TransAlpine traintrip in Spring

[wilgk]

Growing up, I never appreciated living in NZ & had never been on the train from ChCh to the West Coast.
It is described by some as one of the great train journeys of the world, yet in my 55 years, I’ve never been on it.

There is an open viewing car for photos, if I go again, I will rug up for arctic conditions & go in winter.
There was some snow, but not enough for real ‘postcard’ pics, if that’s what I’m after.

The hills and rocks are still pretty majestic, when you live in the flatlands I guess.

I tried a few times, to lean out enough (strictly forbidden, yikes!) as the train was going around a bend, or catch a glimpse of the train in the image as well as the scenery.

My advice to others if visiting NZ & doing this trip, is ask for your booked seat to be in the carriage closest to the open viewing car, then if it’s too cold, you can pop in and out for photos, especially if you go in winter, which I suggest.
We were the car most further away from the open carriage.

A sad bit of the scenery is the ‘gorse’ a plant/weed not native to NZ, it is taking over in some parts.
It has a yellow flower, so some may think it pretty, but not us.
Farmers were fined for having it on their property when I was a child here.
There is just too much of it to contain by spraying now, scientists are working on a bug to eat it, that won’t eat native plants.

[Shadowman]

Nicely captured, I tried shooting from a moving train once and depending on your direction to the scene a good bit of panning is needed.

[dje]

Lovely shot Kay. Good composition and nice pastel colours together with some contrast from the gorse. This trip is on our bucket list, one day maybe. I love shooting from open air train carriages.

Dave

[FootLoose]

Nice scene, Kay. I wonder where that road goes and whether it would be worth taking a trip along it to shoot some of the landscape rather than taking the open car.

[wilgk]

Thanks John & Dave
Great idea Greg, it’s curves make it interesting & it’s gravel means it goes a bit ‘off piste’ worth following

[Jim A]

I am jealous, Kay - none of my images is as good. It is very hard for anyone to encapsulate the experience with photographs alone. We "shouted" (NZ for paid for) our two kids and their families to go with us on the trip in 2008. My passion for photography was only one year old then, so I have a small excuse. No regrets for experiencing the trip however.

I do read that it is best to do the train ride in Winter, when the snow is on the ground. Many thanks for sharing! - Maybe some more images to come from you ??

[wilgk]

Thank you Jim, for your kind comments, am how me now, so hopefully I will have some other keepers from the visit.