Sometimes the weather just won't work in your favour. Just as yesterday, the fog stayed thick until well after the TranzAlpine had gone past Cass, so my nice plans were foiled, and I had to improvise. The result could definitely be worse.
Trains on 3' 6" (1.067m) track from Whangarei to Bluff with virtually heritage rebuilt EMD and GE locomotives still the mainstay power. The network was privatized in 1990's and operated by Toll until 2008 when state owned KiwiRail was established.