Dunedin Railways

Dunedin Railways

Train travelling through the Taieri Gorge
Locale Eastern Otago, New Zealand
Dates of operation 1991 (1991)–
Predecessor New Zealand Railways Corporation
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Headquarters Dunedin, New Zealand
Website http://www.dunedinrailways.co.nz

The Dunedin Railways (formerly the Taieri Gorge Railway and the Otago Excursion Train Trust) is an operator of a railway line and tourist trains based at Dunedin Railway Station in the South Island of New Zealand. The railway is a council-controlled trading organisation[1] (formerly known as a local authority trading enterprise) owned jointly by the Dunedin City Council and the Otago Excursion Train Trust.

History

Formation

Taieri Gorge Limited logo, formerly used as the logo for Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd.

The Otago Excursion Train Trust was formed in 1978 to operate excursions on the Otago Central Railway line, running its first train in October 1979.[2] The services grew in popularity and the Trust realised by the 1980s that it had great tourist potential.[2] New carriages were acquired with the "Taieri Gorge Limited" launching in February 1987.[2]

In 1989 the New Zealand Railways Corporation announced the closure of the Otago Central railway line beyond Taieri owing to a lack of freight traffic following the completion of the Clyde Dam. Dunedin City Council then stepped in, purchasing the line as far as Middlemarch in 1990, which was then leased by the Trust to run its trains. The Trust continued to operate the Taieri Gorge Limited, now with its own locomotives (DJ class locomotives withdrawn by NZR in the same year), but needed a further $1m to fund is operations. A community appeal raised $1.2m.[2] The line beyond Middlemarch was lifted during 1991, and the trackbed handed over to the Department of Conservation in 1993. It is now the Otago Central Rail Trail, a major cycling tourist attraction in the area.

On 8 March 1995 the Dunedin City Council (through its holding company Dunedin City Holdings Limited) and the Trust incorporated a new company, Taieri Gorge Railway Limited.[3] Dunedin City Holdings has a majority of shares (72.03%) and the Trust holds the balance of the shares (27.97%). The company operates as a Council-controlled organisation (formerly known as a Local-authority trading enterprise) under Part 5 of the Local Government Act 2002. This was due to the need to raise more capital to finance expansion of the Trusts operation. Dunedin City Council then sold the railway line to the new company, and the Trust sold its locomotives, carriages and other assets to the new company.[2]

Taieri Gorge Limited

Main article: Otago Central Railway

The Taieri Gorge Limited is New Zealand's longest tourist railway and stretches along the former Otago Central Railway from the 4 km peg on the Taieri Branch, 18 km west of Dunedin, to Middlemarch, a distance of some 60 kilometres. Between Dunedin and the start of the line its trains operate on KiwiRail's Main South Line via a running rights agreement.

The line travels through spectacular scenery along the banks of the Taieri River, through numerous tunnels and climbing along the Taieri Gorge to the Strath Taieri. It crosses a dozen viaducts, including the southern hemisphere's largest wrought iron structure, and passes through ten tunnels.[4]

At Wingatui Railway Station, the original building and signal box from 1914 has been restored and is one of the best remaining island platform stations in New Zealand.[5] After the line passes through the 437 metres (1,434 ft) long Salisbury Tunnel, the longest on the line, it crosses Mullocky Gully over the 197 metres (646 ft) long Wingatui Viaduct, the largest wrought iron structure in New Zealand since it was built in 1887.[6] The 47m tall viaduct's riveted lattice structure rests on seven concrete and masonry piers.

Shortly after Wingatui Viaduct, the route emerges from Mullocky Gully to join Taieri Gorge, and from then on follows that gorge above Taieri River to just east of Pukerangi. On the way the line passes former stations Parera, Mount Allen, Little Mount Allen, and Christmas Creek, crossing two curved viaducts at the latter two locations. Hindon, still operating as a crossing station, is typically one of the stopping points on the trip. Just before the station, the railway tracks share a combined road-rail bridge with Hindon Road, a local backroad.

Another popular stopping point for photo opportunities is the Deep Stream viaduct. Here the line slowly starts to climb higher and out of the gorge, passing over the Flat Stream viaduct, and "The Notches", a section of short bridges and cuttings through several rocky outcrops, on its way to Pukerangi. Between Pukerangi and Middlemarch, the railway only once more comes close to the Taieri River, where it crosses Sutton Creek over another combined road-rail bridge.

The train operates daily to Pukerangi and on summer Fridays and Sundays to Middlemarch.

DJ class locomotive in service with Dunedin Railways at Pukerangi.
DE class locomotive on the railway.

Seasider and Dunedin Silver Fern

Dunedin Railways also operates the Seasider tourist train along the coast to Palmerston, north of Dunedin, with bus connections to the Taieri Gorge Limited at Middlemarch. Following the withdrawal of the Southerner by Tranz Scenic in 2002, it is the only passenger train on the Main South Line.

In 2012 Dunedin Railways leased one of the Silver Fern class railcars from KiwiRail for use on the same route as the Seasider.

Rebranded Dunedin Railways

On 23 October 2014 the Taieri Gorge Railway announced that it would be changing its name to Dunedin Railways. For 35 years the Taieri Gorge Railway and the Otago Excursion Train Trust had taken tourists on scenic rail excursions up the Taieri Gorge to Middlemarch and more recently up the coast, north of Dunedin on the Seasider. The reason for the change was so that tourists can link the train trips to Dunedin and it makes it much clearer what the railway is.[7] AO 77 was the first carriage to be repainted into their new blue livery with their name on the sides in October 2014. This was followed by A 3022 and AG 239. In September 2015 AL 1695 was repainted into their yellow version of livery.

Locomotives

The railway owns eight former New Zealand Railways DJ class locomotives, six of which are currently operational and certified for mainline operation. They are painted in a variant of the modified NZR 'International Orange' scheme carried by the class in the 1980s, where the low nose sides are painted blue instead of yellow and grey cab front. A seventh, DJ 3021 (ex-DJ 1202), is stored in the Middlemarch goods shed pending future restoration after it was purchased from its former home at Ranfurly station where it was statically displayed. The eighth, DJ 3044 (DJ 1204) was acquired from Mainline Steam in 2012 as a source of spare parts and has been dismantled, although most of the components remain intact. Both were painted in the modified 'International Orange' blue scheme and were in 'as withdrawn' condition.

TGR also operates one DE class locomotive, DE 504 (TMS DE 1337).[8] This locomotive was acquired from Otago Polytechnic in the early 1990s and is not mainline certified, instead being based at the TGR works depot at the 4 km peg. It previously carried a modified 'International Orange' scheme but was repainted in 2006 to its original livery of Carnation Red with the addition of 'wasp stripes' on the headstocks as it would have carried in the 1970s.

In 2013, Dunedin Railways hired Silver Fern railcar RM 24 from KiwiRail and currently operates this on trips between Dunedin and Waitati. The railcar is currently on hire during the 2013-14 summer season from October to April and will be returned to KiwiRail in April 2014 on conclusion of the lease.

Dunedin Railways formerly operateded a shunting locomotive, TR 111 at their Dunedin depot as their resident shunting locomotive. This locomotive was obtained by the Otago Excursion Train Trust in 2009 from enthusiast Reid McNaught, who had leased the locomotive to Dunedin Railways since 2006. It was sold to the Canterbury Railway Society in July 2015.

Locomotives

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Builder Builders number Year built Arrived Notes
DE 504 1337 English Electric 1742 1952 1993 Entered NZR service on 7 August 1952. Withdrawn on 11 October 1986. It was sold to Otago Polytech around the same time. In 1993 it was sold to Dunedin Railways and restored in their blue livery. It is used for work trains but can sometimes be seen on excursion trains. In 2006 DE 1337 was renumbered as DE 504 and repainted in red with white stripes. It is now available for leasing or purchasing.[9]
DJ 1202 3021 Mitsubishi 1509 1967 15 March 2000 Entered NZR service in January 1968. Withdrawn in April 1990 and moved to Ranfurly a year later. In 2000 it was sold to Dunedin Railways and is currently stored at Middlemarch since 15 March 2000 as an unserviceable hulk.
DJ 1204 3044 Mitsubishi 1511 1967 2011 Entered NZR service in February 1968. Withdrawn in April 1990. Purchased by the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust and moved to their Parnell depot. In 2011 it was sold to Dunedin Railways and scrapped for parts for the six serviceable DJs.
DJ 1209 3096 Mitsubishi 1511 1967 February 2008 Entered NZR service on 20 February 1968. Withdrawn in July 1992 but kept as apart of the Tranz Rail Heritage Fleet. It worked at around Northland in November 1995. It was withdrawn in February 2008 and was then purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month. Restored to working order in 2009 and repainted in its former Southerner Blue livery. On 19 August 2010 while hauling an excursion service near Flat Stream Viaduct, one of its twin turbo chargers that was allowing turbo cooling oil into its Caterpillar D398 V-12 which damaged the engine block. Further damage was made after a fire broke out by the hot turbocharger. It then spread to the DJ's fuel tank when the fuel level sight glass melted. DJ 3107 hauled the stressed locomotive to Pukerangi where the volunteer fire service put the fire out. It was moved to TGR's Dunedin maintenance depot for rebuilding. The rebuilt included a remanufactured Caterpillar D398 V-12 engine and repairs to the engine room. 1209 returned to service in early January 2012.
DJ 1210 3107 Mitsubishi 1511 1967 March 1992 Named Otago Daily Times. Entered NZR service in March 1968. Withdrawn in March 1992. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month. On 29 January 1999 it caught fire in the Taieri Gorge during an excursion. Overhauled with a new D398 V-12 engine and repainted. Returned to service on 20 October 2000.
DJ 1221 3211 Mitsubishi 1528 1967 March 1992 Entered NZR service in June 1968. Withdrawn in March 1992. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month.
DJ 1222 3228 Mitsubishi 1529 1967 March 1992 Entered NZR service in June 1968. Withdrawn in March 1992. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month. Repainted in the Southerner Blue livery in 2015.
DJ 1227 3286 Mitsubishi 1534 1967 July 1992 Entered NZR service in October 1968. Withdrawn in July 1992. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month. In 2011 it was repainted into the Southerner Blue livery and renumbered as DJ 1227 to replace DJ 1209.
DJ 1240 3424 Mitsubishi 1547 1967 July 1992 Entered NZR service in January 1969. Withdrawn in July 1992. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same month. In 2006 it was repainted into the NZR Midland Red livery and renumbered as DJ 1240 for the Dunedin Railway Station's 100th birthday celebrations where it hauled excursions with visiting locomotives. In 2009 it was repainted back to blue but kept its pre-TMS number. Repainted in the Southerner Blue livery in 2015.

Railcars

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Builder Builders number Year built Arrived Notes
RM 2 24 Nissho-Iwai N/A August 1972 October 2012 Entered NZR service on 14 December 1972. On 21 November 1975 it was involved with a cattle truck. With repairs done it was returned to service. On 23 December 1993 it was involved with a collision at the Telephone Road level crossing between Eureka and Ruakura. In 2009 RM 24 was refurbished at the Wellington Passenger Depot. In October 2012 by Dunedin Railways from KiwiRail and is now used on excursions.

Carriages

Heritage carriage at Hindon

'Scarrett' heritage carriages

All trains currently include some of Dunedin Railways 8 ex-New Zealand Government Railways 'Scarrett' heritage carriages built between 1907 and 1923 in wood with open platform ends and gangways and 37 seats.[8] TGR has started retiring these carriages largely to provide bogies for the 56-foot stock which did not have their own when purchased by Dunedin Railways. A 1327 was sold to the Mainline Steam Heritage Trust in 2013, A 1467, was purchased also in 2013 by a carriage collector and A 1524, was unsuccessfully offered for sale minus bogies on TradeMe in March 2013.

One of the carriages, A 1254, is owned by the Ocean Beach Railway and leased by the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society to Dunedin Railways. This carriage will be returned to the OBR at the conclusion of its lease.

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Dunedin Railways class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
A 1002 EA 860 XPC 562 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1907 1978 Entered NZR service on 7 December 1907. It was reclassified EA 3559 by the Ways and Works Department on 27 November 1970. It was then renumbered as EA 860 on 1978 and was later withdrawn on 12 August later that year. In the same year it was purchased by Dunedin Railways.
A 1246 A 5052 XPC 372 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1912 1978 Entered NZR service on 17 August 1912. It was reclassified EA 4018 by the Ways and Works Department on 7 November 1970. It was then renumbered as EA 1692 on 1978 and was later withdrawn in August later that year. In the same year it was purchased by Dunedin Railways.
A 1249 XPC 466 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1912 1971 Entered NZR service on 9 November 1912. Withdrawn on 10 October 1970. It was then purchased by Dunedin Railways a year later. Mounted to the frame of A 1465.
A 1250 A 50539 XPC 453 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1912 1980 Entered NZR service on 9 November 1912. It was reclassified as EA 4034 on 26 February 1972 by the Ways and Works Department. Renumbered as Ea 4034 in the same year. In 1978 it was renumbered as A 50539 and EA 1732. Withdrawn in November 1980. It was then purchased by Dunedin Railways on 9 December in same year.
A 1254 A 50547 XPC 479 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1913 N/A Entered NZR service on 1 March 1913. Withdrawn on 31 March 1969 and sold to the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (now the Ocean Beach Railway in June in same year). It is now leased to Dunedin Railways.
A 1465 A 50555 XPC 425 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1916 N/A Entered NZR service on 16 September 1916. It was withdrawn in 1977 and sold to the Otago Branch of the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (now the Ocean Beach Railway). It is now leased to Dunedin Railways.
A 1524 A 50512 XPC 412 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1924 N/A Entered NZR service on 1 March 1924. Mounted to the frame of A 1005. In May 2013 it was put up for sale on Trade Me, but still remains in Dunedin Railways ownership.
A 1532 A 50571 XPC 440 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1923 1976 Entered NZR service in 1923. Reclassified as EA 4019 on 12 December 1970 by the Ways and Works Department. Withdrawn on 11 September 1976. It was then sold to Dunedin Railways later that year.

50-foot

Dunedin Railways has currently three steel-clad and one wood-clad NZR 50-foot carriages, formerly used on Dunedin suburban trains and express passenger trains. The steel-clads have 30-37 seats, enclosed vestibules and covered gangways and were built by New Zealand Railways Department in 1931-40.[8] One of these is an AL class car-van with a small luggage compartment at one end while the other two are A class carriages. Steel-cladded cars, As 50159 and 50223 were sold to the Weka Pass Railway in 2008 and AL 50090 was sold to the Midland Rail Heritage Trust in 2013. The wooden clad is A 1327, built in 1913, with open estibules and non-covered gangways.

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Dunedin Railways class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
A 1327 A 50504 XPC 438 50' 0" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Petone Workshops 1913 1978 Entered NZR service in 1924. Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1978.
A 1695 AL 50003 XPC 590 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1940 2007 Entered NZR service on 11 October 1930. Withdrawn on 13 August 1983 and purchased by Dunedin Railways in the same year. Restored in 2009. First carriage to be repainted into the yellow version of the Dunedin Railways in 2015.
A 1720 A 50084 XPC 588 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1931 1983 Entered NZR service on 10 October 1931. Withdrawn in August 1983 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year. It is currently being overhauled. It is now in storage as of October 2015.
A 1729 A 50124 XPC 575 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1931 1983 Entered NZR service on 10 October 1931. Withdrawn in August 1983 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year. Second carriage to be repainted into the yellow version of the Dunedin Railways in 2015.

'Jungle Gym' TGR panorama cars

TGR has three all-steel air conditioned panorama cars with open platform ends and open gangways similar to the 'Scarrett' cars, known locally as 'Jungle Gyms' due to the nature of their framework when under construction. These were designed and built by the OETT in 1987-92, with a "very distinctive shape to fit the tunnels".[8] Two of these carriages were built on Z class 'roadsider' van underframes while the third was built on the underframe of guard's van F 529.

In-house built panorama car at Dunedin Railway Station
Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number Type Builder Year built Notes
XPC 628 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach Dunedin Railways 1987 Built by Dunedin Railways. Built on Z 284s frame.[10]
XPC 630 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach Dunedin Railways 1990 Built by Dunedin Railways. Built on a Z frame.[10]
XPC 643 50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach Dunedin Railways 1992 Built by Dunedin Railways. Built on F 529s frame.[10]

56-foot

In September 2007 the TGR announced that it had purchased 12 NZR 56-foot carriages formerly used on the Wairarapa Connection to replace its heritage wooden open platform cars[4] and its ex-Dunedin suburban NZR 50-foot carriages. The first of these, A 2325, was prepared at a cost of $45,000 and was ready in September 2008. The company anticipated having three carriages in service by the end of 2008, and all 12 by 2013.[11] The upgrade included new seating, carpets, toilets and external paint. The railway intends to refurbish three carriages each year.[12] As of December 2015, only five out of the twelve carriages have been restored. A 3022 is leased from its owners, John and Rolf Christensen. It has been leased to Dunedin Railways since 2013 and has been repainted into Dunedin Railways new livery of dark blue. Dunedin Railways are currently storing 10 AO and 4 ASO carriages for KiwiRail in Middlemarch.

Former NZR 56-foot carriage at Dunedin Railway Station
Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS classes and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
A 1898 AB 3511 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1941 October 2008 Entered NZR service on 4 January 1941. Withdrawn in 1999 and stored at Masterton. It was then stored at Feilding. It was then purchased by John & Rolf Christensen in October 2008 and arrived in Dunedin later that month.
A 1911 A 2028 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1938 2007 Entered NZR service on 4 February 1938. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1932 A 3311

AO 77

 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2013 Entered NZR service on 9 December 1939. Reclassified as AO 77. Sold to Dunedin Railways in late 2014/early 2015. First carriage to be repainted in the Dunedin Railways brand.
A 1950 A 2325

A 56501

 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 27 May 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and restored in February 2009.
A 1951 A 56528

AL 2073

 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 24 June 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1960 A 2218 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 16 September 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1961 A 2242 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 16 September 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1975 A 3022 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1945 4 November 2013 Entered NZR service on 10 November 1945. Withdrawn in 2013. Owned by John and Rolf Christensen. Second carriage to be repainted in the Dunedin Railways brand.
A 1977 AL 2021 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 11 November 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1986 A 2052 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 2 January 1939. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1993 A 2269 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 14 September 1940. Withdrawn in 2008 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1994 A 56809

AL 2096

 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1939 2007 Entered NZR service on 14 September 1940. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year.
A 1997 A 2277 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1940 2007 Entered NZR service on 14 September 1940. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways on 3 July in the same year. Restored in October 2009.
A 2002 A 2079 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1940 2007 Entered NZR service on 31 March 1941. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways in the same year. Restored in April 2009.
A 2007 A 2095 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1940 2007 Entered NZR service on 26 June 1943. Withdrawn in 2007 and sold to Dunedin Railways on 20 February in the same year. Converted to a buffet car and restored in November 2009.

55' 6" foot

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number Builder Year built Arrived Notes
SXA 1744 Commonwealth Engineering 1962 2000s In service for Queensland Rail from 1962 until 1997. In the same year it was sold to the Zig Zag Railway. It was purchased by the Auckland Regional Council in 2003. It was then sold-on to Dunedin Railways. It is currently used as a storage wagon.

Former Carriages

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Dunedin Railways class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
A 1005 EA 756 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1907 1978 Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1978. Scrapped on 27 January a year later.
A 1563 A 50598 XPC 398 50' 0" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Newmarket Workshops 1924 1978 Withdrawn on 5 November 1977. Sold to Mainline Steam in 2013.
A 1467 A 50563 XPC 547 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach NZR Addington Workshops 1916 1978 Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1978. Sold to a Christchurch Carriage Collector in 2013.
A 1732 A 50159 50' 0" steel-clad, mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1930 1983 Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1983. Sold to the Weka Pass Railway in 2008.
A 1760 A 50223 50' 0" steel-clad, mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1931 1983 Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1983. Sold to the Weka Pass Railway in October 2008.
Al 1764 AL 50090 XPC 481 50' 0" steel-clad, mainline coach NZR Addington Workshops 1931 1983 Purchased by Dunedin Railways in 1983. Sold to the Midland Rail Heritage Trust in 2013.

Vans

Guards and observation vans

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Dunedin Railways class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
F 587 F 2340 XPC 534 50' 0" wooden body, guards' van NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1937 1985 Entered NZR service on 29 May 1937. Withdrawn on 12 October 1985 and was sold to Dunedin Railways later that year.
FM 55 FM 733

AG 118

 N/A Mitsubishi 1977 N/A Entered NZR service on 18 June 1977. Reclassified as AG 118. Leased from KiwiRail. Fitted with X25330 bogies and is used to supply head-end power to carriages.
Unidentified FM AG 239 50' 0" steel-panelled guards' van N/A N/A 2013 Owned by John and Rolf Christensen. Repainted in the Dunedin Railways brand. Observation van.

Plough vans

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Builder Year built Arrived Notes
F 96 EP 65 N/A 1921 2001 Entered NZR service in 1931. It was reclassified and renumbered as EP 2507 in 1941. Renumbered as EP 65 in 1978. Withdrawn by Tranz Rail and purchased by Dunedin Railways in 2001.

Former Vans

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Dunedin Railways class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
F 498 F 970

A 50449

 XPC 521 47' 6" wooden body, guards' van NZR Hillside Workshops 1927 1978 Sold to Dunedin Railways in 1978. Used as a buffet van. Sold to an unknown owner and is now on static display at Hyde.

Wagons

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Type Builder Year built Arrived Notes
E 8600 MC 4506 Low side N/A N/A N/A
JC 5219 ER 410 Wheel wagon NZR Hillside Workshops 1952 N/A Entered NZR service in 1952. It was reclassified as NB 529 in 1975. It was then reclassified as ER 410. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
KP 3094 KP 2332 Box Mitsubishi Heavy Industries N/A N/A
Ks 5281 Ks 20116

KST 6191

 Box NZR Addington Workshops 1973 N/A
LC 43228 LC 56995 High side Hurst Nelson 1963 N/A
LC 44400 LC 69496 High side Hurst Nelson 1967 N/A
LPA 1059 LPA 666 High side Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1973 N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
NA 1806 NA 3873

NAK 6283

 Flat deck NZR Addington Workshops 1977 N/A
Unidentified NAK Unidentified NAK Flat deck N/A N/A N/A
UB 1391 UB 3732 Flat deck N/A N/A N/A
Unidentified UBM Unidentified UBM Motor car wagon N/A 1963 N/A Rebuilt from a 1950s pax car.
UC 808 UC 225 Tank NZR Petone Workshops 1937 N/A
UC 1213 UC 1161 Tank N/A 1963 N/A Built for Shell Oil Company.
UC 1295 UC 2269 Tank N/A 1963 N/A Built for British Petroleum.
UD 1502 UC 49 Wheel wagon N/A 1963 N/A Reclassified as EWW 33. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
UG 88 EA 508 Weed sprayer N/A 1931 N/A Entered NZR service in 1931. It was reclassified and renumbered as EA 3163 in March 1959. Renumbered as EA 508 in 1978. Withdrawn in October 1989.
UR 1801 UR 12 Flat deck NZR Addington Workshops 1958 N/A
UR 1931 UR 1316 Flat deck NZR Hutt Workshops 1958 N/A
UR 2031 UR 3746 Flat deck NZR Otahuhu Workshops N/A N/A
US 3093 US 90 Flat deck NZR Otahuhu Workshops 1963 N/A
VR 51 VR 567

EVS 23

 Insulated meat N/A 1964 N/A
XA 2117 E 4827

E 243

 Wheel wagon N/A 1937 N/A Entered NZR service in 1937. It was reclassified and renumbered as E 4059 in June 1972.
YB 586 YB 1339

E 7839

 Ballast NZR East Town Workshops N/A N/A
YB 597 YB 1420

E 7772

 Ballast N/A N/A N/A Huntly to Westfield Coal Traffic.
YC 732 YC 372 Ballast NZR East Town Workshops N/A N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
YC 759 YC 648 Ballast NZR East Town Workshops N/A N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
YC 798 YC 1267 Ballast NZR East Town Workshops N/A N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
YC 827 YC 1590 Ballast NZR East Town Workshops N/A N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
YD 1005 YD 69 Side tip Differential Car Company N/A N/A Under Restoration.
YD 1048 YD 530 Side tip Differential Car Company N/A N/A
YH 964 YH 166 Ballast N/A N/A N/A
YH 969 YH 212 Ballast N/A N/A N/A
YH 1004 YH 598 Ballast N/A N/A N/A Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
Z 334 Z 849 Box N/A N/A N/A Renumbered XPC 615 under Dunedin Railways ownership. Formerly used as a luggage vwagon on passenger trains. Now for sale.
Z 362 Z 1083 Box N/A N/A N/A Renumbered XPC 602 under Dunedin Railways ownership. Used as a luggage wagon on passenger trains.
Unidentified ZA ZA 4508 Box N/A N/A N/A
Unidentified Zl ZL 462 Box N/A N/A 2012 Fitted with a 80 kVA generator. Used on passenger trains.
Unidentified ZP ZP 1176 Box Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1968 N/A
ZP 737 ZP 1460

ZP 10944

 Box Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1968 N/A
ZP 1061 ZP 5035

ZP 14502

 Box Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 1968 N/A

Freight haulage

In the early 2000s the TGR investigated the possibility of introducing log haulage between Mount Allan and Port Chalmers at the end of the Port Chalmers Branch. However, on 12 June 2007 it was announced that a cost difference of NZ$5 million existed between road and rail haulage in favour of road, and potential government subsidies were insufficient to close the gap. The announcement was met with disappointment by the Dunedin City Council, which favourably viewed the rail option as it was more environmentally friendly and would have reduced traffic congestion.[13]

It has since been worked out that with extra damage caused by the logging trucks on the Mosgiel to Port Chalmers road that it would have been cheaper to perform the operation by rail, but despite pleas by the local council, Wenita, the relevant company, said it had invested too much in the road option to change its plans.

The route's loading gauge restricts the maximum size of rolling stock that can operate on the railway; some freight wagons cannot use the line.[8]

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ "Policies" (PDF). Dunedin City Council Community Plan 2009/10 – 2018/19. 2, section 4. Dunedin City Council. 2009. p. 291. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our Story". Dunedin Railways. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
  3. ↑ "Companies Office - Taieri Gorge Railway Limited". Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  4. 1 2 Taieri Gorge Railway - 2006-2007 Times & Destinations - Leaflet by Taieri Gorge Railway Limited, March 2006
  5. ↑ "Wingatui Station". Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  6. ↑ "Along the way - Taieri Gorge Railway". Taieri Gorge Limited. Retrieved 2014-04-09.
  7. ↑ "New Look for Railway Operation". Otago Daily Times. 23 October 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 'technical information' on TGR website, retrieved 2009-05-10
  9. ↑ https://www.fronz.org.nz/magazines/FRONZ%20Journal%20146%20July%202015.pdf
  10. 1 2 3 http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/view_page.php?page=8&search=false&sort=none&order=none
  11. ↑ Stevens, Sam (13 September 2008). "New Taieri Gorge carriage on display". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 2008-09-14.
  12. ↑ New Zealand Railway Observer, December 2008-January 2009
  13. ↑ Simon Hartley, "Costs Rule Out Rail in the Long Run", Otago Daily Times, 12 June 2007.

Further reading

External links

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