KiwiRail and Port Marlborough contractors are meeting this morning to work out how to recover a locomotive and wagon that plunged into Picton Harbour waters.

A remote-controlled shunt locomotive and a wagon with two empty tank containers fell off the wharf yesterday at the berth usually used by the Interislander ferry.

The ferry was in Wellington at the time and the shunt locomotive and wagon were being manoeuvred in the rail yard.

The wagon is partially afloat and was secured to the wharf overnight while the locomotive, weighing about 50 tonnes, is believed to be lying in about 8m of water.  

KiwiRail Chief Operating Officer Todd Moyle said “we anticipate sending divers down to determine the position of the loco, which may need to be floated to a different area to lift it out of the water.”

He said there is no sign in the water that the locomotive’s diesel tank has ruptured, and the sea conditions are calm.

“Nevertheless, this will be a complex recovery and our priority is the safety of the people involved, and the protection of the marine environment.”

“KiwiRail is grateful to Port Marlborough for their support and assistance and apologises for the disruption to the port.”

Bluebridge and the Interislander ferry Kaitaki are continuing to operate from  berths in Picton.