MAJIK VIDEO Systems

02/10/2022

DLs 9360 and 9112 approaching Kanohi Road on the North Auckland Line this morning on their way to check clearances in the Makarau tunnel.

22/12/2021

Celebrating our 27th year producing NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE, Volume 109 is now available to purchase. The DVD begins with a segment covering KiwiRail's recent freight trains from around the country.

We have comprehensive coverage of the Kingston Flyer that’s celebrating 50 years since it began running between Lumsden and Kingston in December 1971. This item includes historical footage when it was relocated to Invercargill in 1979 to operate over the line to Wairio on Saturdays. Since returning to Kingston in 1982, it has operated under many different changes of ownership.

Finn O’Regan followed Train 120, the weekday freight service from Westfield to Whangarei, and his drone footage illustrates the huge investment spent on new bridges and trackwork to upgrade the line.

After eight years of restoration by the Canterbury Railway Society, 1887-built D 140 returned to service on the Ferrymead Railway in October and is seen double-heading with F 13.

Mainline Steam have had to vacate their South Island site in Christchurch after 25 years. This involved moving all their rolling stock by road transporter to their new proposed base at Springfield. This left three large steam locomotives to be moved north to Plimmerton. Kb 968 was dismantled and moved by road transporter while Ka 942 and Ja 1240 were hauled north by a special KiwiRail service.

October 2021 also marks 50 years since the end of steam operations by New Zealand Railways but there were a few steam-hauled delivery trips from the South to the North Island. One of these captured on movie film was J 1234 hauling an excursion train from Timaru to Christchurch in April 1973 where it was joined by J 1211 for the run to Picton. Thirteen months later, both locomotives ran from Wellington to Palmerston North then back to their new home with Steam Incorporated at Paekakariki.

The Government recently announced that they want to reduce carbon emission levels by 50% and phase out coal-fired boilers by 2037, so how will this affect heritage railways use of fossil fuels in the future?

Steam Incorporated ran their ‘Grand Circle Rail Cruise’ behind Da’s 1410 and 1431 from Paekakariki to Wellington then up through the Wairarapa and Manawatu Gorge and back to Wellington via the Kapiti Coast..

We round up Volume 109 with a sneak preview of Cran Julian’s footage of the Articulated Twin-set railcars including the final Blue Streak service from New Plymouth in 1977 on the Taranaki Line. More comprehensive footage of these railcars in operation will feature in our Autumn edition Volume 110.

The cost per DVD is $35.80 plus $5.90 p&p (within NZ). To order, we accept PayPal or Direct Credit. To place an order, please message or email me, [email protected]

17/09/2021

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 107 was released in July 2021. The DVD begins with a segment covering KiwiRail's recent freight and passenger trains from around the country.

We cover Feilding Steam Rail's Á Day in the Bay Excursion' from Palmerston North to Napier using KiwiRail's Capital Connection carriages and loco.

We take a look at a 1979 nostalgic excursion from Palmerston North to Waipukurau behind brand new Dc 1574 and 'Grass Grub' filmed by Cran Julian.

Following the Easter break, the new weekday commuter service Te Huia commenced running between Hamilton and Papakura.

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway ran their Éast and West Rail Tour' during April behind Dbr 1254 that covered the NIMT travelling to Napier and New Plymouth featuring drone footage courtesy of Finn O'Reagan.

Our feature item is Steam Incorporated and Pounamu Travel's 'Great Southern Train Tour' of the South Island with Ab 608 being used between Picton and Kaikoura and Da's 1410 and 1431 for the remainder of the tour.

After sitting for the past seven years with an unknown future, the Kingston Flyer is once again up and running. Tour passengers from the 'Great Southern Train Tour' rode the train on Saturday 1 May.

Gisborne Railbike Adventures operate guided tours on specially built rail bikes over the mothballed Muriwai to Beach Loop section of the closed Wairoa to Gisborne railway line. Janet and I joined other cyclists during Queen's Birthday weekend to ride this scenic section high above the Pacific Ocean.

We round up Volume 107 with a selection of recent Heritage Rail events from around the country.

The cost is $35.80 per DVD plus $5.90 p&p (within NZ). To order, we accept PayPal or Direct Credit. To place an order, please message or email me, [email protected]

17/09/2021

A dozen older NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE films are now available on Historical Machines TV at: http://www.historicalmachines.tv/pages/tv

HMTV is an advert-free streaming video platform featuring aircraft, vintage cars, military vehicles, history and also steam and trains. Please share this posting, and support HMTV so that we can host more NZ RAILSCENE films online.

Videos currently on HMTV include:
NZ RAILSCENE Volumes 78, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and 85
The Last Spike Rail Festival
The Centennial Parliamentary Special
The Middlemarch Rail Festival
The Westland Rail Tour
The Glenbrook Railway Festival Of Steam
Tigers to Turbines - 50 Years of Wanganui Aero Work

17/09/2021

Our 2022 NZ RAIL SCENE Wall Calendar is now available for purchase featuring twelve of Janet Weir's images of New Zealand locomotives and their trains operating at various locations around the country. In the past we have included a 60 minute complimentary DVD but most customers no longer have access to a DVD player, we have now made the 60 minute video available on line (YouTube details inside the calendar).

The calendars are available for $24.99 at Whitcoulls, a number of selected Paper Plus outlets, Macks Track (Plimmerton), Ironhorse Hobbies (Christchurch), the Railway Enthusiasts Society (Auckland).

They're available through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS for $30 that includes postage within NZ.

19/05/2021

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volumes 101 - 105 are now available to view on-line at http://24trains.tv

24Trains is the ultimate online train library. Watch the best videos, movies, magazines about modern trains, steam trains, model trains and train travels!

08/09/2020

Our 2021 NZ RAIL SCENE Wall Calendar is now available for purchase featuring twelve of Janet Weir's images of New Zealand locomotives and their trains operating at various locations around the country. Due to the additional costs of having the calendar printed in New Zealand including replicating the complimentary DVD, we've had to slightly reduce the size of the calendar from 350 x 245 to the new size of 320 x 240 in order to keep it at the original retail price of $NZ24.99.

20/08/2020

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 103 is now available. The DVD begins with a segment covering KiwiRail's recent freight trains around the country.

Covid-19 Level 4 Lockdown affected our Heritage Railways to operate financially including the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. This also included New Zealand's largest private rail operation, Dunedin Railways, who suffered from a large financial loss from the many cruise ship charters that they operated from Port Chalmers to Pukerangi.

Teenager Peter Weir and a small group of volunteers were responsible for the overhaul and restoration of the Diesel Traction Group's De 511 that had been in storage for a number of years.

With no main line heritage excursions operating during Levels 3 & 4, we take a look back at a number of North Island passenger excursions that operating during the 1990's.

We take a look at work trains on the North Auckland Line during a shutdown to rebuild and upgrade this important rail link to Northland.

With Dunedin Railways mothballing their operation, the Diesel Traction Group's Di 1102 that was on loan to the railway, was returned to Christchurch along with a carriage and Fm generator van on lease to Steam Incorporated.

After celebrating 25 years of publishing NZ RAILFAN magazine, Karl Morris called it a day.

We conclude with the proposed '2021 Great Southern Steam Train Tour' that's scheduled to travel the South Island behind Steam Incorporated's Ab 608 during April 2021.

The cost is $35.80 per DVD plus $5.50 p&p (within NZ). We still accept cheque payments or if you wish to order using PayPal or Direct Credit please message or email me. [email protected]

05/05/2020

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 102 is now available. The DVD begins with a segment covering KiwiRail's recent freight and passenger trains around the country before the Covid-19 Level 4 lockdown. We cover the Canterbury Railway Society's first weekend of running after a winter shutdown featuring F 13.

The Weka Pass Railway celebrates the 110th Anniversary of their steam locomotive A 428. We travel to the township of Fairlie for their annual New Years Day street parade that saw the Pleasant Point Railways D 16 in steam on a transporter hauled by a traction engine.

We follow the first main line outing with the RES/GVR's diesel-electric loco Db 1254 to Waharoa then from Hamilton to Ohakune the following day.

Before the lockdown, cruise ships visit many ports in NZ and one of these that includes a ride behind a steam loco is Gisborne where Wa 165 takes passengers from the port to Muriwai.

Bobby Boulton and Cameron Carter provided stunning video footage of the Tranz Alpine on its daily run from Christchurch to Greymouth.

Trevor Lees travelled to Wairoa to capture the second weekend after log trains commenced running between Wairoa and Napier.

Db 1254 makes its second excursion outing on the main line from Glenbrook to Kinleith and we finish with a short segment on Mainline Steam's South African locomotives move from Auckland to their proposed new base at Mercer.

The cost is $35.80 per DVD plus $5.50 p&p (within NZ). We still accept cheque payments or if you wish to order using PayPal or Direct Credit please message or email me. [email protected]

23/07/2019

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 99 is now available. The DVD begins with a segment covering KiwiRail's recent freight and passenger trains around the country. Feilding Steam Rail organised a railfans' photographers excursion from Palmerston North through the Manawatu Gorge with F 163. We take a trip back to 1963 when F 163 was based in Christchurch and ran an excursion to Lyttleton for the Railway Enthusiasts Society's during their Marlborough/Westland Rail Tour. The Western Springs Railway staged a 'Steam Sunday' with three of their steam locomotives running passenger trains for the public. After a number of years of rebuilding a small steam locomotive from a rusting hulk, the Blenheim Riverside Railway officially welcomed 'Donald' to their fleet. Our cameras follow Train X6, the daily Westland Milk Products train from Hokitika to Greymouth that includes shot from the cab. One of New Zealand's latest steam locomotive restoration projects is Wf 403 at Nelson's Founders Park. We take a brief look at both the Bay of Islands Vintage Railway that runs down the main street of Kawakawa and also Oamaru Steam and Rail Society's operation. Paekakariki based Steam Incorporated not only run excursions but also private charters and we catch up with one of these in the Hawkes Bay. Dunedin Railways made a visit to the Weka Pass Railway with their Silver Fern railcar before the lease expired on the railcar. The Annual FRONZ Conference was held in Timaru during Queens Birthday Weekend and delegates visited the Plains Railway at Tinwald and the Pleasant Point Railway. And the big news in June was the official opening of the Napier - Wairoa line with a special passenger excursion for Officials. The cost is $35.80 per DVD plus $5.50 p&p (within NZ). We still accept cheque payments or if you wish to order using PayPal or Direct Credit please message or email me. [email protected]

23/07/2019

In 2018. the Auckland based Railway Enthusiasts Society celebrated their 60th Anniversary. This 96 minute DVD covers over seventy historic excursions that the Society organised and has run since 1958. It features digitally mastered 16mm colour film from the movie cameras of Dawson Wilkinson & Bob Mann. A look back at the way New Zealand Railways was, the infrastructure, the steam-hauled passenger trains, the country stations and the towns. The cost is $25.00 per DVD plus $5.50 p&p (within NZ). We still accept cheque payments or if you wish to order using PayPal or Direct Credit please message or email me. [email protected]

23/07/2019

MAJIK VIDEO Systems's cover photo

23/07/2019

Our 2020 NEW ZEALAND RAIL SCENE large format wall calendar has arrived from the printers and is now available for sale. It features twelve of Janet Weir's digital railway images plus a complimentary 60 minute DVD covering a number of heritage excursions, KiwiRail operations and nostalgic footage that compliment Janet's photos. Please message me if you wish to purchase through PayPal or by Direct Credit. We still also accept cheque payments. The calendars will also be available nationwide through Whitcoulls, a number of Paper Plus outlets, Calendar Club, Dunedin Railways and rail heritage groups.
[email protected]

06/09/2017

Our '2018 NEW ZEALAND RAIL SCENE Wall Calendar' featuring Janet Weir's images is now available to purchase.

30/06/2017

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 91 DVD is available for purchase. The DVD features a roundup of KiwiRail and Tranz Scenic services from around the country in 'KiwiRail Scene.'

Our cameras follow Steam Incorporated's 'Christchurch Press Readers' Tour' excursion from Paekakariki to Whangarei behind Da 1431.

Next is the 'Steam Extravaganza' weekend at McLeans Island featuring Price V 148 with some nostalgic footage of Ogilvie's Bush Tramway in operation in 1958 at Gladstone on the West Coast.

Robert Boulton provided NZ RAILSCENE with video of Ferrymead Railway's 'English Electric Double Delight' that saw Dg 772 and Eo 3 double heading a passenger service over the weekend.

From the United Kingdom, Ian Brownrigg followed Bullied No. 34053 'Sir Keith Park' at three separate heritage railways in February and March.

A major celebration involving two separate steam excursions, was the unveiling of the Tangiwai Memorial to the two locomotive crew who perished in the 1953 Tangiwai Disaster.

Springing up around the country are cycling trails. One such one is the 'Twin Coast Cycle Trail' that follows the formation of the Okaihau and Kawakawa/Opua branches in Northland.

The Weka Pass features with their 'Diesel Day/Night Photo Special' that saw English Electric locomotives on a triple-header with De 1429 and Dg's 791 & 770.

We complete Volume 91 with Feilding Steam Rail's diesel-hauled excursion from Feilding to Taumarunui on Sunday 18 June.

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, Westpark Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

Trade enquiries most welcome.

11/03/2017

The Glenbrook Vintage Railway's 1912-built Mallet locomotive trundling along Auckland's Quay Street in 1986.

14/12/2016

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 89 DVD is available for purchase. The DVD features a roundup of KiwiRail and Tranz Scenic services from around the country in 'KiwiRail Scene.'

Our cameras follow the Railway Enthusiasts'Society 'Waves & Wheels' excursion from Auckland to Whangarei in a Silver Fern Railcar.

Next is Steam Incorporated's 'River City Express' that ran from Paekakariki to Wanganui behind coal-fired steam locomotive Ja 1271.

44 years ago the 'Standard' railcars were retired from service on the Wellington to New Plymouth passenger services. During Labour Weekend the Pahiatua Railcar Society organised a nostalgic trip to New Plymouth with Standard railcar 'Tokomaru.'

NZR's prototype 'K 900' was relocated from static display at MOTAT 1 to the Western Springs Railway at MOTAT 2. This item also includes footage of this locomotive in operation in the Waikato during the 1960's.

Two celebrations are covered in Volume 89 - the Plains Railway's 45th Anniversary Celebrations featuring A 64 and K 88 and also Rolleston's 150th Railway Celebration.

We look at the devastation caused by the earthquake of the Main North Line along the Kaikoura Coast.

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, West Park Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

Trade enquiries most welcome.

12/10/2016

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 88 DVD is available for purchase. The DVD features a roundup of KiwiRail and Tranz Scenic services from around the country in 'KiwiRail Scene.'

Our cameras follow Steam Incorporated's 'Mangatainoka Explorer' through the Wairarapa behind classic diesel-electric locomotive Da 1431.

This is followed by Feilding Steam Rail's 'Mid Winter Christmas Dinner Express' to Masterton with coal-fired steam locomotive Wab 794.

We take a brief look at Christchurch Tramways city circuit as it recovers from the damage of the February 2011 earthquake.

With the future re-opening of the Napier - Wairoa section of the Napier - Gisborne line being reinstated in October 2017, we feature footage from the last week's of operation before the line was damaged by major washouts.

There is comprehensive coverage of Steam Incorporated's 3-day 'Taranaki Rail Tour' behind New Zealand's War Memorial locomotive Ab 608.

We visit 'Manukau Live Steamers' Queen's Birthday Weekend with a number of locomotives operating on their two circuits.

Queen's Birthday also marked the end of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's 39th operating season before their winter shutdown.

Steam Incorporated were busy with another passenger excursion from Paekakariki to Raurimu using coal-fired locomotive Ja 1271 for the first leg of the journey to Palmerston North where KiwiRail Ef class electric locomotive took over for the run to Raurimu.

Our cameras were in Northland to capture the last days of rail operations between Whangarei and Otiria with the daily log train to Portland. This was also the end of the last four-wheel wagons in use on the KiwiRail network.

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, West Park Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

Trade enquiries most welcome.

16/03/2016

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 86 DVD is available for purchase. The DVD features a roundup of KiwiRail and Tranz Scenic services from around the country.

We follow Steam Incorporated's New Year 'Eketahuna Excursion' behind New Zealand's War Memorial locomotive Ab 608 'Passchendaele.' And we look back 16 years ago when the Hokitika branch was being worked by the Dbr class.

From the Dawson Wilkinson film archives, we follow Ww 561 from Taumarunui to Ohakune in October 1961 during the Railfans' Reunion. Some great shots of stations and viaducts that have long disappeared from the landscape - Piriaka, Oio, Horopito & Taonui viaduct.

Our cameras are at the Britomart Transport Centre as the last diesel-hauled 'Northern Explorer' departs for the final time. We check out the upgraded passenger facility at the Strand Station which is now the home of long distance passenger train arrivals and departures.

There's coverage of the late Barry Brickell's 'Driving Creek Railway' at Coromandel and we visit the Mana Ariki Mountain Railway north of Taumarunui where a number of locomotives provided rides in January.

Standard Railcar 'Tokomaru' visits Wanganui for the first time since 1972 when they were retired from the Wellington to New Plymouth daily run. We pay a visit to the Nelson Railway Society's Founders Park Railway.

'The Kingston Flyer' was New Zealand's iconic vintage heritage steam train but for the past three years it has sat idle at Kingston awaiting a buyer.

And we complete Volume 86 with some more sequences of KiwiRail freight trains.

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, West Park Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

16/12/2015

NEW ZEALAND RAILSCENE Volume 85 DVD is available for purchase. The DVD features comprehensive coverage of Steam Incorporated's 2015 South Island Rail Tour with NZ's War Memorial locomotive Ab 608 'Passchendaele' including footage of the loco double-heading on the Weka Pass Railway with A 428.

We cover KiwiRail's freight services from around the country and also the last coal train to be loaded at the Huntly East mine at Kimihia before Solid Energy closed the mine the next day.

Our cameras were on hand to cover the late night move of Dean McQuoid's rolling stock behind Da 1429 from the old Otahuhu Workshops to temporary storage at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway and the Steel Mill sidings at Mission Bush.

There's coverage of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's 38th opening season that saw Ww 664 celebrate it's 100th Birthday plus footage of 'A Day out with Thomas.'

From our archive files from 1957, there's footage of the NZRLS Annual Reunion excursion that ran from Auckland to Cambridge featuring Dg 791 (Auckland - Frankton Junction) and Ab 662 (Frankton Junction - Cambridge & return).

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, West Park Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

21/07/2015

The ‘2016 New Zealand Rail Scene Wall Calendar’ features twelve of Janet Weir’s images of steam and diesel locomotives in action from around the country.

The calendar also incorporates a free 60 minute DVD that supports video footage of each of the images featuring heritage steam-hauled excursions and main line freight and passenger trains.

The 2016 New Zealand Rail Scene Wall Calendar retails for $25.00 and is available at PaperPlus, Whitcoulls, The Warehouse, Take Note and Calendar Club outlets plus other selected retailers - Ironhorse Hobbies in Christchurch, Taieri Gorge Railway, Pleasant Point Railway, Glenbrook Vintage Railway, Railway Enthusiasts' Society, Macks Tracks in Plimmerton or through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS.

17/07/2015

NZ RAILSCENE Volume 83 features Steam Incorporated's Ab 608 on the 'Ruapehu ANZAC Express,' Auckland's surplus suburban stock being placed in long-term storage at Waitakere, Helensville and Taumarunui.

Also included is footage of F 13 'Peverills' recommissioning ceremony and trips on the Ferrymead Railway. We also cover the 'Steam Extravaganza' weekend at McLeans Island in Christchurch plus the Dx-class locomotives employed to work the mountainess section of the Midland Line between Springfield and Otira.

We visit the Chris Draper's private 'Winter Creek Railway' at Coatesville north of Auckland and cover Mainline Steam's departure from the Parnell Steam Depot - their home for the past 20 odd years.

There's coverage of the Nelson Railway Society's overhaul and restoration of steam locomotive Wf 403 at Founders Park plus coverage of the Annual FRONZ Conference held in Blenheim during Queen's Birthday Weekend that includes a run over the Riverside Railway to the Omaka Aviation Centre.

We complete Volume 83 with the return of Da 1410 and J 1234 from the Glenbrook Vintage Railway to their home at Steam Incorporated, Paekakariki.

The DVD's are available through selected retail outlets and through MAJIK VIDEO SYSTEMS. P O Box 15, West Park Marina, West Harbour, Auckland 0661. Cost $35.80 each plus $5.00 p&p.

15/06/2015

New cover photo of Dxb 5068 after a photo stop on the Raurimu Spiral with Da's 1410 & 1429 and steam locomotive J 1234 on Sunday 7 June 2015. Da 1410 & J 1234 were being returned to Steam Incorporated, Paekakariki after a long term loan to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. With Dxb 5068 off-line, Dean McQuoid's Da 1429 is about to move the 420 tonne train, the maximum load for a single Da on the Spiral's gradient. Photo - Janet Weir.

20/05/2015

New cover photo is the southbound Overlander behind Dft 7199 south of Horopito with the lower slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the background on Monday 20 July 1998.