Droning the Raurimu Spiral: Episode 11

The Raurimu Spiral is one of the great achievements of early NZ engineering (1907), it is recognized by IPENZ as such. In this episode we follow the Northern Explorer up the spiral and include some of its history......enjoy!

[@christineconrad4269]

I did this journey today first time in all my life and I'm from here, I'm 61 it was wonderful I enjoyed very much thank you Tim and Glenbrook

[@christineconrad4269]

oh yes and thank you for the vieo

[@richardvoogd705]

Thank you for sharing. The first time I went on the spiral was in 1973, when I was about 12, on an overnight class trip from Auckland to Wellington. I was sound asleep! I've since done the journey more than once, both daytime and night. One trip I was a little bit naughty and availed myself of an opportunity to sneak off the train for a smoke while waiting for a northbound service to come down. Risky, yes, I had to pay attention to avoid causing problems for the train crews and to avoid being left behind!

[@YRPortfolio]

Greetings from Germany! I stumbled upon this video reading up on rail transport in NZ. Never been on this line, although I did visit NZ a few years ago! Nice effort! :)

[@jamesimrobertson5422]

Been a fan of the spiral for a number of years so thanks for this excellent video. Really the only way to truly appreciate it.

[@jimcrawford5039]

Wow I can see it a lot better now, thanks. Had a ride on the explorer a few years ago, awesome trip! Cheers from NSW.

[@bevan9112]

Great video, well done.

[@kiwicodger]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@clairesheppy8052]

What a fabulous video (despite the slip half way through) of a fabulous bit of railway in a fabulous country. I have done the journey N to S just once, in 2004.

[@kuntaldutta3740]

Excellent video! First time seeing the famous spiral in it's entirety!

[@RobynGallagher]

Thank you for making this video!

[@kenbearsley8322]

That was real interesting. I heard so much about it approximately 20 years ago. From what i heard, it was one of the greatest rail engineering feets of its time. And it was the only way they could build the rail line through the area. Would love to do that trip a couple times both ways just to see the scenery.

[@joemc111]

Nice video,with youtube I have been able to travel all over the world.

[@kiwicodger]

Good for you, one day maybe you will take the train and do the trip. Good luck!

[@cheeseisdelicious111]

Awesome video. It was quite mesmerising.

[@eileenlynetteadams9182]

I made the trip in 2008 My bucket list. North & South Islnds in 1 week with a free ferry crossing in the package. Overlander then, Overnite in Wellngtn Trans Coastal, Picton - Chch, visit family did a day trip with them by road, Trans Alpine, Chch - Greymouth return. Then back to picton by Train again and bus from Welngtn - New Plymouth. Awesome, memorable trip. At Greymouth little did I know that I'd be living in Westport S Island by late 2011 and travelling along west coast regularly. Another beautiful scenic highway 7th best scenic highway in the world.

[@kiwicodger]

I plan my drone trips dependent on good weather. NZ is stunning in good weather, haven't done any droning in the South Island, look forward to doing some of that. Cheers

[@RobbievanderKleij]

just playing Transport Fever 2 on PC and wanted to get a good look at the spiral to make it in the game with a New Zealand map, wonderful effort KC I really enjoyed it the most of all the videos made that I found so far, well it's worth stopping looking for others nice flying too

[@kiwicodger]

Cheers Robbie, it was a lot of fun droning this spiral, glad you enjoyed it.

[@j777barbasiewicz]

Great video, Sir. Best from PL.

[@anangadhi]

nice video. fr indonesia

[@Crosshead1]

Absolutely fantastic video. Great work tracking (no pun intended) the train over the entire length of the spiral. Well done.

[@kiwicodger]

Cheers, got there an hour earlier and did a practice flight over the area then waited for the train. I was happy with the results seeing I was using 'Sports Mode' on the drone, which can be fairly sensitive. I think the footage puts the spiral into context well, glad you enjoyed it

[@nzmarc]

Awesome - nice flying mate. Great to see it from start to finish.

[@kiwicodger]

It was a great adventure for me, glad you enjoyed it. Flying in sports mode is very sensitive so am reasonably happy with the results.

[@rudiechinchilla6746]

One od the best vida ever!!

[@DroneGirl1]

Very nice! Thumbs up from Ireland! :)

[@kiwicodger]

Hi Drone Girl, in my mind I read you comments with an Irish accent, love that accent!

[@JohnSmith-ip2ed]

Very cool, tried to finger out where it was yesterday from the lookout and couldn't. This gave me at least a clue. Cheers

[@stephaniekent8483]

wow.... you must be very pleased with this..... best ever coverage of this important and historic train route... thank you :)

[@kiwicodger]

Hi Stephanie, I have mini holidays where I drone historical stuff. This one was a challenge as there's only one train a day. Happy with the result, it was a lot of fun. Droning helps people frame things spacially and was ideal for this spiral, Glad you liked it!

[@vwxyz0002]

GREAT!!!! First time I have seen the Raurimu Spiral with a train on it.

[@kiwicodger]

The train was late and then it caught me a bit by surprise, a lot of fun though.

[@tonymckeage1028]

Great Video, New Sub here, thanks for the share

[@kiwicodger]

Welcome Tony. There's plenty more droning but mainly around areas where battles occuredin the Musket Wars.

[@warwickwaho5078]

my old man got the speed record going down Raurimu spiral on a Loco with no wagons he used to tow the goods train up to national park and race back to Taumarunui for a beer at the pub then pull the next goods train up when it came in they had longer trains back then you could see the tail of the train coming round the previous loop. The next person after him to try it de rail and died. Bunty Rongonui was his name I was just a kid and had the day off school to watch them dig his body out of the cab and lift the train onto another set of wheels to take away for investigation

[@kiwicodger]

What a great bit of history you experienced there.. health and safety was for wimps back in the da..... great stuff!

[@cliffleigh7450]

How come the props were in the picture - isn't the camera below them? And some music might have been better that listening to a flight of bees. Good shots though.

[@KiwiRailSpotter]

What kind of drone did you use?

[@KiwiRailSpotter]

Nvm found it haha

[@kiwicodger]

Have since purchased a Mavic Air 2...loving it.

[@stinchjack]

0:55 show the hill the train has to climb