X-Nico

4 unusual facts about New Zealand Railways


Branxholme locomotive dump

In 1927, when scrap steel was an uneconomic proposition, New Zealand Railways started dumping obsolete steam locomotives at Branxholme to arrest erosion.

NZR WF class

Today, the last remnant of the DS class (other than the New Zealand Railways builders' plates) is the superheated boiler from DS 8 (WF 392), owned by the Van Diemen's Light Railway Society and stored at their Don River Railway.

Omoto locomotive dump

During the history of New Zealand Railways, all locomotives and rolling stock have reached or will reach a state of obsolescence.

Sharp, Stewart and Company

Between 1898 and 1901, Sharp Stewart and Company supplied no less than 16 4-6-0 and 4 4-8-0 locomotives to New Zealand Railways.


Aussie Malcolm

As Associate to Colin McLachlan, Malcolm's focus was on New Zealand Railways.

Edward McKenna

He joined the New Zealand Railways as a clerk and soon rose to be Station Master at Kaiapoi, Ashburton, Invercargill, Gore, Greatford, Halcombe and in the early 1880s Palmerston North.

Mainline Steam

Mainline Steam is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives.

Murray Robert Smith

Formerly a Public Trust accountant, he was made managing director of the Development Finance Corporation and executive chairman of New Zealand Railways by Labour.

Schofield tank

The armour plating was provided by the New Zealand Railways.


see also

N class

NZR N class, a class of steam locomotives used by the New Zealand Railways Department and the Wellington and Manawatu Railway