An unexpected event on the TranzAlpine express.

 20 February

I awoke bleary eyed. The alarm went off at 6 am playing a quiet and soothing tune but I could have wished it further. I had been dozing on and off but by 3 am was fully awake. Two men were talking and drinking with voices getting louder and louder, they had been since we both went to bed at 11 pm. Who they were or where they had come from was a mystery. All I remember was a car door slamming a tad after 3 and it roaring off down the road. Quiet was restored, fell into a deep sleep and then that bloody alarm went off!

No tea was had, just get up and get dressed. Today we would be doing the TranzAlpine train journey, one of the world's great train journeys, the one way would take 5 hours and cover 223 kilometres (139 miles). Starting at Christchurch it would stop at Springfield, Arthurs Pass, Moana and Greymouth. A one-hour  stop there before setting off back to Christchurch.

So to make sure we got good seats, we had to be there at 7 am. The early bird as the saying goes because on the journey to Greymouth we were at the front of the train getting a table with seating for four people and we had the forward facing seats. The viewing car was in the next carriage and the buffet car was two carriages back, ideal. The train soon filled, not a seat left to be had! Three coach loads full of Americans from the cruise ship all turned up. They were all to leave at Arthurs pass where other coaches would take  them back to Christchurch. 

On the journey home the same seating layout but the allocation was right at the back, a long way from the viewing car. We did get the table to ourselves though. Gosh, it was a trek to get to that viewing carriage. With the train rocking and rolling, people spreading themselves out, legs causing trip hazards, it wasn't easy. But it had to be done and very glad I made the effort. This morning you could hardly get into the carriage so full of those Americans but the journey back, hardly anyone in it and some very good pictures was had. An announcement was made on this leg, the viewing car would be closed for 30 minutes as a very special event was taking place, the first ever TranzAlpine rail wedding! I got to meet bride and groom although I made a bit of a faux par when congratulating the two younger couple. Turns out it wasn't them but their mum and dad! The daughter and husband had no knowledge that this was about to happen. In fact the decision to wed and all that entailed, getting a celebrant, gathering a few guests and organising the train trip, all happened within 3 days. Now that's what I call a shotgun wedding! And well done all those that were involved in the planning providing balloons champagne and platters of food. A big round of applause for the TranzAlpine staff.

Before the numerous photos I must say the 11 hours went very quickly. Buffet food was good and the scenery was ever a bit as spectacular, if not better, than the website mentions. As far as the cost was concerned, although very expensive, the whole experience was up there with the best and one we wouldn't have missed for the World. 

So now to the photos

 

7 pm we arrived back at Christchurch, first thing to do was to find somewhere to stay and then find a fish and chip shop. Both were found at a place called Lyttleton. The parking area was at Navel Point, supposedly secure because the gate was shut at 9 pm. As you will find out in tomorrow's post, this was not to be.