Steam locomotives of new zealand new zealand railway history series t. After the wmr, perhaps the bestknown private railway was the new zealand midland railway company, which constructed parts of the midland, nelson and west coast lines. This is a history of the steam locomotives owned by new zealand s national railway system. New zealand has a long and colourful railway history, dating from the first public line linking ferrymead and the new town of christchurch in 1863. The penguin history of new zealand king, michael on. It is a book that would grace any home library, and a must for anyone with an interest in the significant role railways has played in new zealand s history. Based on british and american railway company magazines, it was originally intended as a journal for the railways departments 18,000 staff and their major customers. Register of new zealand railways steam locomotives 18631971 by lloyd w g and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. It is on the main north line at addington junction, and is the only remaining passenger railway station in the city. Register new zealand railways steam locomotives 1863 1971. The railways of new zealand journey through history.
Books by series coming soon new releases this months biggest new books. The canterbury provincial railways were built to the broad. This map shows new zealands rail network between 1880 and 1940. Hundreds came from canterbury and marlborough to the kaikoura opening, where a plaque was unveiled in memory of eight men killed during construction of the line.
He has contributed articles to rails magazine and wrote the bestselling book the otago central railway. Churchman and hursts research is meticulous, detailed, and presented extremely well if you have any interest in railways, you will enjoy reading this vivid insight. Zealand s railway system, the many useful books include such titles as. Books 3,495 other 2,677 journals 2,172 manuscripts 1,422 groups. Unlike the english settlement of the rest of new zealand, dunedin was founded by the scottish free church in 1848. The author of over thirty books on all things new zealand, kings the penguin history of new zealand, published in 2003, is considered the best history written in the thirty years preceding its publication. Welcome to the new zealand railway and locomotive society now on facebook go to facebook. The penguin history of new zealand tells that story in all its colour and drama. The men who completed it in the 1930s and 1940s always referred to it as the kaikoura job. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. This model represents a world famous railway engineering design masterpiece. The new zealand railway and locomotive society inc nzrls is a society of railway enthusiasts, based in wellington the society publishes a magazine, the new zealand railway observer issn 00288624 and a newsletter turntable. Christchurch railway station, new zealand wikipedia. New zealand s challenging landscapes demanded some remarkable feats of early railway engineers.
History of south island main trunk railway line new zealand. At long last an excellent book depicting the history in photos and text on the famous. The new zealand railways department, nzr or nzgr new zealand government railways and often known as the railways, was a government department charged with owning and maintaining new zealand s railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The longest railway construction project in new zealand s history involved laying track, building bridges, tunnels and moving tons of spoil. Each of the three scenic passenger rail journeys in new zealand are unique, with views from the northern explorer train showing you the diverse countryside of the north island towering viaducts, spectacular gorges, hidden valleys, to the rugged coastline of the south island, seen from the coastal pacific train to the mountain alpine scenery from the tranz alpine train. The department was created in 1880 and was corporatised on 1 april 1982 into the new zealand railways corporation. Alongside railway news and technical articles from new zealand and overseas, the magazine promoted domestic tourism through numerous travel stories, photo spreads, advertisements and accommodation listings. A journey through history 2nd revised by churchman, geoffrey b hurst, tony isbn. A history of dunedins hillside railway workshops this wellresearched book. Going by train details new zealand s railway development from its beginnings to completion. The first was swiftly assembled in august 1914 to take part in the occupation of german samoa the assembling of the 258 officers and men of the railway engineers though they were drawn from all parts of the south as well as the north island, presented no difficulties, owing to the fact that they were all members of the n. The previously untold story of new zealand s iconic railway houses, of which more than 3,700 are dotted around the new zealand landscape. Messrs churchman and hurst are to be congratulated on publishing a second edition of their comprehensive history on new zealand s railway system. New zealand railway builders surmounted many obstacles.
Sit back and let us connect you to a rich diversity of people and places throughout aotearoa, new zealand. New zealand historyrailways wikibooks, open books for. Bessettes rods down and fires dropped and john stovers history of the illinois central railroad. Mansfield selections kindle edition by mansfield, katherine. Our three iconic trains, coastal pacific, northern explorer, tranzalpine and our interislander cook strait ferry offer a seamless connection between the north and south islands, and to many spectacular destinations along the way. It is the terminus of the south islands two remaining longdistance passenger trains, the tranzalpine and the. Its primary purpose was to service ships docked at. The new zealand railways magazine was published monthly until june 1940. Icons of our new zealand rail history by mathew wright current bid.
Combine a wealth of history with railway charm and the result is one of new zealand s bestloved scenic railway journeys. Nz railways at war new zealand history nzhistory, new. From the late 1950s branch lines closed, and by the 2000s, there were less than 4,000 kilometres of railway lines. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Numbering more than a thousand, they were enormously varied ranging from little over five tons to almost 148 tons in weight, and from the occasional failure to trendsetting designs of international significance. New zealand s history is dominated by its maori people who arrived.
There are currently about 25 books available, as listed on the website. After the company was dissolved in 1900 the railway lines and their construction were taken over by the government. The previously untold story of new zealands iconic railway houses, of which. A history of the men who made the railways terry coleman. Their life and times and millions of other books are. Books about new zealand, travel, wildlife, fiction, cookery score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. If you are looking for a detailed work on the history, expansion, and operation of new zealand s railways, then this is the book for you. New zealand rail bus ferry travel new zealand train rail. Book trains in new zealand online international rail. New zealand railways and land transport smiths bookshop. While the city was originally to have been called new edinburgh, dunedin is derived from the old gaelic name for the same city.
The worst railway disaster in new zealand s history occurred on christmas eve 1953, when the wellingtonauckland night express plunged into the flooded whangaehu river, just west of tangiwai in the central north island. History provincial period 18631876 the railway network was initially constructed by the provincial governments of new zealand from 1863 onwards. Railroads, the pioneers building americas transportation backbone, and more. This is a fascinating journey into some of new zealand s most iconic scenery and history, where passengers are amazed at the engineering feats of new zealand s early pioneers, set among the stunning landscape of the gorge. A collection of books about the history of new zealand transport. Railroads new zealand history 5 new zealand railways history 4 nonfiction films 4. The society was formed in 1944 by enthusiasts interested in the then new zealand railways. The first railway in new zealand was constructed by the canterbury provincial government in 1863. On a world scale, new zealand is a small country similar in size to great britain, but with a population of only 4. A tribute as well as coauthored south island main trunk. The length of the network peaked at more than 5,500 kilometres in 1953. New zealand railways magazine launched nzhistory, new.
While our rail network isnt vast, thanks to their skill and determination, there are some incredible train journeys on offer. New zealand s first public railway was opened in that year, running the short distance between christchurch and the wharf at ferrymead and built by the canterbury provincial railways. The last timetabled train arrived in nelson on friday september 2, 1955 and there was a lastditch public meeting on the church steps. As new zealand railways pushed the rail network about new zealand, opening new country for development, a challenge presented itself to house railwaymen in country areas where infrastructure didnt exist or was newly formed. The northern pacific railroad, the sioux, and the panic of 1873 by m. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading new zealand stories. The penguin history of new zealand by michael king. This is a comprehensive account of our railways story, from the earliest days of the colony, through rails growth and golden days, slow decline a. New zealand was the last country in the world to be discovered and settled by humankind. Rail travel new zealand rail journeys tourism new zealand. A pictorial history of steam trains in new zealand, illustrated with photographs. Lucius beebes 20th century describes the history of new york centrals crack streamliner. Taieri gorge railway train journey dunedin railways. Christchurch railway station is in the canterbury region of new zealand s south island.
As new zealand railways pushed the rail network about new zealand, opening new country for development, a challenge presented itself to house railwaymen in country areas where infrastructure didnt exist. The narrative that emerges is an inclusive one about men and women, maori and pakeha. Two specialist new zealand railway units served overseas. New zealand railway and locomotive society wikipedia. It was built to a broad gauge of 5 feet 3 inches 1600 mm, to suit rolling stock imported from victoria, australia. This is the story of the scenic coastal line, from its early beginnings. Welcome to the national railway museum of new zealand, thank you for your interest in the planned museum. New zealands rail network, 18801940 railways te ara. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Steam locomotives of new zealand new zealand railway.
It shows that british motives in colonising new zealand were essentially humane. This is the story of that railway, from its heyday to the day of reckoning as losses. Railways played a pivotal part in the development of new zealand s economy, towns and cities, and helped shape a distinctive culture. Smiths bookshop, new zealand books, nz books online, new books online. Railways page 1 of 4 national library of new zealand. Membership is open to all with an interest in the new zealand railway system both old and new.