Canterbury Railway Society

The Canterbury Railway Society is an organisation of railway enthusiasts based in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, best known for their operation of The Ferrymead Railway at the Ferrymead Heritage Park.

Beginnings

The Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society came into existence in the late 1950s.[1] In its early years, one of its major activities was in the operation of passenger excursions on the national rail network, then operated by the New Zealand Railways Department. In that era, there were far more excursion trains than there are today, and far more railway lines in general, including the many branch lines that were closed in the 1960s and 70s. Steam traction was used in the South Island for longer than in the North Island, and a variety of motive power could be found on any of these trains.

Aside from a handful of locomotives placed on public display, little thought up to this time had been given to any serious notion of rail preservation. The catalyst proved to be the wholesale scrapping of steam traction which began in the mid 1950s and continued until 1971 when the last JA class locomotives were withdrawn from the Main South Line. In addition at this time, a large number of branch lines were closed and ripped up, and some of the earliest preservation efforts were based on these closed lines, while others took advantage of the opportunity to obtain cheap supplies of recovered rail materials for use elsewhere.

The idea of becoming involved in railway preservation in New Zealand did not become a reality for any group in New Zealand until the 1960s, when New Zealand Railways accelerated the pace of dieselisation, resulting in wholesale scrapping of its steam locomotive fleet. At that time, there was a nationwide move to save railway equipment which resulted in the large-scale purchase of locomotives and rolling stock and the establishment of the major preservation sites in New Zealand.

Ferrymead Railway

Main article: Ferrymead Railway

The Ferrymead Railway has been the main project of the Canterbury Branch since 1964. The railway has been established on the historical site of New Zealand's first public railway which opened in 1863 and closed in 1867. Work on the site had progressed sufficiently far by 1972 to allow train running to begin, and the railway officially opened in 1977. It was the major focus of 1988's Rail 125 commemorations, a celebration of 125 years of railways in New Zealand, and it has hosted numerous local events since, often in conjunction with the Ferrymead Heritage Park or other rail preservation societies.

Other activities

As noted above, excursion trains were a major early activity of the Canterbury Branch. It also held monthly members' meetings, often on railway premises, and organised special conventions and festivals. In the diesel era, the most notable of these was the aforementioned Rail 125. Passenger shuttle services and excursions operated daily throughout the week of this festival, which was attended by locomotives, rolling stock and railfans from all around the country. Following the reintroduction of excursions to the NZR mainline in the late 1970s, the Branch or individual members operated a number of diesel hauled trains, and were well placed to take advantage of the reintroduction of mainline steam in the mid 1980s.

Changes in New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society (NZRLS) membership rules in 1984 resulted in the elimination of membership of Local Branches of the NZRLS. When the requirement for full membership of the parent society began to be enforced there was a move for the Canterbury Branch to follow the lead of the former Auckland, Wellington and Otago Branches and form a separate Society. Constitutional amendments were passed in 1990 which resulted in the Branch becoming the independent Canterbury Railway Society.

During the 1990s, the restructuring and privatisation of New Zealand Railways had a major impact upon the activities of many rail societies. Excursion train costs rose substantially and the number of such trains operated annually dropped off dramatically. Such trains then became mainly the preserve of two or three larger organisations with their own passenger carriage and/or locomotive fleets. Changes in employment law and working patterns for most New Zealand citizens resulted also in a major reduction in voluntary resources for groups all around the country. In general, this has resulted in most other activities of the Canterbury Railway Society dropping away, and the Society is now exclusively based at Ferrymead and forms most of its activities around the site.

Electric Traction Group

The Electric Traction Group (otherwise known as the Electric Traction Department) was formed for the care of the CRS's electric locomotives. Between 2004 and 2005 the ETG had repainted EO 39 and between 1998 and 2004 they operated EO's 45, 68 and 74.

Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock

NZR steam locomotives

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Number Names Builder Builders number Year built Arrived at Ferrymead Notes
C 864 NZR Hillside Workshops 272 1931 January 28, 1972 Entered service in August 1931 for the NZR. Withdrawn in May 1968 and placed into storage at theLinwood Locomotive Depot until on 29 January 1972 when it was purchased by the CRS. It was restored later that year. In 1982 it was taken out of service for a 10-year overhaul. It returned to service in 1984 and took part in the Ferrymead 125 hauling shuttle trains from Christchurch to Ferrymead, and to Lyttelton and return over a week. It visited the Weka Pass Railway in conjunction with the National Federation of Railway Societies Convention in 1989 and operated further shuttle services in 1990. The 'C' is now in storage..
D 140 Scott Brothers 36 1887 1968 Entered service on 27 January 1888 for the NZR. Withdrawn in July 1920 and sold to Kempthorne Prosser (now Ravensdown) in Hornby. It was donated in 1961 to the Canterbury Society Model Engineers and then was later donated to the CRS in 1968. Its restoration commenced the same year, however, with other major projects in the way it was not until October 2003 that it was recommissioned. It is now undergoing a 10-year overhaul.
F 12 Yorkshire Engine Company 241 1874 1968 Entered service in 1874 for the NZR. Withdrawn in June 1957 and sold to the Pukeuri Alliance Freezing Works. It was purchased by the Canterbury and Otago branches of the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society in 1967. It is now stored and used as a part supply for CRSs F 13 and Ocean Beach Railways F 111.
F 13 Edie Ochiltree/Peveril Neilson Brothers 1692 1872 1967 Entered service on 20 December 1873 for the NZR for the Otago Central Railway as No. 8 Edie Ochiltree. In 1877 it was renumbered as F 36. In 1879 it was sold to the Public Works Department. In 1885 it was then renumbered to F 13 and return to NZR service the following year. Based at Christchurch for many years, it was named Peveril in 1958. Withdrawn on 10 October 1964 and placed into storage at Arthurs Pass. It was then donated to the CRS in 1967. Restoration commenced in 1982 and the 'F' was recommissioned on 21 April two years later. It won a National Federation of Locomotive Societies restoration award in 1988. The locomotive has travelled out onto the main line on several occasions, running local services out of Oamaru in 1987, shuttle trains between Christchurch and Papanui in conjunction with the 1990 Telethon, and operating at a Lyttelton Port Open Day in 1987. It was taken out of service in 1994 for a 10-year overhaul. It was granted a special permit to enable it to participate in the 1999 Waipara Vintage Festival at the Weka Pass Railway. In 2001 it overhaul commenced before being put on hold and recommenced in 2006 after the recommissioning of D 140. It is New Zealand's oldest operating locomotive. Returned to active service on 5 January 2015.
W 192 NZR Addington Workshops 1 1889 October 2003 Entered service on 1 December 1889 for the NZR making itself the first locomotive to be built by the NZR and was used on incline railways. Withdrawn in July 1959 and stored at Hillside Workshops. In 1962 it was returned to service for a promotion. Placed into storage in 1964 at Arthurs Pass and in 1973 it was placed on static display. It was once again returned to NZR service. During this time it was used in Wellington and shuttle trains between Christchurch and Rangiora for the Ferrymead 125. From 1992 to 2001 it was used at The Plains Railway. During the time while at The Plains it was sold to the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand in 1993. In 2001 it left The Plains and was placed into storage at Linwood. On 7 October 2003 it was confirmed that W 192 will be based at the Ferrymead Heritage Park and operated by the CRS. It arrived there later that month. In 2005 it was pulled out of service for a 10-year overhaul. Since then it has returned to service. On the 15 June 2013 it was taken again out of service after it failed a boiler inspection. It returned to service again on 6 October the same year. Withdrawn on 28 September 2014 and is awaiting a 10-year overhaul.
WD 357 Baldwin Locomotive Works 19261 1901 October 30, 1968 Entered service on 21 December 1901 for the NZR. Withdrawn in March 1935 and purchased by the Timaru Harbour Board. Used until 1964 when it was placed into storage. It was then donated to the CRS in 1967. It became the first locomotive to run at the Ferrymead Heritage Park on 11 March the same year. It was placed into storage. In 1987 its restoration commenced and was recommissioned a year later for Ferrymead 125. It was in service from 1988 until the arrival of W 192 in October 2003. It is now awaiting boiler repairs.
WF 393 A & G Price 5 1904 1968 Entered service in 1901 for the NZR. Withdrawn in 1967 and placed into storage at the Linwood Locomotive Depot. It was donated to the CRS and has been stored since arrival.

In addition:

Industrial steam locomotives

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Type Names Builder Builders number Year built Arrived Notes
Bagnall The Gasbag W.G.Bagnall 1857 1909 1970 Built in 1909 for the Christchurch Gas, Coal and Coke Company, used until 1970 to shunt wagons at the Christchurch Gas Works. Donated to the CRS in 1970 and trucked to Ferrymead. Leased to the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway for restoration in 1979, but this never commenced due to the poor condition of the locomotives boiler. The Bagnall returned to Ferrymead in 1994 and is in outisde storage.
Barclay Andrew Barclay Sons & Co. 1894 1926 1961 Built in 1926 for the Lake Brunner Saw Milling Co., Ruru (near Moana). It was the last steam locomotive imported to work on a bush tramway. Used until 1960 and trucked to a CRS members home in 1961 for restoration. The Barclay has since been moved to Ferrymead and is in outisde storage.
CB A & G Price 113 1927 1968 Built in 1927 for the Tunnel Timber Co at Tapawae. Subsequently operated by the Marton Sash & Door Company and more latterly New Forest Sawmilling at Ngahere; ran in service until 1956 when it was placed in storage. Donated to the CRS in 1968. It was restored to working order in 1975, and overhauled again in 1981 and 1998. The 'CB' has been stored since 2008
Heisler Stearns Manufacturing Co. 1450 1922 1966 Built in 1922 for the Bartholomew Land & Timber Company of Rotorua. Purchased by Ogilvie & Gladstone of Greymouth in 1951, subsequently onsold in 1965 to the New Forest Sawmilling Company who donated it to the CRS in 1966. Arrived at Ferrymead with a current boiler ticket and did operate during the early days of the Ferrymead Railway. It is now currently stored..
Manning Wardle Kermit Manning Wardle 1841 1914 1975 Built in 1914 for the Christchurch Meat Company and used at their Islington works. Donated to the CRS in 1975 and restored to working order. The locomotive visited the early Weka Pass Railway in 1983. Withdrawn from service in 1985, and has since been on static display in the Hall of Wheels at the Ferrymead Heritage Park.

In addition:

NZR Diesel locomotives

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Builder Builder's number Year built Arrived Notes
TR 22 TR 91 Drewry 2101 1939 1985 Entered service in March 1939 for the NZR. Withdrawn in May 1985 and purchased by the Diesel Traction Group in that year. Used for a shunter for years until being loaned to the CRS. In 1996 it was sold to the society. In 2010 it was taken out of service in 2010. In 2012 it returned to service in a yellow livery.
PWD 2112 TR 54 Hudswell Clarke D599 1936 1966 Entered service in 1936 for the Public Works Department as PWD 2112. It was purchased by the NZR in February 1956 and reclassified TR 54. It was withdrawn in October 1966. This is the smallest locomotive at the Ferrymead Heritage Park, and it weighs only four tonnes. It is powered by a Paxman Ricardo diesel engine of 40 hp driving through a 3 speed gearbox with a top speed of 15 km/h. It is now stored unserviceable.
TR 111 442 A & G Price 208 1963 July 2015 Entered NZR service in November 1963. Withdrawn and sold to Reid McNaught. In 2006 it was leased to the Taieri Gorge Railway (now Dunedin Railways). In October in the same year it was repainted into the NZR Midland Red livery and took part in the Dunedin Railway Stations 100th birthday celebrations. It was then sold in 2009 to the TGR. It was sold to the society in July 2015.
TR 156 TR 592 W. G. Bagnall 3105 1957 February 1999 Entered service in July 1957 for the NZR. Withdrawn and purchased by the CRS in December 1998. It arrived on site in February 1999 and was restored in the NZR Midland Red livery later that year.

In addition:

Electric 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
EC 7 English Electric 723 1928 1972 Entered service in February 1929 for the NZR for the Lyttleton Tunnel. Withdrawn in September 1970. It was stored at the Linwood until being purchased by the CRS in 1972, then it was moved to the Ferrymead. Stored until 1977 when it was moved to the railway. In October 1988 the 'EC' took part in the Ferrymead 125 cavalcade. In November the same year it was officially commissioned on the electrified section of the railway.
ED 103 ED 21 NZR Hutt Workshops 355 1939 September 1983 Entered service in June 1939 for the NZR. Withdrawn on 7 November 1981 and sold to the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society and displayed at their Seaview base. It was then sold to the CRS in 1983 and arrived in September the same year. In 1988 it was repainted red and took part in the Ferrymead 125 cavalcade in October the same year. It has been stored since.
EO 3 English Electric 524 1922 1972 Entered service on the 4 August 1923 for the NZR for the Otira Tunnel as E 3. It was reclassified 'EO' for them not be confused with the 'EC' class of 1928. Withdrawn in April 1968 due to being replaced by the 1967 built EA class locomotives. It was stored from April 1968 to 1972 when it was purchased by the CRS and arrived at the Ferrymead Heritage Park. Stored until 1977 when it was restored. In October 1988 the 'EO' took part in the Ferrymead 125 cavalcade. It received a Restoration Award from the National Federation of Railway Societies in 1996.
EW 1806 EW 171 English Electric 1736/E7492 1952 September 1983 Entered service in November 1952 for the NZR. It was derailed at Paekakariki on 16 September 1961 after hitting a slip. Withdrawn in November 1987 and sold to the CRS. Arrived in that year. It took part in the Ferrymead 125 cavalcade. Restoration work was underway until 2011 when the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes struck, although some work has been carried out since then.

In addition:

Railcars

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Number Builder Builder's number Year built Arrived at the Ferrymead Heritage Park Notes
RM 51 Vulcan Foundry 4846 1939 March 1979 Entered service in June 1941 for the NZR. Withdrawn in September 1978 and purchased by the CRS in the same year. It arrived in March 1979. Used until 1990 it failed for an excursion with RM 56 for the 1990 Sesqui-Centennial. It was dedicated in 1995 to the memory of the late Gordon Jory, a founding member of the Canterbury Railway Society, who was instrumental in the preservation of it. In 2000 it returned to service but failed again with forcing it in storage. Stored until 2009 when an overhaul commenced for it be return to service. It was returned to service on 9 September 2013.
RM 56 Vulcan Foundry 4851 1939 October 1, 1978 Entered service in January 1942 for the NZR. Withdrawn in September 1978. Purchased by the National Federation of Railway Societies and arrived on 1 October the same year. It was used in the 1988 Ferrymead 125 celebrations and on 1990 for the Sesqui-Centennial with excursions on the West Coast and most notably between Westport and Hokitika. In 2008 it was donated to the CRS and repaired in time for the 125th celebrations of the Otago Central Railway in October 2009.
RM 57 Vulcan Foundry 4852 1939 March 1979 Entered service in January 1942 for the NZR. Withdrawn in April 1978. Purchased by the CRS in the same year. It arrived in March 1979. It has been in outside storage since.

Electric Multiple Units

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and number TMS class and number Names Builder Builder's number Year built Arrived at the Ferrymead Heritage Park Notes
D 163 D 2695 Red Robin English Electric 1649 1952 October 13, 1988 Entered service in July 1953 for the NZR. During its service it was paired with DM 27. Withdrawn in June 1988 and purchased by two Wellington Rail Enthusiasts and donated to the CRS in October the same year. When it arrived on 13 October it was placed into storage. It was used for the celebrations of the completion of the electrification at the Ferrymead Heritage Park on 9 June 2007. In the same year it was leased to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for uses in Wellington. It was restored at Hutt Workshops and repainted in the NZR Midland Red livery. It returned to service in October 2008. It was withdrawn again on 19 March 2012. It returned to Ferrymead on 22 July in the same year. It was recommissioned by the CRS on 21 September 2013.
DM 27 DM 320 Red Robin English Electric 1572 1950 October 13, 1988 Entered service on 20 March 1951 for the NZR. During its service it was paired with D 163. Withdrawn in June 1988 and purchased by two Wellington Rail Enthusiasts and donated to the CRS in October the same year. When it arrived on 13 October it was placed into storage. It was used for the celebrations of the completion of the electrification at the Ferrymead Heritage Park on 9 June 2007. In the same year it was leased to the Greater Wellington Regional Council for uses in Wellington. It was restored at Hutt Workshops and repainted in the NZR Midland Red livery. It returned to service in October 2008. It was withdrawn again on 19 March 2012. It returned to Ferrymead on 22 July in the same year. It was recommissioned by the CRS on 21 September 2013.
EM 1373 / ET 3373 Ganz-Mavag 1982 May 2016 Entered service in December 1982 for the NZR, operating on Wellington suburban lines.

Carriages

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and cumber TMS class and number Builder Type Year built Arrived Notes
A 47 NZR Addington Workshops 39' 7" wooden body, passenger coach 1891 N/A Entered NZR service in 1891 as a Saloon/Birdcage car. In 1954 it was moved to a private property in Winters, Oxford.
A 104 NZR Addington Workshops 44' 0" wooden body, passenger coach 1883 N/A Entered NZR service as C 104. Reclassified In June 1883 at Hillside Workshops as A 104. Reclassified to EA 1942. Withdrawn on 12 September 1964.
A 222 Oldbury Car Company 43' 9" wooden body, passenger coach 1880 December 15, 2005 Entered NZR service in 1880 as C 222 as a 33' 6" wooden body. It was converted to a bogie carriage and reclassified as A 222 in 1889 at Hillside Workshops. In 1945 it was reclassified and renumbered as EA 1943 by the Ways and Works Department. It was again used by the NZR from 1965 and 2005. It was then leased to the society by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand and placed into storage. Ownership changed in 2010 to the society after being owned by the Rail Heritage Trust since the 1990s. Restored in 2010 and won the 2010 FRONZ restoration award.
A 463 NZR Addington Workshops 43' 9" wooden body, passenger coach 1894 1976 Entered NZR service in 1894. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966 at Greymouth and sold to the society. In the 2000s it was leased to the Waimea Plains Railway.
A 516 NZR Addington Workshops 43' 9" wooden body, passenger coach 1896 1971 Entered NZR service in 1896. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966. Stored until 1971 and sold to the society. Restored in the 1980s. A part of the Heritage train.
A 518 NZR Addington Workshops 43' 9" wooden body, passenger coach 1896 1966 Entered NZR service in 1896. Used as by the Ways and Works Department as EA 5590. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966 and sold to the society.
A 585 NZR Hillside Workshops 43' 9" wooden body, passenger coach 1900 N/A Entered NZR service in 1900. In 1964 it was used by the Ways and Works department as EA 3558. Withdrawn on 9 September 1978.
A 1177 NZR Addington Workshops 50' 0" wooden body, passenger coach 1912 N/A Entered NZR service on 31 March 1912. Withdrawn on 04 November 1967. It was purchased by the Christchurch Model Railway Club. It was later sold to the society and restored in 2007. Its interior is now being overhauled.
A 1535 NZR Hillside Workshops 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach 1923 N/A Body from A 1381. It was operated by the Ways & Works Department as their EA 3178 from 1959 to 1977. Withdrawn on 14 September 1968.
A 1552 NZR Addington Workshops 47' 6" wooden body, passenger coach 1924 1967 Entered NZR service in 1924. Withdrawn on 26 April 1969. Restored in the 2000s.
A 1617 NZR Addington Workshops 47' steel-panelled mainline coach 1927 2006 Entered NZR service on 31 March 1927. Used as a Royal car until a few years later after being commissioned it was used as a Ministerial Car. In 1953 it was then converted to a Royal Support car. A year later it was converted back to a Ministerial Car. Withdrawn on 7 December 1957. It was stored in Arthurs Pass until 1992 when it was then stored at Moana. In 2003 it was then stored in Dunedin until 2006 when it was purchased by the society. Currently stored.
A 1825 NZR Addington Workshops 50' steel-panelled mainline coach 1934 1999 Entered NZR service on 31 March 1935. In 1969 it was converted to a Dynamo-meter Car and reclassified as EA 3950. Then renumbered as EA 1559. Used as a Royal Carriage in 1953/54. Withdrawn in 1999.
A 1880 A 1320 NZR Otahuhu Workshops 56' steel-panelled mainline coach 1937 2000s Entered NZR service on 20 August 1937 as a NZR sleeper car. In 1981 it stored, but wasn't official written off until 20 June 1987. It was later purchased by the society.
AF 863 NZR Addington Workshops 47' 6' wooden body, passenger coach 1904 1981 Entered NZR service in 1904 as A 863. Converted to a carvan type of car and reclassified as AF 863. Used by the Ways and Works Department as amenities car EA 3566. Later renumbered as EA 883. Withdrawn in April 1981 Took part in the Otago Central Railways 125 celebrations.

1981 Ferrymead Railway

B 231 Oldbury Carriage Company 31' wooden body, passenger coach 1873 N/A Entered NZR service in 1874 as C 231. In 1889 it was rebuilt at Addington Workshops with a new style 'clerestory' roof, and 2 - 4 wheel bogies replacing the original 6 wheels. In 1941 it was used by Ways and Works Department as EA 1739. Sold to the society in 1971 and placed into storage. Restored in 2005. A part of the Heritage train.
D 26 Oldbury Carriage Company 21' 6" wooden body, passenger coach 1874 1967 Entered NZR service in 1875. Withdrawn in 1916. Sold to Homebush Brick Tile and Coal Co. It was later stored at Tara Homestead. Arrived in 1967 and stored. Restored in 1999. A part of the Heritage train.
D 137 Oldbury Carriage Company 21' 6" wooden body, passenger coach 1877 N/A Underframe is stored in the carriage shed.

In addition:

Vans

Key: In service In service, Mainline Certified Under overhaul/restoration Stored Static display Scrapped
Original class and cumber TMS class and number Builder Type Year built Arrived Notes
F 24 N/A 30' wooden body, guards' van 1883 N/A
F 67 NZR Hillside Workshops 30' wooden body, guards' van 1955 N/A Withdrawn on 31 January 1970.
F 78 NZR Addington Workshops 20' wooden body, guards' van 1884 1963 Entered NZR service in 1884. Withdrawn in 1942. Stored at Addington Workshops uintil 1963 when it was donated to the society. A part of the Heritage train.
F 79 NZR Addington Workshops 20' wooden body, guards' van 1884 1968 Entered NZR service in 1884. Used by the Ways and Works Department as E 1739 for use as a portable tool store. Withdrawn and sold to the society in 1968. Won the 2002 A & G Price restoration award. A part of the Heritage train.
F 199 N/A 20' wooden body, guards' van 1893 1893 Leased to Waimea Plains Railway
F 372 NZR Hillside Workshops 30' wooden body, guards' van 1911 1975 Entered NZR service in January 1911. Withdrawn on 25 May 1975.
F 624 NZR Addington Workshops 14' wooden body, guards' van 1943 1975 Entered NZR service in 1943 as a Fell Break van for the Rewanui Incline. Withdrawn on 25 February 1967. On display in the Hall Of Wheels.
F 634 F 2482 NZR Addington Workshops 30' steel-panelled guards' van 1955 N/A
NH 399 FH 16 NZR Addington Workshops Steel-panelled guards' van N/A N/A Entered NZR service as NH 8362. Later reclassified FH 16 and E 8362. Used as W 192's support van.

Gallery

Resources

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.canterburyrailsociety.co.nz/history/
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