The only section of the line that is reasonable recognisable is Underpool station. Top, No.1 waits with a train in May 2004, while below, the station waits for a train in December 2007! The water didn't rise high enough to cover the track here, so even the loose logs are still lying where they were last used in November 2006. Unforunately, my job with AMRM doesn't leave me with much spare time, so it may be a while before trains are running again on the RVR.

June 2004 and No.1 has no touble traversing the intact 'Mt Lyell' bridge... in December 2007 the same journey may be a little more difficult... The bridge collapsed when the rushing water built up a wall of debris against it, the force of the water finally broke the bridge and pushed it out from under the track. Most of the 'bits' have been recovered from under the swimming pool, but I think it will be rebuilt in a more substancial form. The embankment leading around to Underpool station (inset) was also washed away.

Another view of the 'Mt Lyell' bridge, top photo taken so long ago that the date wasn't recorded, shows one of Bill Cooper's Shays hauling a log train, while the December 2007 photo below shows a distinct lack of bridge!

Just past the 'Dragonrock bridge' in July 2004 and (old) No.2 was having no problem hauling an empty mineral train towards Possum Point. No traffic possible in December 2007, the track has disappeared under the foliage and the 'Mt Lyell' bridge in the background had been destroyed by floodwater.

In October 2003, Tony Walsham's modified Bachmann 4-4-0 had no trouble crossing the 'Dragonrock' bridge. December 2007, the middle pier has been knocked out and the bridge is covered with debris. Despite appearances, damage is minimal, a new brick pier will have the bridge back in operation fairly quickly. The middle pier had been problematical for some time, and a new brick pier has been on the 'drawingboard' for some time...

The line to Queenstown/the smelters, top October 2003, below, December 2007.

Looking down hill from Devlins platform in October 2003, below, the same view, December 2007.

Top, October 2003 and No.1 is drifting downhill, about to exit the big cutting halfway around 'Cape Horn'. Below, the same view in December 2007...

Two views of 'Cape Horn', half way up the Middle Rd, top November 2005, bottom 7th December 2007. The track is all still intact, under there somewhere!

Looking back down the Middle Rd in October 2003 and the right-of-way on both the Middle and Bottom rds is quite clear. On December 7th 2007 you would hardly know there was a railway there...

No.1 heads towards the tunnel on the Middle Rd in October 2003. The day after the flood in 2007 and the tunnel mouth is barely visible.

Diesel D1 passes Bottom Points with a motley collection of half-finished rollingstock in October 2004 above. December 7th 2007 and things are a little more overgrown.

No.1 drifts downgrade out of the tunnel on the Middle Rd, about to roll through Bottom Points, on October 2003. The same view the day after the flood...

The Porter 0-4-0T hauls side tippers upgrade towards Bottom Points in November 2003, whereas below on 7th December 2007, the same bridge is barely visible through the shrubbery.

Above, No.3 shunts the wharf in July 2005, below, the same view on 7th December 2007.

Only two buildings are left outside, the coal stage at Possum Point and the water tank at Bottom Points. In January 2005, a TGR CC open wagon was replenising the coal stage, above, while below, a little quick forestry has re-exposed the coal stage to view.

The other end of Possum Point, above photo 26th November 2005. The last train ran in November 2006, and by the time of the flood, a veritable forest had grown up where the loco shed once stood.

Possum Point, before and after. The top photo shows Bill Cooper happily shunting on 3rd October 2003 while the bottom photo shows the far end of Possum Point after the flood. The level of debris on the fence shows how high the water came. It was very fast flowing too, but I think the fence protected the station area from the full force of the floodwater, and damage to the station area was minimal.