12 NZPhotographer
I
f you are a train fanatic, this journey will be one
you want to put on your list. Through the mountains
from Christchurch to Greymouth, or vice versa, this
is a trip that will take you through so many different
landscapes that you’ll be wondering why you didn’t
do it sooner.
It’s not just for old retired people, all ages should get
onboard – Pack your suitcases, stay a few nights and
then return on the same train you came on. You could
rent a car and explore some of the west coast gems
like Punakaiki, head on down to glacier country, or just
hang around Greymouth where there is plenty to see
and do.
Still need enticing? Let me take you on my train
journey...
The day starts early as the train leaves at 8.15am from
Christchurch Central Train Station. The carriages are
comfy, warm on this cool winters morning and the
commentary oh so funny making the staff top-notch
and easy to talk to if and when needed.
Upon leaving the station there’s a short section
through the urban jungle along the straight tracks
but the views soon improve as the mountains slowly
get bigger and bigger the further out we go – The
Canterbury plains are one of the biggest plains in
New Zealand and are a magnet as you can see the
Southern Alps.Cars stop for us when the bells clang at the railway
crossings as we have the right of way to pass through
on our journey to the other side of the island. There are
a few stops on the way out to the mountains to pick
up more passengers, these being Rolleston, Darfield
and then Springfield but you only have a couple of
minutes at each location with no time to exit the train,
each stop getting you one step closer to the highlight
of the trip, a train ride through the mountainside.
At Springfield, the train leaves the main highway
behind, turning off to follow the Waimakariri River and
travelling along the gorge. Somehow, looking into the
river from a train window makes it look more beautiful
and surreal. The crystal clear water from the glacier’s
that feed the river and the way that water has shaped
this landscape over thousands of years is a sight to
behold. With perfect blue sky and no weather systems
to worry about I thought how can this get better?
It wasn’t long untill we entered an area that is well
known for its very cold temperatures, and there was
no disappointment as there was a hoar frost, or what
I call a white winter landscape. It looked so pure with
many small frozen ponds and as we entered and
exited short tunnels this hoar frost just kept going.
I was outside in the viewing carriage so it was cold
and with the train moving at a good speed I found it
hard to get good photos. I wish the train could have
stopped but it was not to be. I worked with whatF5.6, 1/1000s ISO64, 24mm