NZR EC class
Encyclopedia
The NZR
EC class were a class of electric locomotive used in Christchurch
, New Zealand. They replaced steam locomotives on trains through the Lyttelton rail tunnel
between Lyttelton
and Christchurch.
, which had been opened in 1867. Six EC class locomotives were purchased from English Electric exclusively for this work. They worked for more than 40 years until the section was dieselised
in 1970, by which stage three locos had been withdrawn.
was transported to Ferrymead
by road in 1972 and stored by the tramway section until 1977 when it was shifted onto the railway tracks. In 1978, part of the Ferrymead line was fitted with catenary overhead and in 1980, some test runs were done with EC 7 at 600V using the tramway power supply.
Construction of a substation able to supply the railway, tramway and trolley buses was subsequently commenced and in November 1988, it was officially opened with trains hauled by EC 7 on the electrified section of the Railway. EC 7 is periodically operated at the Park, sometimes double-headed with EO 3 or one of the other electric locos there.
New Zealand Railways Department
The New Zealand Railways Department, NZR or NZGR and often known as the "Railways", was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealand's railway infrastructure and operating the railway system. The Department was created in 1880 and was reformed in 1981 into the New...
EC class were a class of electric locomotive used in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, New Zealand. They replaced steam locomotives on trains through the Lyttelton rail tunnel
Lyttelton rail tunnel
The Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, initially called the Moorhouse Tunnel, links the city of Christchurch with the port of Lyttelton in the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. It is the country’s oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on one of the first railway lines in the district...
between Lyttelton
Lyttelton, New Zealand
Lyttelton is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour close to Banks Peninsula, a suburb of Christchurch on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand....
and Christchurch.
Introduction
In 1929 the Christchurch to Lyttelton line was electrified in order to reduce the smoke nuisance in the 2.6 km (1.6 mi) Lyttelton TunnelLyttelton rail tunnel
The Lyttelton Rail Tunnel, initially called the Moorhouse Tunnel, links the city of Christchurch with the port of Lyttelton in the Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island. It is the country’s oldest operational rail tunnel, and is on one of the first railway lines in the district...
, which had been opened in 1867. Six EC class locomotives were purchased from English Electric exclusively for this work. They worked for more than 40 years until the section was dieselised
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
in 1970, by which stage three locos had been withdrawn.
Preservation
Class leader EC 7 along with EO 3NZR EO class (1923)
The New Zealand Railways EO class of 1923 were electric locomotives used on the steep Otira to Arthur's Pass section of the Midland Line. They were primarily for pulling trains through the 8.5 km Otira Tunnel to avoid the buildup of steam, smoke and soot....
was transported to Ferrymead
Ferrymead Railway
The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealand's first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. On the opening of the line to Lyttelton on 9 December 1867, the Ferrymead Railway became the Ferrymead Branch and...
by road in 1972 and stored by the tramway section until 1977 when it was shifted onto the railway tracks. In 1978, part of the Ferrymead line was fitted with catenary overhead and in 1980, some test runs were done with EC 7 at 600V using the tramway power supply.
Construction of a substation able to supply the railway, tramway and trolley buses was subsequently commenced and in November 1988, it was officially opened with trains hauled by EC 7 on the electrified section of the Railway. EC 7 is periodically operated at the Park, sometimes double-headed with EO 3 or one of the other electric locos there.