Weka Pass Railway

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Weka Pass Railway
NZR A class No. 428 at Frog Rock on the Weka Pass Railway.jpg
A 428 just leaving Frog Rock cutting.
Locale Waipara, New Zealand
TerminusGlenmark Station and Waikari Station
Coordinates 43°03′16″S172°45′28″E / 43.0544°S 172.7579°E / -43.0544; 172.7579
Connections KiwiRail Main North Line
Commercial operations
Name Waiau Branchline
Built by New Zealand Government Railways
Original gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Preserved operations
Owned byWeka Pass Railway Society
Operated byWeka Pass Railway Society
StationsTwo
Length12.8 km (8.0 mi)
Preserved gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Commercial history
Opened15 December 1919
Closed15 January 1978
Preservation history
1982Formation of Society
1984First Operation of Trains
1993Recommissioning of A 428
1995Inaugural Waipara Vintage Festival
1999Official opening of the railway
2003Opening of the Waikari turntable
2009Opening of the Glenmark turntable
Website
www.wekapassrailway.co.nz

The Weka Pass Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway based in Waipara, North Canterbury. It is operated on a 12.8 km length of the former Waiau Branch railway between Waipara and Waikari. The railway is operated by an incorporated society which consists solely of members and volunteers, and are largely resident in the city of Christchurch, 60 km to the south. The railway began carrying passengers in 1984 and is now well established locally and nationally. [1]

Contents

History

Beginnings

The first stage of the Waiau Branch line inland through the Weka Pass to Waikari was completed in 1882. This area is noted for its scenery and the railway passes through many large cuttings, around tight curves and on steep gradients (max 1 in 47). When originally built the line was expected to be part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway north of the city of Christchurch. Further sections of the line through Hawarden, Medbury, Balmoral, Pahau, Culverden, Achray, Rotherham and Waiau were constructed in subsequent years. The line was officially opened to Medbury in 1884 and to Culverden in 1886, but the final section to Waiau was not completed until 1919. In the 1920's the decision was made to take the Main North Line on a coastal route north out of Waipara. The Main North Line, which involved major earthworks and many engineering difficulties, was not completed until 1945. [1]

Weka Pass Railway Station, Waikari, New Zealand Weka Pass Railway Station, Waikari, New Zealand.jpg
Weka Pass Railway Station, Waikari, New Zealand

The Waiau Branch suffered the fate of many rural branch lines in later years as increasing competition from road transport saw a decline in traffic carried. For many years, the railways were protected from this competition by mileage limits; as these were gradually increased, more and more branches were closed down. The branch line had a short reprieve in its twilight years when large amounts of logs were carried from the Balmoral forest. Closure occurred on 15 January 1978. [1]

Formation

A public meeting at Waipara in August 1982 saw a steering committee established to investigate the Weka Pass Railway proposal. There had been interest from a number of people in preserving part of this old branch line particularly in the scenic Weka Pass. [1] The impetus came from local Waipara people who saw the tourist potential, and railway enthusiasts, many drawn from the Ferrymead Railway. The Society was formally established in November that year. [1] The new group began negotiating with NZ Railways and other parties to purchase track, locomotives, rolling stock and other facilities. In May 1983, the first major public event was held. The "Mayfair Festival" was held and featured the Canterbury Railway Societys Manning Wardle No. 1841 of 1914, and Fowler No. 16246 of 1924 from the Canterbury Steam Preservation Society, along with rakes of LA and LC "high-side" wagons, full of passengers. Shuttles ran from the old Waipara yard to the 3 km straight. [1]

In July 1983, the railway agreed with the New Zealand Railways Corporation to lease the line between Waipara and the south bank of the Hurunui River. [1] Public running commenced on 4 June 1984, and travelled from McCaskeys Crossing to Herberts Crossing (and stopped for picnics at Frog Rock along the way). The WPR purchased the leased section of the line on 3 September 1984, and the final payment was made on 28 August 1990. On 30 September 1984, running on the line ceased due to legal complications about the transfer of the ownership. [1] The railway was later granted permission to operate trains on under their own name on the line, a public running recommenced on 17 March 1985. [1]

Following the closure the Waiau line, all of the track remained in place except for the removal of a level crossing at Waikari where the road crossed State Highway 7 due to Transit New Zealand and the National Roads Board refusing for the crossing to be reinstalled. [1] Because of this, in September 1988 the WPR agreed to lift the line between Waikari and the south bank of the Hurunui River, and section was finally lifted by July 1991. [1]

Track and turntables

Track

The Weka Pass Railway operates 12.8 km of the former Waiau Branchline between Waipara and its terminus at Waikari. [1]

Not long after trains commenced running to Waikari, the railway suffered a major setback in 1986 when heavy rain damaged the line in a number of places. During this time, it was decided that the line wasn't in good condition, and it would need extensive repairs, and earthworks in some portion of line. [1] By April 1987, trains were running to the 5.5 km peg. [1] Due to a slump near Antils Hut found in September 1987, trains were once again restricted. [1] After repairs were made, trains recommenced running to the area on 28 January 1988. [1] During this time, the section of track between the old Waipara yard and Glenmark Station were realigned. [1] In the same year, work started in Waikari with the ripping up of track.

On 3 June 1990, trains started operating to Gate No. 2. Trains then started operating to Frog Rock in June 1991, and to Herberts Crossing on 23 August 1992. The line later reached Timpendean, but due to the lack of a suitable picnic area, trains were only allowed to run to Herberts Crossing. [1] On 11 September 1999 was marked as a historic day for the WPR, as it was the day for the grand opening of the line to Waikari, and also the official opening day of the WPR. [1] A "members train" was hauled by DGs 770 and 791 and travelled all the way to Waikari, and after dropping the members off at the platform, the train was propelled back, where the DGs were placed into the turntable road, and F 163 sat in the loop with the "members train". [2] A "special guest train", which was hauled by A 428, followed soon after. WD 357 sat at the end of the line at the stop block. [2] In 2001, a new turn-out was installed in the yard in Waipara. [3]

Turntables

The railway has a turntable at both Glenmark and Waikari. A 55-foot turntable was installed in Waikari on 3 October 2002, [4] and was recommissioned on 31 August 2003. A special train ran from Christchurch hauled by DCP 4761, as well as another train, which was hauled by A 428 and composed of the railway's own carriages. The turntable was found in a scrap heap in Middleton Yard (in Christchurch), and was purchased by the railway in the mid-1990s. [5] A 62-foot turntable was installed in Glenmark (Waipara). It took 14 months for the turntable to be restored and installed, and was reopened on 12 July 2009. [6] There were issues with the installation with the turntable, as the land was privately owned at the time. [7] This now enables the locomotives to be turned to face the correct way, instead of running tender-leading on the return journey to Glenmark from Waikari. In 2010, the railway won the "KiwiRail Network Infrastructure Improvement Undertaken by a Heritage Railway award" for the restorations of the two turntables. [8]

Buildings

Stations

Glenmark Station

Glenmark Station in Waipara Glenmark Station (Weka Pass Railway).JPG
Glenmark Station in Waipara

The ex-Mina Railway Station was built in 1910, and served many passenger trains along the Main North Line, and had been extensively refurbished. By 1979, a new concrete front was needed to support the platform. In October 1980, the railway station became an unattended flag station, and was closed to all traffic. [1] A private resident and his family, who was living in Cheviot at the time, raised funds and made generous donations to preserve and transport the station to Waipara. In 1986 disassemble of the station commenced, and the station arrived in its current site in 1987. [1] The building was shifted in two sections, and after rejoining the two sections, a new roof was constructed, and new foundations made. A verandah was also fitted, and the station has been in use since April 1988. [1] To avoid confusion, the station was renamed as Glenmark Station, to avoid confusion of the current Waipara Station on the Main North Line. [1]

Waikari Station

The ex-Hundalee Station was built in 1939, and is a standard class A station (which were designed by George Troup). [9] The station also served many passenger trains along the Main North Line. The building was purchased by the WPR, and was transported to Waikari on 29 October 1991. [1] By July 1992, the station was fully restored, and served its first train in Waikari on 11 September 1999. [1]

In 1995, the railway received an award from the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand for the restoration of the two stations. [1]

Locomotive depot and workshop

In the mid 1980s, a two-road workshop was built in the old Waipara rail yard. The depot was later extended to a three-road depot in 2005, and a pit was installed. [10]

Carriage Shed

Between 2005 and 2006, a two-road carriage shed was built, and was fitted with roller doors. It houses the WPRs carriage fleet, Wickham Track Inspection Car and one or both DGs. During mid-2012, the shed was fitted with four swinging doors. [11]

Gate Huts

Because of the railway running through private farmland, Gate Keepers are assigned to Gates No. 1 and 2. Because of this, a hut is allocated to both gates.

Gate No. 2 on the Weka Pass Railway Gate No. 2 on the Weka Pass Railway.jpg
Gate No. 2 on the Weka Pass Railway

During the mid to late 1980s, phone-booth huts were built. But because of the small size of them, the ex-pump-house from the former Kaiapoi rail yard was transported to Gate No. 1, and the ex-Hawarden Gangers hut was transported to Gate No. 2, to replace the phone-booth like-huts. On 8 July 2004, two new brand new huts (which were built in the WPRs yard in Waipara) replaced the second-hand huts (which have since been demolished). The new huts have been named after two late members respectfully. [10]

Locomotives and rolling stock

The railway presently owns four locomotives, all formerly owned by the New Zealand Government Railways, and a large fleet of ex-NZR rolling stock. [1]

NZR steam locomotives

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberBuilderBuilders numberYear builtYear arrivedNotes
A 428 A & G Price 3119091983Purchased by the A 428 Preservation Society in 1973 and leased to the WPR in 1983. Restored in September 1993, 428 has been in active service since, only being withdrawn for necessary repairs when required. The locomotive since has gone to WPR ownership.

NZR diesel locomotives

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberTMS numberBuilderBuilders numberYear builtYear arrivedNotes
DE 512 DE 1429 English Electric 175019512015This locomotive is owned by the Diesel Traction Group, and on long-term loan to the WPR for work trains and general shunting duties.
DG 770 DG 2232English Electric2274/D35319551983DG 770 was purchased by the WPR in 1983. This locomotive is operational, and is used on passenger services.
DG 791DG 2468English Electric2295/D37419551983DG 791 was purchased by the WPR in 1983. This locomotive is operational, and is used on passenger services.
DSA 276 DSA 822 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 147119671992DSA 276 was owned by Rail Base Systems and leased to the WPR in 1992 until being subsequently purchased. The locomotive is undergoing an engine overhaul

Carriages

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberTMS numberBuilderTypeYear builtYear arrivedNotes
A 523 NZR Addington Workshops 43' 9" wooden body passenger carriage18961986Purchased from the West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society at Shantytown. [12] Used as a bunkhouse for members. It is the oldest piece of rolling stock held by the railway. [13]
A 1720A 50084
XPC 588
NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach19312020Purchased from Dunedin Railways in November 2019.
A 1730A 50132NZR Addington Workshops 50' 0" steel-panelled suburban carriage 19311983Ex-Dunedin suburban services. [14] Overhauled from 2012 to 2018. [13] [15]
A 1731A 50140NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled mainline coach19311983Ex-Dunedin suburban services. Overhauled from 2004 to 2011. [13] Entered service on 1 May 2011. [16] In 2012, it won the "FRONZ Passenger Carriage Restoration Award". [17] [14]
A 1732A 50159NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled suburban carriage19312009Ex-Dunedin suburban services. [14] Purchased from the Otago Excursion Train Trust. [13] Stored, awaiting restoration. [18] [19]
A 1733A 50167NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled suburban carriage19311983Ex-Dunedin suburban services. [14] Now undergoing overhaul.
A 1760A 50223NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled suburban carriage19322008Ex-Dunedin suburban services. [13] Purchased from the Otago Excursion Train Trust. Stored, awaiting restoration. [14]
AL 1697AL 50026NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" steel-panelled suburban carriage19301983Ex-Dunedin suburban services. Rebuilt as a car-van in October 1969. [20] Restored from 1990 – 1993. [13] Underwent repairs and a tidy-up from December 2017 to March 2019.
A 1935A 3338

AC 3548

NZR Addington Workshops 56' 0" steel-panelled mainline carriage 19392001Currently in storage

Viewing cars

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberTMS numberBuilderTypeYear builtYear arrivedNotes
T 155T 385 NZR Addington Workshops 32' 6" wooden covered viewing carc19601981Formerly a cattle wagon. [21] Modified as a covered viewing car and reclassified as AT 155 in 1988. [1]
T 157T 409NZR Addington Workshops32' 6" wooden open viewing carc19601984Formerly a cattle wagon. [1] It was renumbered as T 385 circa 1978, and withdrawn on 7 November 1981 in Waipara. [22] Modified as an un-covered viewing car and reclassified as AT 157 in September 1993. [13]

Vans

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberTMS numberBuilderTypeYear builtYear arrivedNotes
F 497F 962 NZR Hillside Workshops 47' 6" wooden body brake van19271985Arrived in April 1985 after being donated by a member. [13] [12] It was restored from 1997–1998. [23]
F 699F 2854 NZR Addington Workshops 37' 6" wooden body brake van19641987Sold in April 1987. F 699 was restored in 1994, [24] and is one of the last wooden vans built by the NZR. [13]

Wagons

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restorationStoredStatic displayScrapped
Original class and numberTMS numberTypeBuilderYear builtYear arrivedNotes
E 2882E 1344Four-wheel steel open high sided wagon NZR Hillside Workshops 19081983Originally built as LA 8337. [25] [26] [27] Stored, awaiting restoration. [28]
EA 1664EA 6550-foot Covered wooded bogie wagon NZR Addington Workshops 19351987Originally built as Z 262. [29] [30] [28] Modified with a mess room and a tool storage room in early 1987. Refurbished and re-roofed in 2014. [27] Used on work trains to transport the track gang to work sites along the line.
EUB 4164EA 2662Bogie crane support wagonNZR Addington Workshops19261989Originally entered service as UB 818. [31] [30] Crane support and runner wagon for Diesel Crane NO.197. [27]
H 1557H 1125Four wheel cattle wagon Hurst Nelson (assembled at Addington Workshops)19591981Restored in 1998, [27] and officially recommissioned in April 2000. [32]
JC 4971JC 4874 wheel sheep wagonNZR Addington Workshopsc19521989Formerly preserved by the now-defunct Southern Rail Group at Prebbleton. [28] Restored in 1999, [23] and officially recommissioned in April 2000. [27] [32]
Unidentified KPUnidentified KP4 Wheel Box Wagon Mitsubishi Heavy Industries N/A1991Sold to the railway in May 1991 and used as a storage shed without wheels. [1]
KS 4556KS 123454-wheel steel covered wagonNZR Addington Workshops19702000Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [21] Currently incorrectly stenciled KS 1235. [27]
KS 4479KS 11507

KST 5069

4-wheel curtain sided wagon NZR Otahuhu Workshops 19702000Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [21] [27]
LA 203414-wheel open high-siderNZR Otahuhu Workshops1941c1995Stored, awaiting restoration. [28]
LA 21338LA 391704-wheel open high-siderNZR Addington Workshopsc19501986
LC 25542LC 15884-wheel steel open high side wagonNZR Otahuhu Workshops19501990
LPA 1193LPA 27304-wheel steel high side paper wagon Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (assembled at Otahuhu Workshops)19732001Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [27] [21]
MC 2386MC 48304 wheel wooden open low side wagonNZR Addington Workshops19591987Overhauled in 1999, [23] and received a tidy-up from May to July 2018.
NK 3854-wheel steel flat-top wagonNZR Hillside Workshops19852000Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [21] [27]
T 168T 492Bogie cattle wagonNZR Hillside Workshops19601984Stored body-less, awaiting restoration. [21] [27]
UB 618UB 228Bogie steel flat deck wagon NZR Newmarket Workshops 19081983Oldest freight wagon owned by the Weka Pass Railway. [33]
UC 860UC 594Bogie tank wagonNZR Addington Workshops19302000Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [33] Stored awaiting restoration. [21]
UC 1232UC 1472Bogie tank wagonNZR Addington Workshops19472001Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [33]
UD 1504 UD 61

EWW 46

Bogie Works and Way Well wagonNZR Otahuhu Workshops19522000Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [21] Used on KiwiRail work trains if required. [33]
UR 2275URT 304Steel flat deck bogie log wagonNZR Addington Workshops19651989Used on work trains. [34]
VR 137VR 1399Bogie Steel Insulated wagon Kinki Sharyo Co. (assembled at Otahuhu Workshops)19641983
XP 3226XP 27544-Wheel Ventilated Box Wagon NZR East Town Workshops 19671983Restored in 1999, [35] [23] and officially recommissioned in April 2000. [32]
YB 578YB 12474-wheel ballast wagonNZR Hillside Workshops1942N/A
YB 621YB 16564-wheel ballast wagonNZR Hillside Workshops1942N/A
YB 634YB 17834-wheel ballast wagonNZR Hillside Workshops1942N/A
YB 637YB 18174-wheel ballast wagonNZR Hillside Workshops1942N/A
YC 838YC 17164-wheel central-discharging ballast wagonNZR Addington Workshops19602007Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [33]
YC 856YC 19064-wheel central-discharging ballast wagonNZR Addington Workshops19602007Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [33] Occasionally used on work trains.
YD 1035YD 392Bogie side-dump wagonDifferential Car Companyc19502013Occasionally used on work trains.
YF 909YF 1324-wheel side discharge ballast wagonNZR Addington Workshops19642007Occasionally used on work trains.
YF 916YF 2014-wheel side discharge ballast wagonNZR Addington Workshops19652001Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust. [21] Incorrectly stenciled YF 203. [33]
Z 356Z 103250-foot Covered wooden bogie wagonNZR Otahuhu Workshops19461989Under restoration. [36]

Cranes

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restorationStoredStatic displayScrapped
NumberTMS class and numberTypeLifting capacityBuilderBuilders numberYear builtYear arrivedNotes
197EL 1007Diesel10 Tonnes Ransomes & Rapier F563719431989Entered service in 1943, and was the NZR's first diesel crane. It was not permitted to travel on the Rewanui or Paparoa Inclines. [37] It was renumbered as EL 1007 on 23 July 1979. [37] It was withdrawn in 1989, and arrived at the WPR on 30 May in that year. It was repainted in 2016.
305Coaling500 KilogramsN/AN/A1925N/AEntered service for the NZR in 1925 as Crane 359. [38] It was purchased by the WPR and restored in 1998, where it was used for coaling A 428. [1] Now currently stored awaiting an overhaul.

Track inspection cars

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restoration/repairStoredStatic displayScrapped
ClassNumberBuilderBuilders numberYear builtYear arrivedNotes
WW5139 Wickham Of Ware 516419501984The ex-South Island Wickham Track Inspection Car entered service for the NZR in 1950. It was withdrawn and sold to the WPR in June 1984, [1] and restored by Cooper Hendersons Motors in 1985. In 1995, the interior of the car was refurbished. [1] In 1997, it was given an overhaul of its Austin A40 petrol engine. [39] But the engine was replaced by a Datson 120Y petrol engine in 2002, and also had a new Nissan gear-box fitted. [4] It also received an overhaul of its axles.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Dew, Leslie (2001). The Great Northern – the story of the Waiau Branch. Weka Pass Railway Inc. ISBN   0-473-07188-6.
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