Railways excel at moving bulk goods, and KiwiRail is no exception when it comes to moving milk products.
Using its customised Class OM freight wagons fitted with stainless steel tanks, these dedicated milk trains are a common sight during the summer peak milk season. Loaded tanks from outlying plants are assembled into unit trains at Palmerston North and heralded off to Fonterras's plant at Whareroa, near Hawera.

During the seasonal peak, up to six trains a day, seven days a week depart Palmerston North for Whareroa, and mixed in with these unit trains are empty containers and ice liners, which will return to Palmerston North loaded with processed products for export.
It's busy times ahead for KiwiRail, and you'll see all the action trackside from the Oringi plant through the Manawatu Gorge to Palmerston North and Feilding, Marton, Wanganui, Patea and Whareroa.

Also available on Hi-Def Blu-ray

The rail link from Napier to the hub of Palmerston North is vital to New Zealand’s rail network, and vital to the Hawkes Bay economy. Napier is used for local exports and imports are distributed nationwide. Local industries benefit from the ability of rail to be able to deliver large quantities of goods efficiently and timely.
Four trains are timetabled to run across this line each week day, with up to six running if the need should arise, with an additional train running during the weekend.
The terrain is diverse and may be challenging for the trains, but makes an excellent backdrop for photographers.
This production covers modern railroading from Napier to Palmerston North, where the focus is on freight trains, marvels of engineering and classic New Zealand scenery.

Also available on Hi-Def Blu-ray

In operation since 1897, the Wairarapa Line, or the ‘Y’, runs from Wellington to Woodville via Upper Hutt, Featherston, Masterton, Eketahuna and Pahiatua.
Today, passenger services that run from Wellington to Masterton are a common sight each day, but beyond here to Woodville, traffic volumes are low.
Roll on Christmas 2010, where for two weeks over the holiday period, freights that normally ran along the NIMT were diverted along the ‘Y’ to cater for essential track maintenance on the main trunk. This meant that up to nine freight trains a day were running on tracks that would normally see only one train a week.
EJ Videos was on hand to capture the action, covering trackside rail action from Woodville to Featherston.

Also available on Hi-Def Blu-ray

Steam Incorporated's mighty Ja 1271 coal fired steam loco puts on a memorable display in this production as we cover two excursions from late 2010 and early 2011. Part 1 covers the Xmas Wine & Dine Special from Paekakariki to Levin & Palmerston North. Part 2 covers the Eketahuna Express, and we catch up with the action at Otaki and chase the train all the way to Masterton via Palmerston North, the Manawatu Gorge, Woodville and Eketahuna. It's not just the train, as we'll also see the hard working volunteers from Steam Inc. doing what they do to make these excursions the success that they are.
The production format is a little different to what many may be used to. There's no narration at all, minimal subtitles and quite a bit of appropriate music. Footage is from the Paekakariki Depot, trackside, on board including a Guards view as we depart Levin, and the Masterton turntable.

Also available on Hi-Def Blu-ray

Thundering through the heart of the Ruapehu District, New Zealand’s KiwiRail is tasked with the challenge of moving people and freight, north and south, 24 hours a day in all weather extremes.
This production catches a small glimpse of that rail action on the North Island Main Trunk, with the action kicking off at the small settlement of Mataroa.  From Mataroa we then head north to the Turangarere horse shoe curve, the Hihitahi passing loop, then on towards the desert town of Waiouru where we’re treated to a few snow scenes. We’re also treated to the pulp train being double banked – where the Karioi and Tangiwai portions are taken to Waiouru and assembled into the one train.
We then continue our journey via Karioi, Ohakune, Horopito and National Park, capping it off with a rail train at Raurimu.Footage is from 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Also available on Hi-Def Blu-ray

This program was initially made at the request of a PNESR member as a Christmas present to himself from me. He's pretty pleased with it and so am I, so I'm offering it up for everyone else as well.
We take two rides on the train, one where we see the entire trackwork while the warning signs are put out, and another to get alternative shots from various angles. The rest of the program is shot from trackside from almost every vantage point available - I even managed to do a pacing shot !
Human interaction is way up there with both kids and adults playing it up for the camera - tolerable and in some cases, amusing.
Note: This program is not sanctioned by the PNESR nor did they have any input into its content or creation.

On January 17 2012, Feilding Steam in conjunction with KiwiRail and Pub Charity, operated a steam excursion from Palmerston North to Napier for Camp Quality Wellington/Central Districts.

Children with cancer and their families boarded at Woodville and the day was bright and sunny for a thrilling ride behind Wab (pronounced Wob) 794.

During a servicing stop at Waipukurau, the passengers were treated to additional entertainment on the platform before re-boarding and continuing on their journey.

This 50 minute production is a collection of trackside shots filmed from Feilding, Palmerston North, Woodville, and Dannevirke to Napier, and the return journey from Napier to Woodville.

Organising an excursion on active railway lines takes a lot of planning, and the ever changing requirements of operating a railroad, despite the best of plans, keep controllers busy. Mixed in with the shots of the Wab are KiwiRail's operational trains that passed through on the day.