Spectacular footage Train plowing through deep snow Arthurs Pass

Kiwirail attempting to plow a route through to Christchurch today from Arthurs Pass made for some spectacular images. 07 June 2012
Content available for licensing.
Contact Geoff Mackley at [e-mail]

[@JoshuaH688]

It brings tears to my eyes, because I think of all the people who braved enormous challenges in the elements without the technology we have today; those who battled through mountain passes with horses, carts and shovels who must have asked themselves every day, back then, if the cost of progress was worth it. I think, if people a couple of hundred years ago who battled the taming of mountain passes could see this video, they would be proud.

[@kenclarke7180]

We are the direct beneficiaries 😊 of those who have gone before us, that is for sure

[@transferfunctionvovs]

I worked on rail for 3 years and never found the same attraction to trains as the foamers who take video and pics like this. Must be a deep passion. More power to you all.

[@rogergotstoned3291]

Im a Truckie and feel the same about those who Truck Fan......each to there own aye.

[@rogergotstoned3291]

New Zealand...My beautiful country.

[@armandocastillo3888]

Same

[@game-azing]

Kia Ora!

[@Dingleman-bw9qf]

Have fun with house prices

[@rogergotstoned3291]

@@Dingleman-bw9qf your mum should have swallowed.

[@Djinnjaha]

Elsewhere in the world they need huge blades/ploughs/blowers attached in front, but here in New Zealand, the snow is often so dry and light and powdery that we just need a couple of bog standard DX locomotives to clear the line! :)

[@SesameTube]

Watching a train plowing a route through is a really cool in the heat of the summer night in Korea. Thanks for the beautiful footage.

[@paulinelambert7780]

i thought you koreans eat dogs to cool off during your summer

[@mothersuperior6751]

I did this same trip but on a steam train. About 40 years ago. It was spectacular. They let us off the train near here. Specifically so the train could back up and then come through again and we could capture our videos and photos. Going through gullies where there were crystals of ice hanging off foliage right by the windows. Stunning light and the silence that comes from snow absorbing sound. Got to the pass and had picnics in undisturbed fields of snow. Made snow angels and had snowball fights. With the big black steam train as a back drop. Simply magical. One of my best life memories. What’s more. It cost nothing as it was a work outing that was paid for by a business. You can not imagine the scenery. Please, if you ever get the opportunity to visit the South Island of New Zealand do so. You will never regret it.

[@ChristopherTindall]

Canadian Railroads: We need a proper snowplow and safety plan. NZ Railroads: WHEE!!!!

[@AbhiKohli]

One of my favourite videos on KZbin. Stunning. 😍

[@eCelia08]

We definitely need this type of old fashion train to transport people to work in the United Kingdom. This is the best train ever for the winter. I love it, truly amazing train.

[@memekas.318]

Amazing nature and train! Thank you very much! Best regards from Ukraine!

[@scoutdogfsr]

God bless Ukraine my friend! The world is watching your country right now. You have our support. Lone live a free and independent Ukraine!

[@memekas.318]

@@scoutdogfsr Thank you very much!

[@richardperth2002]

i am an australian and i love watching this because we never see this in australia

[@hunzagbchannel]

Snowy Winter in Gilgit kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGLSoXiZhZuDpaM

[@futurepilot6749]

Indonesio too. Not down snow

[@JohnnyHumber]

You're lucky. I live in Canada and have seen way too much snow in my life!

[@futurepilot6749]

@@JohnnyHumber Indeed, if there is snow, it doesn't taste good. we want to snow

[@remi009340]

Lucky you! I already put my winter tires on! Starting to get cold in Montreal , Canada! Time winterize the boat, the pool and pull out the snowblower and shovels haha!

[@edhilton]

youtube digging out the old stuff to keep me entertained :thumbsup

[@shelookstome8727]

This is a wicked video, thanks for the upload! I am shocked at the amount of people who a) don't realise that it's winter in the southern hemisphere, and b) didn't know it snowed in New Zealand... (I'm Aussie btw).

[@brendahaus]

oh MY GOD THIS SATISFIES AND PLEASES ME SO MUCH

[@TJR66]

That is the most awesome footage I've ever seen with snow.Fantastic job Geoff.

[@GT-fb8nv]

SPECTACULAR IT IS!!! Nice work Geoff, and a big thank you thrown your way.

[@TheTrainspotterFromTauranga]

I bet Thomas enjoys watching DXC's 5293 and 5327 having a go at the snow.

[@mamajo089]

Love this.Son and grandsons are Engineers.I am proud of them all.

[@tractorsmachinesro1405]

Great rail work...Big like from Romania

[@gorandeurell524]

Really enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing!!

[@TouffmanJasonTGV]

here is another reason to explain why i love trains

[@jayasmrmore3687]

Yup

[@stately1967]

driving that train everyday over the mountains and through the valleys must be the best job in the world, did that train journey a couple of times when I lived there.

[@CTTrains193]

You drove it? Where was it located.

[@toasterlover3892]

@@CTTrains193 he didn't drive it, he rode the passenger train. It's on the midland line in the southern alps, New Zealand

[@ChachaChapati]

Great shots, beautiful Kiwi winter scenery.

[@paulmeir6528]

Thanks for the upload. An above average train/snow video. Well done!

[@mavericmorph5358]

Brilliant! In England, the rail network would just be shut down and the excuse would be "It's the wrong type of snow"

[@dhanyap4525]

such a beautiful place!!!

[@Gautam_9038]

The best and the fast way to get the tracks clean..... :) I am in love with this approach.... and of course the engine too :*

[@davidtowers1877]

From Tampa Bay Fl. Totally miss the winter wonderland in N.J (up in the mountains) now I'm in a flat hot State. Thanks for sharing 🤗👍👀

[@jedlahaye4765]

Could only happen here in New Zealand, great stuff, thankyou from Wairoa in New Zealand, we don't get snow or much else on our rail here at the moment

[@tomnewham1269]

Impressive. Thanks for sharing.

[@dkbmaestrorules]

Great! Better than we ever seem to manage in the UK...

[@unclerob617]

Officially the best job ever.... never short handed for this duty. Very cool!!

[@brothermunkdrums]

Still one of my favourite videos

[@haroldepperson9467]

Awesome video, thank you to the owner

[@trulydualcharts]

Next time English trains get cancelled because there's 1cm of snow I'm sending a link of this to the train company.

[@trevorebdon7423]

+Stuart Hardy Cull most snow ploughs have been scrapped and the remainder are in museums... never to be used again

[@coolbreeze625]

England is not used to snow like Arthur's pass

[@hydro-e6684]

bobhes +Freddie Triepe

[@gabesnooks3549]

+Dominic Sodergren It would seem neither is new zealand. There are things called snow plows now. Even snow blowers!

[@hannescamitz8575]

+Stuart Hardy Cull Send one to SJ (The Swedish rail road company) to then, those "I don't know what" ordered Italian locos WITHOUT plow attachments...

[@LeslieToronto1971]

Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@Xeroskillz24]

CTFxC brought me here.

[@lukeman589]

same

[@chrisbullock309]

Smoke the herb

[@Goober_Garage]

same :P

[@chrismax18]

me too :D

[@LeanneSupleve87]

lol yup

[@antonrudenham3259]

If this was England that line would be closed for about 17 years and no lines would ever be built again,trains would become illegal and asking why would lead to accusations of thought crime.

[@JacobBecomesIsrael]

ANTON RUDENHAM If this was England, they'd pass a law that you had to bow down and pray to it 5 times a day like a good muslim.

[@antonrudenham3259]

Jacob Becomes Israel Eh?

[@JacobBecomesIsrael]

ANTON RUDENHAM Should I type slower?

[@antonrudenham3259]

Perhaps you shouldn't type at all.

[@JacobBecomesIsrael]

ANTON RUDENHAM Your ignorance makes you bliss I guess.

[@edbernacki4221]

I took that train years ago from Christchurch. We stayed in Arthur's pass and it snowed so much the highway was closed for a day. We were snowed in.

[@Pjeroff]

0:52 Ninja train uses shadow of war technique, it's supereffective! What an awesome sight, thank you for this gem.

[@buijs1967]

That is amazing, here in holland trains stop when there is more than 1 inch of snow. Funny the engineer drives with his door open at some moment.

[@brucesharpe1079]

I would love to film something like this it's great blasting through the snow is great I love winter scenes with snow on railways sadly we don't get the snow in England much I would love to do this job snow going everywhere (pow)

[@CrazyFunnyCats]

Awesome footage! Thanks🐯🐾👍

[@sitatan]

I like heavy equipment. The operator is a very good skill. Very good sound. Thank you from Japan.

[@jasperedwards81]

Totally awesome! How did you get such footage? Really super job.

[@Longtack55]

New Zealand Rail enthusiasts.

[@chrismckell5353]

@@Longtack55 I thought it was a Kiwi accent that I heard from those blokes.

[@Longtack55]

@@chrismckell5353 Hi Chris. KiwiRail used to organize a Winter Excursion in a steam train and several carriages from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass when there was decent snowfall. My brother was Station-master at AP.

[@DrSurprise]

It would probably suck if you just happened to be walking on the smooth snow sheet on top of the track as this train came through and not even realizing there was a track underneath.

[@TheSonic10160]

There was no "walking on the smooth snow sheet" this snow was 50cm thick powder. There's no walking on top of that without snowshoes.

[@Goabnb94]

If you couldn't hear and see the snow cloud and get out of the way in time, you need your hearing and sight checked.

[@wilsonblauheuer6544]

you would sense the steel rails below by elgtromagnetic detection sense. Just like a hammerhead shark or stingray.

[@HiVizCamo]

Canaderp here, I had no idea you guys had this much snow!? Good job, I'm impressed!

[@szlakowiec]

GENIALNY FILM !!! TYLE ŚNIEGU , SUPER TO WYGLĄDA. POZDROWIENIA Z POLSKI !!!

[@1God1Fury]

This is so cool!

[@AlainHubert]

The high torque and awesome power of electric motors at work...

[@AlexandruCarjan]

Where teh hell do you see electric lines??? That is a diesel locomotive....

[@style5tie]

Alexandru Carjan It's a diesel engine powering electric motors... So yeah, you're both right.

[@regan44017]

Alexandru Carjan diesel ELECTRIC!

[@sav7568]

@@AlexandruCarjan The diesel engine does not drive the wheels. Electric motors do that. The diesel engine acts as a generator.

[@jengazzo1]

How can someone give a thumbs down to this awesome ness? There is no way this is not cool.

[@caroleroseburgh1344]

I don't know why this is so fascinating to me, but it is ‼️🤓

[@cellics]

Wow Kiwi Rail Rocks!!

[@SherlockeHolmes1]

that train gives no fucks

[@kenley8761]

Shaun Brown Best comment 😂

[@chrissmith8280]

Absolutely amazing stuff.

[@f.s.937]

Amazing Video!! In Germany Train stops when there is a snow flake falling :-)

[@spidifilerijder]

The next time that the trains in Belgium don't drive (again) because of 1 (one) cm snow, I'll sent them this video.

[@maritoida4128]

Amazing !! Amazing !!!

[@maritoida4128]

J. J. Silva thank you

[@maritoida4128]

Thank you Animari Garcia

[@transportvlogs2841]

Awesome snow train video. This is worth a trip there.

[@makjac46]

Truly is spectacular footage, well done. Good clear picture.

[@GardenSG2021]

fantastyczne!

[@royfearn4345]

Naah! We don't need rotary plough, Mate; we're Kiwis! Been over Arthur's Pass on the Trans-Alpine. Beautiful journey. Thanks, NZ! Love ya.

[@DB-thats-me]

There have been some comments on the safety/ability for the locos to stay on the tracks whilst 'plowing' through powder snow. Here's some maths. The locos weigh 570kg per cubic metre (kg/m3). That's a downwards pressure in excess of 8 tons per wheel. Powder snow weighs 60kg/m3. No contest. Hard packed snow approaches 900kg/m3 and is a COMPLETELY different story. This is why hard packed snow can stop a train in its tracks (sorry) whilst powder snow, whilst a hindrance to visibility (if you drive too quickly), has no detectable effect on the speed or 'road holding' of the locos in this video.

[@chottubabu502]

DB Thats-Me

[@mattblack9069]

Don,t forget the leading loco does have a plough catcher mounted on its front so it is actually pushing the deeper snow out to the sides, powder or other wise.

[@DB-thats-me]

mattblack, ummmm...no. No plough. Just the standard catcher.

[@DB-thats-me]

The only time you can see the catcher clearly is 0:50 as locos come off the bridge. 👍

[@sentineldg8]

Very well done a truely spectacular piece of filming what a sight something you dont see every day

[@blessing001able]

So cool! I remember the passes closed for a while as I was stranded in Christchurch at the time. Wanting to make my way back to Greymouth!

[@holzi8304]

Nice Video! Gruß from Bavaria

[@manfredi3692]

Great!

[@peter15871]

amazing!

[@Gian2812]

suggestive!

[@hazratumar9646]

manfredi3692 ek0xzzk Lzoppp2, p xps.x.xl lssl0sse0olp

[@hazratumar9646]

Lzazxpl l, x l shh ff h ju999 (9999 Kskkkkkffnnmmxx..000ttmdx lalapwpap212o Zkalw0 ASAP ss lower ll loos wlp I was just the one a, pSAXxll,,...00pwssw11 q a all la Oslal,slaowp lal A lllpz-zsxssp00ppppppsss=dkkkslpd9e0o00002w0pppsp Kkssxdddddddd0ppprrccmvvbb...0d00ppppfk44pl0pffpppppppppp spa

[@TobiasBraeker]

Thank you for the video. Very impressive

[@bluemomo65]

Great!! Thumbs up 👍👍👍 Greetings from Tokyo Japan :-)

[@micoforion]

is this New Zealand ? spectacular scenery, great vid :)

[@trexeater101]

It is New Zealand’s South Island

[@neyelbrasnell9330]

now that's how to plow snow

[@getdusty1]

Spectacular. Absolutely incredible!!!!!

[@anunggaming]

wow, amazing train video !

[@davidmarshall1259]

what stunning scenery, just beautiful. great shots, wish I could have been there to see this.

[@ArtbyAtlas]

If that isnt cool i dont know what is. :)

[@abbuabbu1031]

Art by Atlas

[@hazratumar9646]

Art by Atlas kelp pw cppddpoe111qp ps0pdp

[@hazratumar9646]

Art by Atlas juivv8k a 0zk7f j hkffj p lo lo idiocy look iinfmos,,,Lori

[@EarlOfMaladyCrescent]

That is one powerful train! You can hardly see it at 1:04 - 1:21! I love 0:37 - 0:50 as well. Great vid!

[@vrccb]

Awesome! We have to halt our rail travel in the autumn if there are leaves on the track!

[@justforever96]

Who needs a plow? They have a built in plow, after all. Although this probably doesn't work so well when it's not nice light powder snow like this.

[@theroseandswords]

After I watched this, a Coors Light somehow magically appeared in my hand! I'm also suddenly surrounded by half-naked women dancing to "Love Train". 0.0

[@gordonmccoy4537]

Wow... beautiful action!!!! Thanks...!!! Goedon in maui

[@oceanbreeze105]

AWESOME!! Thanks for sharing.....

[@DavidS11]

Happiest train ever

[@thespeedypatriot6201]

I guess you can say that train is... 😎Unstoppable😎

[@mattagnew206]

According to my four year old daughter, noted authority on both trains and magic, only Magic Trains can go through snow. Looks pretty magic to me!

[@2yuanpodcast]

Awesome train. Love it. Nice sharing my friend.

[@emedee5961]

A normal day in Finland :-D

[@jamesa.3257]

Emedee not Finland mate nz kiwis don't give two fucks about snow on our tracks

[@inspectorhserfnz0019]

EmeDee It's New Zealand NO INCORRECTING MY COUNTRY

[@erbenton07]

I have seen this from the cab when we were going through snow about twice that deep, you cant see much because the snow really just totally blocks your vision

[@toddhunter3137]

This is what we need here in the UK next time we have a significant snow fall, a couple of big meaty locomotives and a set of balls and just get on with it!! 😉 😉 😉 Fantastic video, enjoyed watching, thanks for sharing.. 👍👍👍😀😀😀

[@JohnSmith-pl2bk]

The problem is the electrified lines...you need cleared off tracks to earth the locomotive...with snow insulating the line you are going nowhere. The engine shown here is a diesel-powered engine...powering a generator...which feeds power to the wheels...no grounding necessary....

[@lemonade55able]

Amazing video man, I miss the snow, florida is dry, dry, dry.

[@Josh-qo1dl]

Im sure the driver is like weeeeeeeeeeeee

[@luchiboy]

+Joshua Semrok lol. I think he's a little old for that. I think they would be more.... "Trailors for sale or rent, rooms to let 50 cents..."

[@DB-thats-me]

+luchiboy Actually Josh got it right!

[@joshdaniel9212]

these people can freeze in the train. its not realistic to have passengers going long distances.

[@omkarverma5346]

+Josh Daniel 0mkar verma

[@MarsFKA]

luchiboy I'm older than any of those drivers in that clip and *I* would be going weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Betcha!

[@3riormrsup]

Good luck finding your camera ._.

[@johnnygets9431]

if he didnt find it you wouldnt see the vid on youtube... *facepalm*

[@werdCanada]

Johnny Gets bahah

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

***** duh, ever heard of remote control? And, I assume I have now fallen into your trap like a fly into your web of conspiracy and mumb jumbo. sigh.

[@jesselaird9698]

***** The camera was mounted on the rover. The operator was in Houston.

[@BornAgainCynic0086]

***** Actually, I think that the remote was handled by the Command Module. Not sure, it was so long ago.

[@rlewis1946]

@1:38 the track bed looks like it's been swept clean! Nice job!!

[@Longtack55]

No clearance!

[@KenBrownekb71000duke]

Beautiful winter wonderland Geoff! What a sight these locos make as they plough through all that snow in fine style! I liked the good positions you took up to take the various clips - well done mate - liked! Best wishes. Ken

[@HughMartell]

We don't need no stinkin snowplow!

[@thundercat3205]

The 835 viewers that disliked this were all railroad workers that fukn hate workn in the snow tho

[@limiwavey4198]

Most satisfying video ever

[@topautos]

Awesome video, looks like fun ! :)

[@Tomlantonia]

CTFxC brought me here :')

[@AlexandruCarjan]

And in Romania the trains are stuck in 5 cm deep snow....

[@tencents6]

Snow: Exists Train: Silly soft stuff. It won't stop me. Thomas: Why do I suddenly feel personally attacked?

[@eversunnyguy]

Spectacular capture.