Third Longest Tunnel in NZ - Southern Alps Otira Tunnel 8.5KM Black Hole

[@davidbrigenshaw8721]

Travelled through this tunnel on the Trans Alpine in 2016. Absolutely amazing engineering. Pity they did away with the electrics, though. They were just that bit different!

[@12671253]

did a 3 week stint in otira in 1979.went through the tunnel a few times on jiggers and one time in an eo electric. remember one time we took a pole through on a jigger with trailer and a chain saw with instructions that if the pole fell off we were to cut it upas not to stop the trains

[@NeilDENNEY]

I remember the Remutaka tunnel at 8.93 kms. Almost the same length. It seemed to take forever to got through.

[@Curiosity-NZ]

My Grandfather on my mothers side was one of the tunnelers on this project. When it was finished he went back to the mines.

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

This is the best light at the end of the tunnel ever, ☺.

[@NeilDENNEY]

I really enjoyed this video, thank you

[@paulwarner5395]

Thanx for the great cab ride.

[@petermiller9712]

Great video Thanks for sharing with us

[@robertthomson1587]

I travelled through the Otira tunnel in 1993 when I did the day trip Christchurch-Greymouth-Christchurch.

[@EnniodBleu]

Excellent! I don't know why but I was expecting the tunnel to be fairly rough hewn, much like the Homer tunnel near Milford Sound. I was surprised to see it fairly dry and well lined with concrete. Also, hopefully this tunnel is not intersected by the alpine fault.😬

[@DB-thats-me]

Apart from the ‘new’ fan door extension, at the northern portal, the tunnel is fully bricked. The smooth sections in the roof are plastic sheeting to divert drip water from the tracks and direct them to the side drains. 🤓👍

[@gmpltd114]

Nice one Samo, I can smell the dynamic brake from here. 🙂

[@andy1may]

excellent ride cheers

[@gerrardstones4246]

Good sound ....😊

[@loiswallace3334]

The engineer (train driver) cut it a bit close at the stop light at the end. I thought the train was going to run the red!

[@Spanderson99]

GE dynamic brake fans in a confined space sound fantastic

[@Phil-oj5nr]

Would it be that silly to electrify Greymouth-Stillwater-Christchurch? Coal from Ngakawau to Stillwater by diesel then electric all the way to Lyttleton. As the line from Ngakawau to Stillwater is reasonably level, but would be expensive to wire, that makes economic sense to me. The Hokitika freights and the TransAlpine would be hauled by up to 5,000 hp electric locomotives the same as the coal trains. This would mean, at most two locomotives on the run up from Otiria to Arthur’s Pass. A big saving in what is now very expensive diesel, and overall good for the environment.

[@samocooper9070]

It would be a great idea, I think all the line should be electrified, zero emissions for freight. But in this country the money required to get it done would be in the billions. Just look at the tiny section they electrified in Auckland - health and safety, bureaucracy and layers of management completely stifle any infrastructure development in NZ

[@leonpano]

@@samocooper9070I think to electrified is not for (zero) emissions Should be for not having exhaust in such tiny tunnel(and clearance of this tunnel is very small)

[@anthony851]

Does the gradient inside the tunnel change slightly at about 7 minutes into the video, this is when the light coming in the western portal is first seen. Or is the tunnel too long to see the light? Anthony

[@samocooper9070]

Na its the same gradient throughout, the tiny tiny spot can be seen with the naked eye but the camera didn't pick it up

[@DB-thats-me]

Any variation in grade is in inch/mile range and not generally perceptible. In the fight conditions you can see’portal to portal’ which gives you an idea just how straight this tunnel is. 👍

[@dohyunkim805]

1:39 What was that for neglecting the overhead line?

[@HenRM81]

Long a ago was electric trains before

[@IxtimmiboRT1427]

Can we see a cab ride through Kaimai Tunnel?

[@stephendx935]

There is an engineer who does the Hamilton Tauranga run and is posting regular @DL9786 I believe.

[@IxtimmiboRT1427]

@@stephendx935just saying but how did it take you two years to reply. Way after I found his videos?

[@stephendx935]

@@IxtimmiboRT1427 Oops! 😝😝 I just found it recently and didn't see any comments for Kaimai tunnel vids.

[@davidbrigenshaw8721]

Does anyone know why this tunnel is not called the Arthur's Pass tunnel rather than the Otira tunnel?

[@samocooper9070]

Would assume because the loco depot and staff were stationed in Ōtira, and the banker staff still are.

[@carrahulley8484]

Going back?

[@timlukasphoto]

Does it get hard to breathe inside the locomotive?

[@samocooper9070]

Nah they have doors and fans to remove exhaust gases whilst the train is in the tunnel

[@DB-thats-me]

@@samocooper9070 The doors only close for up hill trains. But to answer the question, unless an uphill train stalls and is over run with exhaust gases, the lead loco is always moving into clean air.

[@SuperDad58458]

Didn't know there was a triangle at Otira

[@DB-thats-me]

Stub ends are long enough to cater to two Dx’s.

[@petermiller9712]

What speed would this of been? 30-40kmph?

[@samocooper9070]

Yeah 35Km/h through the tunnel

[@brothermunkdrums]

Where is the longest tunnel? 🙂

[@thecelticprince4949]

The Kaimai tunnel at 9.03km north of Tauranga, is NZs longest tunnel. The Rimutaka tunnel at 8.98km is Second on the list. Otira was NZs 1st longest tunnel. Followed by the Rimutaka tunnel in 1955. Then Kaimai in 1970ish.

[@neilmurray8244]

This tunnel alone is bloody impressive and a 13 year teenager been in the cab heading down was and still is mind blowing, had a family member working for railways back in the day on the Trans alpine, will never forget this experience and from the top heading down that light at the end of this tunnel never got bigger until atleast 200 meters from the exit, brings back memories 👍 thanks for ur video awesome to wwtch

[@chrisford1715]

wow

[@thetamihana2561]

The folks who built this make todays look pathetic.

[@warrenjohnknight.9831]

🚂🚃🚄🚦🚦✔.

[@carrahulley8484]

From Australia Victoria

[@phillipcollins9290]

Claustrophobic!