Author(s): CHURCHMAN G

Rail

Now representing a quarter of the present-day KiwiRail network, the South Island Main Trunk stretches 1000 km from Picton in the Marlborough Sounds to Bluff at the bottom of the South Island, along the way passing through an impressive variety of terrains: mountains, coastline (for some 100 km both at the same time) hill country, plains, and of course, cities. This book relates the history of the two sections of the railway, which were completed nearly seven decades apart, as well as features of engineering and scenic interest, the nature of rail operations, locomotives and trains through the decades. Maps and an impressive collection of photos, many in full colour, accompany the fascinating text. 128 pages in 286 x 210 mm format.