Difference between revisions 162420563 and 162420564 on dewiki

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2015}}
{{more footnotes|date=July 2014}}
The '''Bluff Branch''', officially the '''Bluff Line''' since 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.linz.govt.nz/placenames/consultation-decisions/a-to-z/bluff-line |title=Bluff Line |publisher=Land Information New Zealand |accessdate=October 2014}}</ref> is a [[railway]] line in [[Southland, New Zealand|Southland]], [[New Z(contracted; show full)

The huge Ocean Beach freezing works was also shunted by the Bluff-based shunters. Frozen meat from other works around the region were also handled through the port
, creating substantial rail traffic for the branch. A then unique all  -weather meat loading facility allowed for trains to be shunted directly into a large five  -bay shed with overhead conveyor loaders carrying frozen carcasses out of wagons and directly into the ship's hold.

==Rationalization==
When The Ocean Beach freezing works closed in 1989 and bulk shipping of frozen meat methods changed to containerization in the 1990s, most of the town side rail yards and sidings, including the old wharf rails were lifted. A substantial drop in rail traffic has resulted as Southland moved from sheep meat based farming to Dairy. While shipping patterns also changed with bulk commodities shipping taking over.

Minimal trackage on the town's station site remains to serve the substantial cool stores located along Gore Street. This also includes the southern tip of the Kiwirail network. Beautification work along the old railway yards has created a park like setting. The only substantial structure being the station goods shed and a repositioned wagon turntable to represent the numerous level crossings on Gore street for lines that served shipping company warehouses still standing. Some have rails in situ at old entrances.

The island harbour's loco depot was closed in 1999, with all shunting and train handling controlled from Invercargill. The locomotive turning wye was taken out of use shortly after. Rail facilities were rationalized to suit log, and container handling after the all  -weather meat loading facilities were decommissioned in 2000.

===Modern locomotive power===
Mainline Diesel power arrived on the Bluff branch in the mid  -1960s sharing the line with steam power until 1970, when steam working ended. After a trial with the heavy  [[New Zealand DG and DH class locomotive|DG class]] diesel locomotives, services were operated by [[New Zealand DJ class locomotive|DJ class]] locomotives after their introduction in 1968 on account of their lower axle-load. The [[New Zealand DE class locomotive|DE class]] heavy shunter also worked the line on lighter transfer work. Following the withdrawal of the DJ class in the late 1980s both [[New Zealand DB class locomotive|DBR]] and [[New Zealan(contracted; show full)

{{NZR Lines}}

[[Category:Rail transport in Southland, New Zealand]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1867]]
[[Category:Railway lines in New Zealand]]
[[Category:1867 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Bluff, New Zealand]]