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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 6 (December 1, 1931)

Vista from the Top of the Livingstone Range

Vista from the Top of the Livingstone Range.

Howden Hut is ideally ‘situated as a base for some of the most interesting excursions in this wild mountain country, which perhaps contains no finer scenery than that along the top of the Livingstone Range. Practically the whole 360 degrees of one's view consist of massive snow-clad mountains, the giant Mt. Christina being particularly impressive. This mountain is 8,210ft. high and well over 7,000 ft. of it are visible in front of one. To the right of this is Mt. Crosscut, below which is beautiful Lake Marian. Further round to the right are some unnamed peaks whose sides dip into the Lower Hollyford Valley. This valley leads to Martin's Bay, on the West Coast, while the silver thread of the Hollyford River may be seen meandering through it. (It is up this valley that cattle are still driven to the rail-head at Mossburn.)

On the other side of the Lower Hollyford Valley are beautiful snow-clad mountains that dip where the track to Kinloch passes over the Lake Harris Saddle. Further to the right the range culminates in Mt. Bonpland, behind Kinloch. About here the Lower Hollyford Valley is cut off by a watershed on either side of which are Lakes McKellar and Howden. Both are bush-clad to their waters' edge. From Lake McKellar the Greenstone River emerges, to flow down its valley to Lake Wakatipu.

One cannot resist turning half-way around to admire Mt. Christina once more. To the left of it appears Student's Peak, and then a long snow field connecting the three sharp points of Mt. Park.

By peering over the side of the Livingstone Range three beautiful lakes may be seen. The largest and farthest away is Lake Gunn, the others being Lakes Fergus and Lochie. On the occasion of our visit the first lake was deep blue, the second green, and the third brown, the whole completing a most beautiful picture.

After leaving Howden travellers go their different routes. Some go to Elphin Bay, down the Greenstone Valley, others to Kinloch via the Routeburn, some into the Lower Hollyford. The finest trip—and the most difficult—is into the Upper Hollyford Valley and over the Grave-Talbot Pass into Milford Sound. Another track leads down beside Lakes Lochie, Fergus and Gunn to the Eglington Valley, that is full of wide-open, park-like spaces.

To reach Glade House, at the head of Te Anau, it is necessary to follow the Eglington Valley until the Murcottburn River is reached. From here the track page 57 leads up the hillside, veers round to the right, and emerges from the bush on the flats of the Upper Murcottburn. From here the Dore Pass can be seen ahead. We were unfortunate in having a heavy fall of snow to contend with on the pass, which made the going rather difficult. Once on top, a beautiful view may be obtained. Below (and to the left) was Lake Te Anau. Further up could be seen Glade House and the Clinton River. Ahead, was the Clinton Canyon leading to the Mackinnon Pass. Many other valleys and peaks could be seen, but the absence of a good map made many of these unidentifiable.

Two Recent Examples Of The Locomotive Builder's Art. (Photos, courtesy the American Locomotive Co. and the Baldwin Locomotive Works, placed at our disposal by Mr.S. Fahey, Featherston.) Above: No. 800, the first of its kind in the United States, is a new type of locomotive recently completed at the Schenectady plant of the American Locomotive Company. It is a 4-8-4 multi-pressure, high-pressure, three-cylinder compound, intended for fast freight service. It weighs 333 tons and develops a maximum tractive power of 79,750 pounds. Its fundamental principle consists of the utilisation (by a double expansion engine) of steam from a two-pressure boiler in which the high-pressure element of the boiler receives its heat from a super high-pressure closed-cycle steam system. Steam pressure as high as 1,300 pounds is developed in a tube system which is exposed to the hot combustion gases. The locomotive is expected to set new records for fuel economy in operation. Below: Modern freight locomotive built July, 1931, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, for the Russian Railways—the world's largest railway system. It is equipped with all the latest attachments, including auxiliary locomotive on the tender, for simple and economical operation.

Two Recent Examples Of The Locomotive Builder's Art.
(Photos, courtesy the American Locomotive Co. and the Baldwin Locomotive Works, placed at our disposal by Mr.S. Fahey, Featherston.)
Above: No. 800, the first of its kind in the United States, is a new type of locomotive recently completed at the Schenectady plant of the American Locomotive Company. It is a 4-8-4 multi-pressure, high-pressure, three-cylinder compound, intended for fast freight service. It weighs 333 tons and develops a maximum tractive power of 79,750 pounds. Its fundamental principle consists of the utilisation (by a double expansion engine) of steam from a two-pressure boiler in which the high-pressure element of the boiler receives its heat from a super high-pressure closed-cycle steam system. Steam pressure as high as 1,300 pounds is developed in a tube system which is exposed to the hot combustion gases. The locomotive is expected to set new records for fuel economy in operation. Below: Modern freight locomotive built July, 1931, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works, Philadelphia, for the Russian Railways—the world's largest railway system. It is equipped with all the latest attachments, including auxiliary locomotive on the tender, for simple and economical operation.

On account of a stiff breeze having turned the snow into slippery ice, it was impossible to descend without making sure of grasping the snow grass tightly before moving the feet. For a short distance travelling was rather awkward, as it was necessary to keep under high bluffs. Finally the spur leading down to Glade House was reached.

A trip down the lake, and a motor ride to Lumsden completed a trip which, for interest and variety of scene, is perhaps unequalled in Otago.

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