit: Tim Dawber