Train Drivers Eye View : Lyttelton to Middleton

Christchurch, New Zealand.
Lyttelton Line is a name sometimes used to refer to the section of the Main South Line in New Zealand's South Island between Lyttelton and Christchurch, and can also be used to refer to the operations on this section. As it has always been part of the Main South Line (originally the Canterbury Great Southern Railway), this name has never been officially used to refer to the track itself.
The line between Lyttelton and Christchurch is notable for several reasons, including: incorporating part of the first public railway in New Zealand, between Ferrymead and Christchurch; including in its route the still operational first railway tunnel in New Zealand; and, having been the site of the first electrified suburban service in New Zealand.
Thanks to the Kiwirail driver who filmed this on a coal train doing the "coaldumps".

[@user-gf2kf1kq3q]

Loved that! Brought back 1950's memories of multiple trips to Lyttelton from Opawa station over the 6 weeks of summer school holidays. Dad worked for the railways, so got a free family ticket for free travel, which we used over January to go to Lyttelton, then walked round to Corsair Bay to picnic and swim. Was great to see the view from the cab. I remember when we scrambled to close the carriage windows when going through the tunnel!

[@hankbier3065]

I’m flabbergasted. This completely unrecognisable as the Christchurch I once knew. No sign of a platform at Linwood, no tracks leading from the massive locomotive depot that was where Fulton Hogan is now, and I could not easily place where Moorhouse station was, now a graffiti alleyway between tilt slab concrete buildings. Unbelievable, and it was “only” just 55 years ago that I travelled the reverse direction behind an Ec electric on a subbie and wandered around at Linwood loco. Thanks for the trip guys, astounding. I’d be interested to know what the new tracks on the left just past Linwood are going to be for where there is a long structure built over one of them.

[@017Bushbuck]

I left Christchurch in 97 for the UK and like you I could barely recognize anything, perhaps some (or many?) of the changes are a result of the earthquakes.

[@garryproud8198]

I'm with you there I got to Lyttleton in about 1975 2 Gilmore Tce right next to the timebalL I can remember there was 2 flights of steps to get to our house from town 137 in all . The electrics had finished but Lyttleton rail yards were very busy and there was a 22 Lever signal box just outside the tunnel controlling Lyttleton . Having arrived from Perth WA a year earlier to Kelston Auckland my young brother and I travelled down on the Silver Fern railcars and then caught the Rangatira ferry overnight to Lyttleton where we were met by our parents but what a trip I was 17 my young brother was 14 now we are both in our 60's more to come Gazza

[@thepointlesstroll5702]

Society has been going backwards for quite a while now just look at the rubbish the youngins are watching on television and radio these days

[@rickcullarn1347]

Beautiful Clear Video Thanks

[@christophermarshall527]

Ā brilliant look behind the scenes, thank you!!

[@annawitter5161]

This is so cool. THank you

[@ianfarrar5634]

Mate and I missed the last bus 28 in the square one night ,and had a brain wave let’s walk home back to port through the tunnel ,what an experience all I could here was him falling in the puddles ,all you could see was one faint light which I thought was the end ,wasn’t it was a bend in the tunnel big walk great memories,should have just put the thumb outside the road tunnel ,one of the locals would have taken us through eventually

[@EntertainmentWorldz]

super great video sir Love You All Time 😍😍❤❤

[@kiwiderek2647]

Great video, many thanks. Why is the lower green signal flashing as the train rejoins the double track section coming into Christchurch?

[@briantones5993]

Would be good if you insert the names of the towns as you go through them.

[@lindsaycourtis3050]

in 98 i went to greymouth in the cab. Friends last drive then. great. still get abuz thinking.!!

[@ChristchurchRailAction]

Guest appearance by me as you go into the tunnel

[@samconibear3506]

I like how the destinations rhyme. My favourite part was the long tunnel. Is it NZ's longest train tunnel?

[@geoffadams5537]

No, actually it's a railway tunnel,you are using kiddy speak and the longest RAILWAY tunnel is the Kaimai on the line to the bay of plenty

[@Muzza911.]

What’s the small screens in the tunnel?

[@ExploringwithMark]

Dam that is cool in the tunnel. Man i wish i could go on train like that in there. Lucky bugger.

[@RollestonRails]

Well you'll have to wait and see as he has had permission for a go pro to be put on the train as the line is freight only

[@ExploringwithMark]

What are the white panel areas in the start of the tunnel? @@RollestonRails

[@user-zl7sk7jd8y]

Wow that tunnel is quite a distance, would like to know how long is it

[@tesscurry4171]

2.4km at a cost of 195,000 pounds. Opened in 1863 then officially to Passenger Trains in 1869

[@RoderickFletcher-ci4cq]

Love it

[@markscrivener4768]

Wicked

[@thepointlesstroll5702]

do you guys still need the port card for id?

[@geoffmackley]

No, we climb down the cliff on ropes 😀

[@mistry9408]

so in essence the graffiti is for train drivers

[@niftynige]

The straddle buggy is faster.