Northerner

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Northerner
The Northerner was an overnight passenger
train between Auckland and Wellington
from 1975 to 2004. The service had a buffet
car, sleeping cars and a full on-board crew
to serve passengers.
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South Island Limited
The South Island Limited was a passenger
express train between Christchurch and
Invercargill (via Dunedin) in 1949-70.
It was considered New Zealand’s premier
express service.
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Overlander
The Overlander was a daily passenger train
between Auckland and Wellington from Dec
1991 to Jun 2012. In July 2006 owners Toll
NZ announced the service would end on
30 Sep 2006 due to ongoing losses. A Save
the Overlander campaign kept the service
running on a Fri-Sun off peak winter season
and daily in peak summer season.
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TranzCoastal
The TranzCoastal was a daily passenger
train between Picton and Christchurch
from May 2000. In April 2006 owner
Toll NZ announced its intention to sell
the TranzCoastal but in 2008 the NZ
Government purchased Toll NZ’s rail and
ferry operations. re-launched in Aug 2011
2011 the service was relaunched under its
original name the Coastal Pacific.
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Auckland to Rotorua
In 1930 the Rotorua Limited equipped with
an observation car was introduced by NZ
Railways enabling Auckland passengers to
experience the natural marvels of Rotorua.
Alexander Turnbull Library
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Owners of NZ Rail
Network
1862-76 Private and Provincial
1876-80 Public Works Dept (some private)
1880-82 NZ Railways Dept
(and WMR until 1908)
1982-90 NZ Railways Corporation
1990-95 NZ Rail Ltd
1995-2004 Tranz Rail
2004-08 NZ Railways Corporation (ONTRACK)
2008-
NZ Railways Corporation
current(KiwiRail)
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NZ Rail Network
Early lines in Auckland and Southland
were international standard gauge, 4ft
8.5in or 1,435mm, and in Canterbury broad
gauge, 5ft 3in or 1,600mm, but from 1877
the national rail network was narrow
gauge, 1,067mm or 3ft 6in. In 1953, at its
greatest extent, approx 5,689 km of line was
operating - today we have 4,128km.
Image by Bruce Lord
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Electrification of the
NZ network
In total 588 km of electrified line as at 2013.
• 1500V DC Wellington suburban electrified
area – 103km
• 25kV AC central North Island electrified
area (Palmerston North to Hamilton on
NIMT line) – 408km
• 25kV AC Auckland suburban electrified
area – 77km
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Hillside Workshops
In 1875, a repair shop along the hillside in
what is now South Dunedin was completed
and named “Hillside”. It was originally
193ft by 80ft and at its peak employed 800
workers, who assembled locomotives and
rolling stock shipped from overseas, and
built steam locomotives for NZR. Before
its closure in Dec 2012 Hillside built the AK
passenger cars for KiwiRail Scenic.
Alexander Turnbull Library
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Hutt Workshops
The Hutt Workshops opened in 1930 and
built 12 of the first “Prairie” type C class
shunting engines followed by K class
locomotives. Ka 958 and Ka 959 were
the last steam locomotives built at Hutt,
now KiwiRail’s central motive power
maintenance operation.
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Addington Workshops
Opened in 1880 by NZ Railways, the
Addington Workshops manufactured steam
locomotives, passenger carriages and
wagons, and at times gold dredges and
aeroplane components. Workers built the
first NZ-built locomotive, W 192. As part of
the rationalisation of the NZRC following
deregulation, the Addington Workshops
closed in December 1990.
Alexander Turnbull Library
www.150yearsrail.org.nz
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Petone Workshops
The Petone Workshops took over
construction and maintenance of rolling
stock in the Wellington region from the
Pipitea Point facility in 1876 and became
the only such facility in the region from
1878 until the replacement Hutt Workshops
opened in 1930.
Alexander Turnbull Library
www.150yearsrail.org.nz
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NIMT Obelisk
A small picnic area in Pokaka, between
Taumarunui and National Park, has an
obelisk marking where Premier Sir Joseph
Ward in 1908 drove the last spike joining the
north and south rail-heads, completing the
NIMT line.
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Kaitaki Refurbishment
During Aug 2013 the Kaitaki received
a facelift while in drydock in Brisbane,
Australia. The refurbishment included a
revamp of the food court area, the bar, the
atrium and the conveniences, as well as the
passenger thoroughfare and family lounge
on Deck 8.
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Cyclops
Nicknamed for its distinctive single
headlight, the Cyclops first ran in Wellington
in the 1950s, and was one of three trains
pulled out of retirement in the mid-2000s
when petrol prices rose. The last unit is
owned by Wellington Heritage Multiple Unit
Preservation Trust.
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