New Zealand - Rail-carts through the Forgotten World - Part 1 Okahukura to Tangarakau

This is my favourite railway adventure to date, where else can you be your own train driver? Parts of this video were uploaded back in 2014, since then there have been some significant improvements in editing software, including stand alone “Steady Software” from Mercalli and my main editing program from Pinnacle Studio (currently Version 23). I have taken advantage of the latest software upgrades to get the best from the original video taken in 2014. Okahukura is located in New Zealand’s Central North Island, in this video we cover the first part of the full route between Okahukura and Stratford in a specially modified golf cart, adapted to run on rails. Part 1 covers (Okahukura to Tangarakau). "Forgotten World Adventures" obtained a lease on the tracks from KiwiRail in 2012, by the time of my visit the operation was established, offering a variety of tours, ranging from short half day tours to 3 day whole line tours that included returning to Taumarunui along the Whanganui River in a jet boat. An early rise was required to meet the rest of the group at the Forgotten World Adventures headquarters in Taumarunui. We were given instructions about the rail-carts and rules of the road, along with a short history about the railway, before climbing into a minibus for the short journey to the start point where the carts were ready and waiting. The early morning mist was still hanging just above the rails giving the place a ghostly atmosphere. We headed off into the fog; fortunately it wasn’t too long before the sun burned the mist away revealing a perfect day. Please join me for a fascinating journey through a landscape that time forgot, especially the awesome, prehistoric Tangarakau Gorge, where we half expected to come face to face with a dinosaur around every corner.
Rail gauge - 3ft 6in (1,067mm)
If you'd like to learn more or maybe it's something you’d like to do, please click on this link - www.forgottenworldadventures....

[@BrendanPerkins]

That looks such an awesome thing to do! Added to the bucket list. 😃

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It really is fun, if you get the opertunity to do this I'm sure you'll enjoy the whole experience.

[@BrendanPerkins]

@@Timsvideochannel1 We plan to go one day, it'll definitely happen. 😃

[@annawitter5161]

This is an amazing trip. I have watched it over and over since you first presented it. Its so peaceful and calming to a troubled mind. Cant wait to save enough money to do it myself

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Anna, I am sure you'd love this trip, it is a bit pricey, but well worth it. It is calming and relaxing experience, I hope you get to do it someday.

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

fascinating journey Tim. nice that the mist lifted so the landscape could be seen better.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Keith, this trip is unique, it took a while for the fog to lift, but when it did, we were treated to a perfect day. I'd love to see a similar operation on the mothballed Blaenau Ffestiniog to Trawsfynydd railway in Wales, maybe using pedal powered carts as its a much shorter run.

[@mikioni]

With great pleasure I watched this virtual ride through magical landscapes and had the impression that I was there on the spot.🚂🏞 Thanks 👐👏

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, this is my favourite rail experience, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride.

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

Absolutely stunning video, thank you for sharing this with us, as a kid my father and I would travel from Auckland to Stratford on the railcar, sadly it was stopped then we traveled on the Railways bus, and that was definitely not a nice trip, we also traveled down through the Whangnui line on the railcar, we stopped at Hawrea, and my uncle would pick us up, sadly we stopped traveling in 1968 once my father remarried, but of course we both know that most of the passengers rail stopped in later years, my father worked in the railways as I did after school and traveled around the whole country from the free pass available, I have been hoping to travel on this line again, hopefully this coming year as I have just retired, and hope travel around our amazing country again.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the ride, it's a wonderful way to see a beautiful part of the world. Sadly travelling by train around New Zealand is no longer practical, there are too many gaps in the routes available. I'd love to slip back in time to do some of the train trips you did in those far off days, I appreciate you sharing your recollections, the rail-carts are fun and just occasionally Steam Incorporated run a train to Whanganui Quay from Paekākāriki, that's a nice experience.

[@VlakynaSlovensku]

Excellent video!! Like!

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you.

[@twinvideoproduction9662]

Awesome video. I will be sharing your link with my subscribers. Thank you.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm glad you enjoyed the ride. There are currently three places where this can be done in New Zealand - kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKWxh5eDa691mqM - kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4ebnoqKpZt-as0 There is another North of Auckland; I’ll try to do that on my next trip to New Zealand. Rail-carting is fun, a great way to see the countryside. Thanks for sharing the link, I looked at your channel, I see we like the same things - awesome countryside, rail-carting and cats.

[@twinvideoproduction9662]

Thank you my friend for the update. Stay connected please.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@twinvideoproduction9662 KZbin offers opportunities that aren't available through mainstream media, we share common interests, it is likely we will see one an others channels again. My cat is trying to walk across my key board now. Take care. Tim.

[@twinvideoproduction9662]

This brings up a memory when one of my cats cut my keyboard cable. I had a spare one at hand. Next time I am buying a wireless keyboard and mouse.

[@jeffemerson6122]

SUCH A COOL ADVENTURE TOO WATCH. LITTLE NOISY BUT MORE PERSONAL. THANKS 4 SHARING FROM KENTUCKY U.S.A.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Jeff, it's a fun thing to do, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride.

[@dungeonandragons]

Awesome ride

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@kippen64]

Definitely something to add to my bucket list.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

I hope you get to do it because it really is fun.

[@Gleiswanderer]

Thank you for sharing that with us. As this is on the other end of world, I would neither be able to do this, nor to visit that country in my live, so it is great, to see that anyway.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I'm pleased you enjoyed the ride, I live in England, about as far from New Zealand as it's possible to be. My son moved to Wellington giving me a great excuse to visit and tour one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world.

[@user-ue7lt5qi4h]

Замечательная прогулка на таких прикольных тележках ! Класс !!! Я такого никогда не видела ! Красота !

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Спасибо, я рад, что вы наслаждались поездкой, это интересно сделать.

[@FozenMoustache]

Thank you for this Tim, i now know where to take my family on holiday when the covid-19 restrictions is lifted! It is amazing how much there is to experience out there, and i really did not know something like this even existed. I`m hoping you are doing well and looking forward to see more of your travels in the future.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, it's nice to see your channel is doing well. The forgotten world is a fascinating place and riding the rail-carts is a wonderful way to enjoy the scenery. My travelling has been restricted to a short walk to the local shop for the last year, I can't wait for restrictions to ease, I really miss travelling. I am lucky to have a good size house with a large garden, life must be very difficult for families with little or no outside space. I've had plenty of time to edit older videos that would never have made it onto KZbin if it was not for lockdown. If you do get to New Zealand think you'll enjoy the experience. Spring has arrived now here in the UK and my local heritage railways are opening up again, so I'll be able to shoot some new videos in the near future. We are keeping OK here, I hope you and your family are safe and well, ready to enjoy the warmer spring weather. Take care. Tim.

[@FozenMoustache]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Thank you Tim. I guess more and more people are discovering my channel by now, and that is fun to see that my content is liked. Yea, it is so unusuall and facinating that someone have came up with this idea. I`m glad you are doing well and have time to do some gardening and editing older gems that are hiding :) I`m shure i wil enjoy this, it is now on my bucket list, hehe. We are looking forward for more train related stuff in during the spring and summer. We are doing well, the Corona haven struck us as hard as i tought it would do. But as long as people are social distancing and start thinking a little bit I`m shure things wil be okay in the end .

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@FozenMoustache Hi, I'm pleased to hear you and your family are OK. Tomorrow is a big day, my wife and I are driving to London to see my youngest daughter for the first time in 14 months. We had our first vaccine injections 4 week ago the second will happen in two weeks time, my daughter teaches at London University, she is tested for the virus twice a week. We are not confident enough yet to catch a train because there are so many people on the trains into London, it's not so bad on local trains along the South Coast between Brighton and Southampton. On Monday lockdown restrictions will be eased allowing hairdressers and non essential shops to open with social distancing and some sensible restrictions. With any luck we are over the worst effects of the virus and life will slowly return to normal.

[@manmeetsinghmahajan6183]

Nice one.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Cheers, I'm pleased you enjoyed it.

[@johannperaus6890]

Hi Tim! For fun, I ran the video at double speed once. That looks really good. The speedsters then drive 50 miles. Best regards from Hans and stay healthy. Cheers 🍻🇦🇹

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Hans, I fitted a little GoPro camera to the cart for this trip, I uploaded that video as a high-speed version with suitable musiic - kzbin.info/www/bejne/faO0pJird7ChiNk It's fun to speed things up, but the condition of the track would have made the ride very lively. Cheers. Tim.

[@johannperaus6890]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Thanks for the link. I'll check it out in a moment. 🍻

[@johnmchardy1229]

Hi Tim Dad did his first stint as a Teacher in a place called Tawata. It is in that part of the country somewhere. I heard it may have become extinct. Only a tiny school with a few small kids only. Teachers in that time after WW2 had to do a stint in the country before they could move to the bugger towns. Chuckle. Very nice Tim thanks.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, out of interest I looked Tawata up - www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz47474/Tawata/ if this is the correct place it is on the edge of the Manawatu Gorge near to the Palmerston North to Napier line. I can't find any further information, so I guess it is a really small village, it is in a very sparsely populated area. The route covered in this video and Tawata are both in the Manawatu-Wanganui region. I bet your Dad enjoyed his time in such an idyllic location teaching in a school that was probably little more than one classroom. A lot of the farmhands died in WW2 and many of those left deserted the tiny villages for better paid work in the towns, as can be seen in this video there are a number of abandoned buildings.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

www.google.com/maps/place/Tawata+Road,+Manawatu-Wanganui+3993,+New+Zealand/@-39.0302403,175.0794884,15.35z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x6d6b303c6a229eb1:0x552fe2d427167f42!8m2!3d Hi, I also found Tawata Road, there are a few farms, but I didn't find a village or school, although if I'm in the area again, I'll drive the road, it looks fascinating.

[@johnmchardy1229]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Yes Tim I looked at that map about 2 years ago as it was the only reference I could find. We lived near the school and dad just walked across a paddock to go to work. Dad was very close to the Maori people all his life. He was given a Tangi with full honors when he passed away. A funeral reserved for Maori dignitaries. He lay it state in the Marae or Maori meeting house with a bird feather cloak on in an open coffin. I will never forget that very special. It finished with the touching of noses or Hongi. It lasted 3 days and was a chance for all to grieve and at the end a Maori lady sang a song to him a very highly respected one. The top man approached the coffin and said."Haere ra, Haere ra, Haere ra e Hori." Translated means Goodbye to George. Hori is Maori for George again an honor paid to Dad Addressing him with a Maori name. Nice to share this special memory with you Tim, take care.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@johnmchardy1229 Hi John, I stayed with a Maori couple and also at an hotel in Taumarumui run by a Maori team. They were some of the most welcoming people I've ever encountered, nothing was too much trouble. I like the way the Maori way of life is treated as a proud part New Zealand's history; when my son moved to New Zealand he read the "the Penguin History of New Zealand" to understand and appreciate New Zealand's history. Your father must have been very respected by the Maori community to be afforded such a traditional send off, nice memories to have. There is still a real frontiere feeling in parts of the country well away from the tourist routes, it must have been a tough for the early settlers, as they set out on their amazing adventures into an untamed land. Thanks for sharing your memories. Take care. Tim.

[@johnmchardy1229]

@@Timsvideochannel1 HI TIM legs 11 very cute cheers.

[@Pjs75]

Tim, the quality of the re-edit, with clarity, resolution and atmosphere, is a significant improvement on the 2014 captured video.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Peter, I started to improve some of the video clips for use in my recent road trip videos showing this area. As I'd spent quite a lot of time working on these clips, achieving results that made the time and effort worthwhile, it made sense to complete the job and re-upload the whole series for this trip as previously unusable clips were now OK to include. I'll be uploading the rest of the trip over the next 2 or 3 weeks.

[@neilforbes416]

28:11 Okay, now I get it! The fitted extra wheels for the rails are only there to keep the carts on the rails. The original rear wheels actually drive the carts along and the original front wheels virtually only have use to steer the carts iff they're taken off the rails(assuming the rail wheels can be folded out of the way)

[@Timsvideochannel1]

You've got it Neil, these are the first generation of rail-carts, they can be driven off the rails as well. The next generation were built with larger plastic flanged wheels; they are quieter and get through fewer tyres.

[@DB-thats-me]

Hi Tim, DB here. (I took you and your cameras for a ride ex Picton). In a previous incarnation of my rly career, I controlled this line (SOL) as a a train controller in Wellington. This is the first time I’ve seen the line I presided over. Very interesting! 👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello DB, I remember our meeting well. I removed most of the conversation from the resulting video, maybe I should have left more in, the conversation between you and the other guy in the cab made me smile, especially the comments about William and Kate who were touring New Zealand at this time. You also said "my teacher used to tell me off for not paying attention in class, saying I'd never get a job looking out of a window, well look at me now, I get paid for looking out of a window". I'd love to have seen the SOL back in the day when it still carried real trains, the nearest I can get to that is watching videos posted by Tim Dawber - kzbin.info/www/bejne/n6vQZnV8rc2Kh8U and an old NZ Railscene DVD showing trains arriving at Whangamōmona for Republic day. You've known some interesting times during your career, snow in Arthurs Pass, Earthquake damage between Picton and Christchurch and controlling the SOL. The rail-carts aren't quite the same as riding in the cab, but they are still a lot of fun. Its nice to hear from you. Cheers. Tim

[@DB-thats-me]

Gee Tim, make me sound like a disaster magnet!😱 Wait... I think there’s plenty of my ‘friends’ at TR would agree with that label. 🤭 Good to here from you. Let me know next time you’re in the deep south (INV). 👍

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@DB-thats-me Hi, when they let me back into New Zealand I'll try and get down to the South to say "Hi". In the meantime I'll look longingly out of my window wondering when Covid restriction will be lifted allowing me to travel again. I wish I was in NZ at the moment, your government did a good job keeping the virus out. Take care. Tim.

[@marcosantonio1006]

Que aventura. Um carrinho de golfe, nos trilhos. Deve ser muito bom estes tipos de aventura. Imagino que não tem preço, o que você mais gosta de fazer.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Andar nesses carrinhos de golfe é uma das minhas aventuras ferroviárias favoritas de todos os tempos 😉 Riding these Golf carts is one of my all time favorite rail adventures 😉

[@marcosantonio1006]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Deve ser muito gostoso esta aventura. Parabéns, por este feito maravilhoso.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@marcosantonio1006 Obrigado, é divertido fazer algo diferente. Thank you, it's fun to do something different.

[@countdracula7964]

Where New Zealand is located?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Please click on this link to see where New Zealand is located - ontheworldmap.com/new-zealand/new-zealand-location-map.html

[@countdracula7964]

@@Timsvideochannel1 however i don't know how to use a map.🚜🎭

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@countdracula7964 If you keep pulling my leg, I'm going to end up with one longer than the other. leaving me walking in circles.

[@robertcoleman4861]

Hi tim wonderful journey,How many km in the full rail cart journey,If nz rail reopened this line tourist would come from all over the world to ride this line and the track looks like it doe's not need a lot of work to bring it up to standard,Cheer's bob.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hello Robert the line is 144 kms long of which the carts run about 136 kms, I will be uploading the rest of the trip in Parts 2 and 3. The condition of the line varies from good to needing a lot of work, although the bridges all look good, there is one missing where the line joins the existing network near Taumarunui. The line requires quite a bit of looking after as you can see in the video from the number of landslides (Slumps). The line itself runs from nowhere to nowhere, trains would have to start from Taumarunui and continue to New Plymouth to give them a proper tourist destination, trains would also need to be reintroduced between New Plymouth and Wellington to give tourists the opportunity to connect back into the regular tourist trail, such a move could provide a massive boost to Taranaki tourism as a whole without the need to cover the landscape in unsightly motorways. The question has to be "are the New Zealand Greens serious or just another talking shop?"

[@teharaupakau241]

.the legendary tamtatea pokai whenua who felled the tress to repair his canoe on the wanganui river "felled trees"tangarakau

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Thank you for that, it's nice to how places got their names.

[@MrPeerum]

Dit lijkt echt wel een rit door Jurasicpark.lol. prachtige natuur Tim. rijd er op deze spoorweg ook nog een gewone personen trein.forensic.?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Een dinosaurus kan verschijnen om de hoek van dit prachtige land verloren in de tijd. Er zijn geen treinen meer, alleen golfkarretjes. A dinosaur might appear around the corner of this wonderful land lost in time. There are no trains anymore, just golf carts.

[@MrPeerum]

op het end een big BBQ en bier?lol. bedankt weer,stay save.greetz:Peer.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

We hadden broodjes en thee of koffie meerdere keren durung de reis, gevolgd door biefstuk, chips en een biertje aan het einde van de dag. We had sandwiches and tea or coffee several times durung the trip, followed by steak, chips and a beer at the end of the day.

[@MrPeerum]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Hai Tim,wauw klinkt goed,en een lekkere BBQ,heerlijk.biertje,jaja.ach weet je,als het maar super leuk en gezellig is,toch? blij dat te horen.okikidooo, zat nog een cabride te kijken in 5K. Cabview Holland Dutch Railways. op yuptup. fijne voortzetting Tim en je Vrouw. stay save. greetz:Peer.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@MrPeerum We hebben geluk dat we KZbin hebben, het heeft makers een prachtig platform gegeven om allerlei video's te delen die nooit op televisie zouden zijn vertoond, zoals alle fascinerende taxiritten van over de hele wereld. Blijf veilig en blijf goed. Tim. We are lucky to have KZbin, it has given creators a wonderful platform to share all kinds of videos that would never have been shown on television, such as all the fascinating cab rides from around the world. Stay safe and keep well. Tim.

[@neilforbes416]

3:34 If that fellow keeps waving his arms like that, he's going to lift off the ground! LOL

[@neilforbes416]

Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane!...... Nah, it's just a rail cart tour manager from New Zealand! LOL

[@Timsvideochannel1]

You've got to respect someone who is prepared to give it a go, there are a lot of flightless birds in New Zealand.

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Chirp! Chirp! LOL

[@neilforbes416]

Looks are deceiving here! Are they standard or narrow-gauge tracks? Looking down from the height of a diesel loco they may appear to be narrow-gauge, but from closer down to the ground these tracks appear to be standard gauge. If you get my drift!

[@johannperaus6890]

Hi Neil! 1067mm = 3 1/2 ft.

[@neilforbes416]

@@johannperaus6890 Aha, okay. As I've explained, looks are deceiving. Add to that the fact you're viewing this on a computer monitor rather than seeing the rails with your own two eyes.

[@johannperaus6890]

@@neilforbes416 I don't use any aids. Two people are sitting in a vehicle, and they are about 1 meter wide. That is the entire secret. Best regards from Hans. 🇦🇹🍻

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi Neil, it is the regular New Zealand gauge - 3ft 6in (1,067mm). I'll add it to the video description because you won't be the first or last person to ask. The height above the railhead does alter the perspective.

[@neilforbes416]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Cheers, Tim!

[@ChrisK-rz1sy]

How do you manage to upload videos longer than 1 hour at such high quality?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I am lucky to live in an area served by a high-speed fibre optic network.

[@ChrisK-rz1sy]

@@Timsvideochannel1 I'm just trying my first few attempts now including a 7 hours cycle on closed roads in London back in 2017.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@ChrisK-rz1sy Hi Chris, I sometimes have trouble with Windows 10 updates restarting my computer. On my latest computer I can hit a snag with the computer going to sleep and stopping the upload, although it restarts when I awaken the computer. I can only suggest turning energy saving and Windows 10 updates off whilst you upload such long videos. Good Luck.

[@user-ue7lt5qi4h]

Интересно , сколько километров проехали?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Привет, это часть 1, охватывающая 52 км. Полная поездка составляет около 141 км. Я буду загружать остальную часть поездки в ближайшие 2 или 3 недели. Пожалуйста, нажмите на эту ссылку, чтобы узнать больше - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford%E2%80%93Okahukura_Line Hi, this is part one, covering 52 km. The complete trip is about 141km. I will upload the rest of the trip in the next 2 or 3 weeks. Please click on this link to learn more - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratford%E2%80%93Okahukura_Line

[@user-ue7lt5qi4h]

@@Timsvideochannel1 Спасибо большое за ответ! Долгая прогулка !

[@Требучет]

Интересно ! А тут что-нибудь более серьезное ездит ? Или это чисто туристическая железная дорога для такой вот чудо техники?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Привет, железная дорога используется только этими вагонами, поезда перестали ходить 10 лет назад, когда состояние пути ухудшилось до такой степени, что стало слишком опасно ехать с тяжелыми грузовыми поездами. Поезда теперь отправлены по другому маршруту. Hi, the railway is only used by these rail-carts, trains stopped running 10 years ago when the condition of the track deteriorated to the point where it became too dangerous to run heavy freight trains. The trains have now been diverted via a different route.

[@Требучет]

@@Timsvideochannel1 спасибо. Я догадался сам потом по виду мостов. Просто меня сначала скоростные знаки смутили , очевидно что 60 (миль или км не знаю) в час эта машинка не разгонится.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@Требучет Привет, знаки ограничения скорости kph. Гольфмобили имеют максимальную скорость 30 км / ч вниз с ветром за ними :-) Hi, the speed limit signs are kph. The golf carts have a top speed of 30 kph downhill with the wind behind them :-)

[@Требучет]

@@Timsvideochannel1 ну я про это и говорю, т.е. знаки под нормальные поезда , но они тут уже не ходят.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

@@Требучет Вы правы.

[@ultimatebeast6142]

Where do you live?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

Hi, I live on England's South Coast.

[@57629589]

I'm assuming these are gas powered carts?

[@Timsvideochannel1]

These are petrol powered, although they have introduced some pedal powered versions since I did this trip.

[@cristianpirvu1194]

ok

[@nohandle62]

All the racket must have ruined the beauty.

[@Timsvideochannel1]

To be honest, I didn't really notice the noise after a few miles.

[@MrSpock-ke8jr]

rather monotonous video 😴

[@Timsvideochannel1]

It's a train Captain Kirk, but not as we know it.