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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 9 (January 1, 1929)

Sight-Seeing

Sight-Seeing.

Many contented themselves with standing on the carriage platforms in order to obtain a better view of the country they were seeing for the first time. To most, the run along the beach to Eskdale was familiar, but once the train entered the hills the outlook was new, and absorbed the interest of all. With the exception of the Esk Valley, the outlook from a scenic point of view was not very attractive, although the old Kaiwaka homestead, settled far below in the hills on a nice flat, bounded by the winding Esk river, presented a most delightful scene.

Generally speaking, almost the only vegetation consists of fern and manuka. Much of the country showed no evidence of good soil, and the need of fertilisers was stressed later by speakers at Tutira. With the advent of the railway the possibilities of this country are improved.

For some considerable distance the line follows the winding Esk river. After the crossing, it quickly rises in a consistent grade to hundreds of feet above and overlooking the river. For the greater part, the track for the line has been carved out of the hillside, so that on one hand there is the face of a cutting, and on the other a sheer drop down to the river. page 25 Wherever the route was not practical for cuttings, tunnels have been constructed, and in some cases small hills have been almost taken away in order to give the bends an increased radius.