Trans Alpine - The Midland Line is a popular route that links Christchurch to Greymouth (255km) via Arthurs Pass and extends to Lyttelton. From sea level it rises to over 2400ft (732m) with 5 viaducts (the highest is the Staircase at 73m) and 18 tunnels.
Version 2 extended to include Buller Gorge to Westport making a total of 375km built on 45x baseboards.
Drivers & Trains...
David - DJ3044/3096 TranzAlpine passengers
Gary - DX5241/5259 Coal 6x wagons
Marty - DX5238/5206 Coal 10x wagons
Neville - DX5517/6041 waiting at UGL workshops.
AI trains have been tested running for 4 hours real time (about 27 hours in the game).
Things to do...
Travel in the cab with David (Cab View #1) on the TranzAlpine (Tranz Scenic) up the Canterbury Plains to the alpine village - Arthurs Pass. Through the Southern Alps to the West Coast, then past the beautiful Lake Brunner (Moana) and down the banks of the Grey River to Greymouth. On the way you may pass AI coal trains bringing coal to Lyttelton from Stockton and Spring Creek mines. After that you may do whatever you wish.
Other things to try...
1. Remove bad weather.
2. Change camera view to Tracking (#3)
3. Take a ride with Gary or with Marty (let them do the driving).
4. Drive Neville wherever you wish.
5. Remove driver instructions and make up your own.
6. Explore other features such as the Stockton open cast mine.
FEATURES TO LOOK FOR...
Lyttelton Port, Broken River Viaduct, Stockton opencast coal mine, Spring Creek mine, Westport Wharf coal loading facilities.
Distances have been scaled down 14:1. **Warning** Speed restrictions must be strictly observed due to the tight bends encountered.
All Gradients, Tunnels, Track Detail and Topography are authentic.
Presently used daily by Trans Alpine passenger service and coal trains from Greymouth and Westport to Lyttelton.
Locos included:
DJ3096 & DJ3044 1967 900hp Mitsubishi Heavy Ind. Ltd Caterpillar D-398
Weight 64T Bo-Bo-Bo
DX5206/5233/5241/5259/5517 1972-75 2600hp General Electric GE 7FDL12
Weight 99T 120km/h
DF6041 1979-81 2473hp General Motors GM12-645E3C
Weight 88T 113km/h
DC4847 (1980 Rebuilt from DA) 1500hp GM 12-645C Top Speed 100km/h
Note...
The TranzAlpine part of the Tranz Scenic passenger service travels on the Midland Line linking the East Coast to the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
The coal mines are run by Solid Energy New Zealand Ltd.
Ontrack manages the railway infrastructure.
The locomotives are managed by Toll and serviced by my brother at UGL (previously Alstom).