The Tranz Alpine - one of the world's most scenic train journeys.

This is the story of a railway, a very special railway, one that is unique, not only to New Zealand, but perhaps the world.

Building the Midland line from coast to coast through the towering Southern Alps of New Zealand's South Island, involved one of the major railway engineering feats of all time - the 8.5 kilometre long Otira Tunnel. Ten years in construction and the longest in the southern hemisphere when it was completed in 1923.

However, there is much more to the Midland lin than the Otira Tunnel, impressive though it is. This internationally famous, award-winning journey onboard the Tranz Alpine has been described as "New Zealand's own miniature transcontinental railway". In only 231 kilometres, from Christchurch to Greymouth, the traveller experiences a vast range of scenery, from temperate rain forest to snowy peaks, wide alpine river valleys to rugged gorges, broad plains to rolling hills, all in an unforgettable four and a half hour rail excursion.

It's all here on this 68 minute programme, viewed from the air, the trackside, the loco cab and more. The scenery, the history, the humour and the unexpected,as you travel across New Zealand's South Island, aboard the Tranz Alpine.

Sit back and enjoy one of the world's great scenic rail journeys, and now, additional bonus footage from the locomotive cab and the luggage car.

Running Time: 95 minutes

Format: Pal

Region: Region Free