Dunedin and the Train
Winya_wynah
Sun 17 Jan 2010 04:59
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Dunedin is the 'Scottish City' on the East
coast of South Island. Having driven along the coast roads to Port
Chalmers we crossed the old railway many times as it to weaved it's way from
Palmerston and Dunedin. A spectacular train journey to be sure but we felt
we had done that so we elected to travel inland through the Taieri Gorge.
This line was built to serve the farms and gold mining communities of Otago and
the section through the gorge is now busy with passenger/tourist trains.
The next section has been transformed into a cycle track viaducts and tunnels included, with pubs, B&Bs and
cafes along the way.
No1 so pleased to see the sun again was almost
cut in half by the old windows.
 Now pulled by a 1960s diesel engine, train buffs
evidently travel from all over the world to ride this train. Our
carriage was straight out of a cowboy film, any minute I expected John
Wayne to gallop up along side, leap athletically aboard and then a gun
fight to break out on the roof.
 The track runs precariously along the edge of this
gorge.
 through 12 tunnels and over bridges and
viaducts. This viaduct is 97meters long and is the largest wrought iron
structure in the southern hemisphere!!! The largest in the northern
hemisphere is the Eiffel Tower. It's an education!
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