Key:

2XXX  Upper Hutt

4XXX  Taita

5XXX  Melling

16XX  Wairarapa Service

==  Express, but note that Melling services stop at Petone.

634 Wellington-Napier Freight runs Monday - Friday, usually either before or after 5616. It sometimes runs after 5618. On rare occasions it runs even later. It shunts at Upper Hutt. 634 ceased running in mid 2008 after the Manawatu Gorge tunnels were daylighted.

633 Napier-Wellington freight usually passes through Petone before the signalman arrives for work. However, sometimes this train is late and may be seen sometime after 0600. 633 ceased running in mid 2008 after the Manawatu Gorge tunnels were daylighted.

Q4 shunts Woburn, usually between 0930 and 1030 Mon-Wed-Fri. On Mondays, when 634 does not run, Q4 also makes a journey to Upper Hutt during the morning peak. Now that 634 has been cancelled Q4 can run any day Monday to Friday, often shunting both Eurocell at Upper Hutt and Hutt Shops.

Test Trains. From time to time test EMUs run from Wellington to Petone and reverse at 38 points.

Video Test Train. From time to time the overhead video recording EMU runs from Wellington to Melling, then leaves the branch onto the Up Main and continues to Upper Hutt.

Training MU. From time to time one or two training EMUs run to Upper Hutt. Other times the training trains operate on the Branch during the off-peak. Scheduled services are replaced by buses.

Light Locos. Sometimes light locos run to the Wairarapa for no obvious reason (a break down?).

SE Train  In 2008 the SE train (or Eo Train as it is more popularly known) began running. This is six refurbished (but not re-built) BR MK2 cars, classed SE, top and tailed by Eo electric locos ex the Otira tunnel. 2613, the down service, is scheduled through Petone at 0740. 2666, the up service, is scheduled through Petone at 1723. Several existing trains were renumbered when these services were introduced.

EM80  The track evaluation car checks the track every six months or so. Usually EM80 will run from Wellington to Melling, leave the Branch onto the up main and continue to Upper Hutt. Because EM80 cannot be relied on to operate track circuits special procedures must be followed to provide protection (Rule 914).

Hi-Rail Vehicles usually run within a Compulsory Stop Board work area. However, they can be authorised outside such areas by the issue of a mis 71 Track Occupancy form. I issued a mis 71 for a hi-rail vehicle to run on the Melling Branch on my very first day solo!

Headways   The minimum headway from Wellington to Taita is two minutes and from Petone to Taita two and a half minutes. This is for trains travelling at the same speed. As the speed difference increases so does the headway. If a down express is running late an estimated margin of six minutes is necessary at Petone to run a down Melling out of order in front of the express. Anything less and the express will be checked.

Wairarapas Retimed  

0809, 0753 time etc..pinch points...pm expresses..old and new registers...

Blacked Out Signal.  67 signal on the Down Main, opposite the Box, was blacked out. The Down Main is usually switched out, only being switched in to get a Melling off the branch, so most trains can pass the signal on the A-Light. A Melling was coming off the branch behind 1601 so the latter train was verballed past 67 signal at stop. All other trains used the A-light. The bulb was replaced at 0752.

633 Late. A late 633 passed through Petone at 0618. Because 67 signal was blacked out the freight stopped opposite the box. The A-light was illuminated so it then proceeded in accordance with the regulations.

634 Late.  A late 634 passed Petone at 0813 after??. Conflict with Melling.....