Earthquake in New Zealand

[David Benton]

The main north island in the south Island is blocked by a huge slip , and the commuter trains are not running in wellington.
The Rail ferries are out of action due to damaged Linkspans in Picton.
http://www.kiwirail.co.nz/news/432/78/K ... rgill.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The main picture on the stuff website shows the big slip at the moment. Its pretty obvious it wont be fixed in a hurry. With luck the rail tunnel is ok.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[philipmartin]

I'm glad that you are OK David, or at least that your computer is OK. We don't want to look for a new moderator at present.
Good thing the railroad ferries aren't running. I'm fixated on the 1968 Wahine dive, picture below.

[David Benton]

the ferries are stuck in the harbour , both ends linkspans are out. there are passengers on one of them.

Seeing further pictures of the slip, it could possibly be the end of the main north line. on the other hand the road look worst off.

[David Benton]

Rail ferries back in operation, though I dobut they will be carrying much rail freight.
Wellington rail services still out, I suspect they will concentrate on fixing them completley for tomorrows morning rush .

These photos from the roads agency show the taunting task facing road and rail .

https://www.facebook.com/nztasouthislan ... 3699792678" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[David Benton]

"Kaikoura rail line decimated "
http://www.newshub.co.nz/nznews/kaikour ... 2016111413" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The cwr rail can certainly move a long way without breaking.

[philipmartin]

That's certainly a good video of the Kaikoura line. I suppose it skirts the sea. I suppose cwr is welded rail, what we used to call "ribbon rail."

For anyone contemplating visiting David, here is an article on Paeroa. It seems a bit close to the coast, twelve miles I believe. The rail line there is long gone.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paeroa" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Wiki articles on the Thames Branch railway and the East Coast Main Trunk railway.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_Branch" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_Main_Trunk" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[David Benton]

To top it off , the region is now been struck by torrential rain and wind , trains that were running again in Wellington will be stopped by flooding.

[george matthews]

I have only experienced rather modest quakes: once in San Francisco where the street trembled a little as I was about to board a bus; occasionally in Kenya where I was awakened in a house in the rural areas and once in Kampala, Uganda where a modern students residence shook a bit. I heard a lot of shouting outside but didn't go out to look. I thought some students were dragging a big object along the top floor. I imagined it was a riot and didn't open the door. (It was the last day of term.) The actual quake was on the western border where there is a notorious Rift separating Uganda from Rwanda and the Congo. As far as I know neither quake affected the railways. But Kenya at least has experienced violent quakes in the past. There is a place in the Rift Valley where there are several signs of ancient quakes which must have been quite vigorous.

[philipmartin]

I interesting, George. Eastern North America, where I live, doesn't have that interesting phenomenon. I suppose that England, where you live, lacks it as well.

[george matthews]

Britain has occasionally very faint quakes, usually only detectable by the machines. The most violent occasionally and very rarely cause slight vibration and get written up in the press. Occasional broken windows may happen.

But Kenya has a Rift Valley which is slowly tearing it apart. In several million years there might be a new island or peninsula. And the same in western Uganda and further south where the Great Lakes may separate the land. Madagascar separated from Africa millions of years ago.

Eastern America does experience earthquakes but fairly rarely. A violent quake which could damage houses is quite possible. It will of course be a surprise.

[philipmartin]

YouTube NZ Kiwi train rodeo. Do they have markers on the hind end of these trains?

http://youtu.be/SEeQX1YcV24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


http://youtu.be/YkcBmshZEyA" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[David Benton]

A short explanation of how the teutonic plates shape New Zealand.

Its really a case of when, where and how big , in regard to earthquakes here, rather than if there will be another earthquake.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11747844" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

up here in the North , earthquakes are abit less common. However , Auckland and other areas are built on extinct volcanos, mu land soil type is Waihi ash, the whole landscape was shaped by a massive volcanic eruption in waihi , 30 k.m away . You may indeed need a new moderator if that happens again.

[philipmartin]

You may indeed need a new moderator if that happens again.

Well, let's hope that doesn't happen too soon.

[David Benton]

At least not till I've finished my lunch.

[george matthews]

A short explanation of how the teutonic plates shape New Zealand.

Its really a case of when, where and how big , in regard to earthquakes here, rather than if there will be another earthquake.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/artic ... d=11747844" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

up here in the North , earthquakes are abit less common. However , Auckland and other areas are built on extinct volcanos, mu land soil type is Waihi ash, the whole landscape was shaped by a massive volcanic eruption in waihi , 30 k.m away . You may indeed need a new moderator if that happens again.

The South Island seems to be doing badly just now. I can see that the coastal road, and presumably the rail line, will need a lot of work when the quakes settle down.