DXC 5195, DXC 5379 and DXC 5287 stand by at Otira on banker duty.2012.

About this image

DescriptionDXC 5195, DXC 5379 and DXC 5287 stand by at Otira on banker duty
8 July 2012

NZ Rail PhotosDate of Photo2012Map^[1]External LinkNZ Rail PhotosContributorHeather Newby

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)OtiraOrganisation (eg business)NZ RailwaysEventDXC 5195, DXC 5379 and DXC 5287 stand by at Otira on banker duty.2012.

Category Information

Category TagRailways

From Facebook

Date Created21st February 2020CommentsIan Coates Heather banker duty in this location is because of the steep grade from otira to arthers pass including the otira tunnel requires a extra 9000 or so horse power to pull a loaded coal train though this steep part of the network.
This is in addition to the two locos that have pulled it to otira.
These banker units shuttle up and down when ever required to suit train movements 24 7.

Trevor Keith Scott They have at times sent Engines down to Jacksons & Inchbonnie to help fully loaded trains up to Otira. At Otira depending on Weight they could hook up extra Electric trains to pull through the Tunnel, forgotten now the steepness of the Tunnel but it was 5 1/4 miles long. We worked in that tunnel quite often, replacing sleepers,rails, Lining and lifting sunken joints. Every so often there are pull offs for the men and Jiggers so Trains could pass while workers still inside Tunnel.

Ray Vincent Over the years various locations have required additional assistance to help the normal trains because of the grade (steepness) of the track. Over the Reefton saddle was very common in the steam days, Otira to A Pass not an issue when electrified as only electric trains could operate through the tunnel and therefore the size was well regulated always. On some occassion the Cass bank required the extra assistance of additional loco's but not on a regular basis like Reefton. Today the 2 Diesel loco's are fitted with a traction control system which regulated the drive and allows bigger and heavier loads to be pulled, with the removal of the electrics at Otira the 1 in 20 grade has required 3 additional loco's plus doors on the Otira end of the tunnel (to allow for cooling and ventilation) in order to get the coal trains up the grade.

Donald Hibbs All these statements are true, they get filthy because of the fumes in the tunnel. The term banker simply means that they are used to take trains up a steep bank. Then your train gets banked up the grade... by banker engines.

Gary Grant Are there doors at the end of the tunnel that close to push the air back passed the trains to cool them as the air rushes out of the tunnel the trains over heat and as the train get close the doors open to let the train out ,,OR have they been removed now,,

Ian Coates Gary Grant once the train is in the tunnel a door at the otira portal closes and large capacity fans start and draw the air out of the tunnel.
The 5 locos on the train are making around 15 000 horse power and are at max power to do the pulling and there are considerable emmissions in this confined space,so the loco crews have to specail skills and certifcation to operate in this enviroment.
If for some reason the fan stops so will the train going up hill as the locos starve for clean air and overheat and will stall.
There is a set purge time before another train can enter the tunnel to ensure the atmosphere in the tunnel is safe.

Ray Vincent If diesel fumes are recirculated for a second or third time through an engine the product is NO gas which is extremely toxic and would kill, thus time is needed between trains, it takes about 10 to 15 minutes to clear the tunnel (approx 8.5km) upon entering the only door at the otira end closes (sensed by signals track circuits) door closes and one fan line starts (2 fans per fan line) this draws air past the loco's and away from the driver at the uphill end of the train, provides cooling for the loco's. When the train exists the top of the tunnel ( A pass ) the second fan line starts until the tunnel is clear. We used to run the fans when operating equipment in the tunnel, especially when ballast cleaning to keep the gas levels under control. Everyone working in a rail tunnel must be trained and eack group has to carry an NO and CO2 gas sensor on their person, once comfortable gas levels are exceeded its time to get out in a hurry, running the fans stopped the build up of gas. I spent hundreds of hours in the tunnel during this maintenance work from 2007 till 2011.

OCR Text Transcription Edit Edit +-Close

Editing is temporarily disabled

Cancel Edit

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Menu

DXC 5195, DXC 5379 and DXC 5287 stand by at Otira on banker duty.2012.

Editing is temporarily disabled