NZR RM class (Edison battery-electric)
Encyclopedia
The NZR RM class
Edison battery-electric railcar was a popular and successful railcar
that ran in Canterbury
, New Zealand
for eight years. The prototype was arguably the first successful railcar in New Zealand but it was not developed into a class. The railcar had a wheel arrangement
of Bo-Bo
under the UIC classification
system, weighed 32 tonnes, had driving controls at each end, and with an engine output of 90 kW (120 hp), it travelled comfortably at 60 km/h. In appearance, it looked like a cross between a regular railway passenger carriage and a tram
; side-on, it looked like a passenger carriage, but each end resembled the front of a tram from that era.
Capable of carrying about 70 passengers, with 60 seated, and a separate smoking compartment, the railcar had a range of about 100 miles on one battery (charge). Apparently a layover of about 4 hours was needed to recharge the battery. When introduced the railcar was billed as capable of being used on the Christchurch-Little River and Christchurch-Rangiora runs as well as being available for charters to other North Canterbury destinations. Being electrically powered and running on a storage battery, the railcar was very quiet, with the only wheel noise being noticeable when in motion. The railways department claimed it could cover the 36 mile, 12 stop, journey between Christchurch and Little River in 1 hour and 7 minutes at an average throughout speed of 30 miles per hour. They also claimed that passengers could board in 8 seconds or less stating "the stop at one of the smaller outlying stations to pick up a passenger was so brief as to be barely perceptible."
The railcar was initially built in 1926 to operate services through the lengthy Lyttelton rail tunnel
on the Lyttelton Line, but around this time, the Lyttelton Tunnel was electrified and the railcar was instead assigned to the Little River Branch, commencing services in early 1927. Previously, the Little River Branch's passenger services had been provided by mixed train
s that carried both passengers and goods and ran to slow schedules as they had to load and unload freight regularly, and the Edison battery-electric railcar was introduced as a faster and more desirable alternative. It ran between Little River
and Christchurch
twice each way each day, completing the journey in 69 minutes.
The railcar was popular with passengers and crews; it was fast for its time for a rural train on New Zealand's national rail network
, and ran cleanly and efficiently. However, it lasted a mere eight years, as it was destroyed in a depot fire in Christchurch in 1934. Conditions created by the Great Depression
meant it simply was not possible to build a replacement, and the Edison battery-electric railcar's legacy was left as that of a promising and unique experiment that may have achieved its full potential in more prosperous times.
NZR RM class
The RM class is the classification used by the New Zealand Railways Department and its successors given to most railcars and railbuses that have operated on New Zealand's national rail network. As NZR and its successors has operated many diverse types of railcars, alternate names have been given...
Edison battery-electric railcar was a popular and successful railcar
Railcar
A railcar, in British English and Australian English, is a self-propelled railway vehicle designed to transport passengers. The term "railcar" is usually used in reference to a train consisting of a single coach , with a driver's cab at one or both ends. Some railways, e.g., the Great Western...
that ran in Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
for eight years. The prototype was arguably the first successful railcar in New Zealand but it was not developed into a class. The railcar had a wheel arrangement
Wheel arrangement
In rail transport, a wheel arrangement is a system of classifying the way in which wheels are distributed beneath a locomotive.. Several notations exist to describe the wheel assemblies of a locomotive by type, position, and connections, with the adopted notations varying by country...
of Bo-Bo
Bo-Bo
A Bo-Bo or Bo′Bo′ is a locomotive with two independent four-wheeled bogies with all axles powered by individual traction motors...
under the UIC classification
UIC classification
The UIC classification of locomotive axle arrangements describes the wheel arrangement of locomotives, multiple units and trams. It is set out in the International Union of Railways "Leaflet 650 - Standard designation of axle arrangement on locomotives and multiple-unit sets". It is used in much...
system, weighed 32 tonnes, had driving controls at each end, and with an engine output of 90 kW (120 hp), it travelled comfortably at 60 km/h. In appearance, it looked like a cross between a regular railway passenger carriage and a tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
; side-on, it looked like a passenger carriage, but each end resembled the front of a tram from that era.
Capable of carrying about 70 passengers, with 60 seated, and a separate smoking compartment, the railcar had a range of about 100 miles on one battery (charge). Apparently a layover of about 4 hours was needed to recharge the battery. When introduced the railcar was billed as capable of being used on the Christchurch-Little River and Christchurch-Rangiora runs as well as being available for charters to other North Canterbury destinations. Being electrically powered and running on a storage battery, the railcar was very quiet, with the only wheel noise being noticeable when in motion. The railways department claimed it could cover the 36 mile, 12 stop, journey between Christchurch and Little River in 1 hour and 7 minutes at an average throughout speed of 30 miles per hour. They also claimed that passengers could board in 8 seconds or less stating "the stop at one of the smaller outlying stations to pick up a passenger was so brief as to be barely perceptible."
The railcar was initially built in 1926 to operate services through the lengthy 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...
on the Lyttelton Line, but around this time, the Lyttelton Tunnel was electrified and the railcar was instead assigned to the Little River Branch, commencing services in early 1927. Previously, the Little River Branch's passenger services had been provided by mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s that carried both passengers and goods and ran to slow schedules as they had to load and unload freight regularly, and the Edison battery-electric railcar was introduced as a faster and more desirable alternative. It ran between Little River
Little River, New Zealand
Little River is a town in New Zealand on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury district.-Location:Little River is approximately 30 minutes drive from Akaroa on Banks Peninsula, a major South Island tourist destination, and 45 minutes drive from Christchurch. It is on State Highway 75, which links...
and 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...
twice each way each day, completing the journey in 69 minutes.
The railcar was popular with passengers and crews; it was fast for its time for a rural train on New Zealand's national rail network
Rail transport in New Zealand
Rail transport in New Zealand consists of a network of gauge railway lines in both the North and South Islands. Rail services are focused primarily on freight, particularly bulk freight, with limited passenger services on some lines...
, and ran cleanly and efficiently. However, it lasted a mere eight years, as it was destroyed in a depot fire in Christchurch in 1934. Conditions created by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
meant it simply was not possible to build a replacement, and the Edison battery-electric railcar's legacy was left as that of a promising and unique experiment that may have achieved its full potential in more prosperous times.