North Island Main Trunk Railway
Encyclopedia
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The North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) is the main railway line in the North Island
of New Zealand
. The line links the nation's capital Wellington
, with the largest city Auckland
, via Paraparaumu
, Palmerston North
, Taihape
, National Park
, Taumarunui
, Te Kuiti
, Hamilton
, and Pukekohe
.
The NIMT is 681 kilometres (423.2 mi) in length, built to the standard New Zealand rail gauge of . Most of the line is single track with frequent passing loop
s, with double track existing for most of the distance between Wellington and Waikanae, and Hamilton and Auckland. Around 460 kilometres (285.8 mi) of the line is electrified
: 55 km at 1500 V DC between Wellington and Waikanae, and 412 km at 25 kV AC
between Palmerston North and Te Rapa in Hamilton. The 34 km between Papakura and Britomart is currently being electrified as part of the Auckland railway electrification
.
The first section of what became the NIMT opened in 1873. The construction of the line began in 1885, and was completed in 1908 and was fully operational by 1909. The line is credited for having been an economic lifeline for the young nation, and for having opened up the centre of the North Island to European settlement and investment. In the early days, a passenger journey along the whole length could take more than 20 hours, today, the remaining tourist services today take approximately 12 hours between Auckland and Wellington.
The North Island Main Trunk has been described as an "engineering miracle", with numerous engineering feats such as viaducts, tunnels and spirals built to overcome large local elevation differences with grades suitable for steam engines.
, opened in 1873. It included what is now the Onehunga Branch from Penrose, branching off the line intended to be built to the Waikato, possibly to support the Invasion of the Waikato
. From Penrose the line was extended south to Mercer by 20 May 1875, with 29 km (18 mi) from Ngaruawahia
being constructed by the Volunteer Engineer Militia and opened on 13 August 1877. It was extended to Frankton by December 1877, and to Te Awamutu
in 1880. An economic downturn stalled construction for the next five years, and Te Awamutu remained the operating railhead. There were also protracted negotiations with local Māori, and the King Country
was not accessible to Europeans until 1883.
-Longburn (near Palmerston North
) section was constructed between 1881 and 1886 by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). The company was acquired by the New Zealand Railways Department
in 1908.
The Longburn to Marton section of the line was constructed as part of the Foxton to Wanganui railway line.
(see Taupo Railway Proposals
) or via Taumarunui
, the eventual route.
Construction of the final central section of line began on 15 April 1885, when Wahanui Maniopoto paramount chief turned the first sod outside of Te Awamutu
. It was 23 years before the two lines met, as the central section was difficult to survey and construct. The crossing of the North Island Volcanic Plateau
with deep ravines required the construction of nine viaducts and the world-famous Raurimu Spiral
. By the beginning of 1908, there was a 39 km (24.2 mi) gap between Erua and Ohakune, with a connecting horse-drawn coach service. From Ohakune south to Waiouru the Public Works Department operated the train, as this section had not yet been handed over to the Railways Department.
Sir Joseph Ward
and other parliamentarians north to see the American Great White Fleet
at Auckland. But much of the new section was temporary, with some cuttings north of Taonui having vertical batters and some unballasted sections of track. Ward drove the last spike on 6 November 1908. The 'Last Spike' monument is at Manganui-o-te-Ao 39°16.44′S 175°23.37′E, near Pokaka
. A two-day NIMT service started on 9 November, with an overnight stop at Ohakune.
On 14 February 1909 the first NIMT express left Auckland for Wellington, an overnight trip scheduled to take 19 hours 15 minutes, with a sleeping car, day cars with reclining seats, and postal/parcels vans. The dining car went on the north express from Wellington to Ohakune, then transferred to the south-bound express, so avoiding the heavy gradients of the central section.
In 1930 the Westfield deviation was opened, creating a new eastern route from Auckland to Westfield via Glen Innes and Hobsons Bay, running into the new Auckland Railway Station and providing better access to the Port of Auckland. The original section between Auckland to Westfield via Newmarket then ceased to be part of the NIMT. The section from Auckland to Newmarket became the Auckland-Newmarket Line while the section between Westfield and Newmarket became part of the North Auckland Line (NAL) between Westfield to Whangarei.
In 1935 the Tawa Flat deviation
was opened, bypassing most of the original WMR line between Wellington and Tawa
. Constructed to alleviate issues with increasingly heavier freight traffic on the steep twisting original route, it was built as double track, with a pair of tunnels under the Wellington hills and later electrified at 1500V DC. Most of the original line has been retained as the Johnsonville Line.
In the 1950s the line north from Tawa north to Pukerua Bay was also duplicated. The section between Porirua
to Plimmerton
was straightened at the same time by reclaiming land along the eastern shore of Porirua Harbour.
Between 1964 and 1966 the line was deviated away from the centre of Palmerston North to run via Milson on the edge of the city. In 1967 the floors of the tunnels on the original WMR section between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay were lowered to enable the DA class
locomotives to pass through and travel all the way to Wellington.
Between 1973 and 1981 a major deviation
was built between Mangaweka
and Utiku in the central section. This deviation required the construction of three new viaducts, all over 70m tall, to cross the Rangitikei and Kawhatau rivers.
The central section of the line, from Te Rapa near Hamilton to Palmerston North, was electrified at 25 kV AC between 1984 and 1988 as part of the ‘Think Big
’ government energy programme. In addition to the electrification work some tunnels were opened out or bypassed by deviations while in others clearances were increased. As well as this some curves were also eased. The section between Ohakune
and Horopito was completely realigned with three viaducts replaced to handle higher loads and speeds. The most notable bridge replaced was the original curved wooden viaduct at Hapuawhenua by a modern concrete structure, though the original has been restored as a tourist attraction.
In 2011 work to duplicate the line between Paekakariki and Waikanae was completed as part of the upgrade and expansion of the Wellington suburban network.
, Parry argued that the network was under great strain due to ever-increasing volumes of freight, and the use of steam traction was partly to blame. Parry also noted that there was great potential for cheap hydro-electricity generation in the central North Island to power electrification.
The first part of the NIMT to be electrified was the Wellington
-Paekakariki
section to Paekakariki
via the Tawa Flat deviation
in 1940, at 1500 V DC
. Electric traction in this section is now used only by Tranz Metro
for its suburban passenger services on the Kapiti Line, and was extended to Paraparaumu
in 1983 and Waikanae
in 2011.
From 1948 to 1951 the General Manager of the Railways Department, Frederick Aicken, advocated electrification of the entire line, despite protests from his engineering staff.
Following the Second World War railway services suffered due to skill and coal shortages. Skilled staff sought employment opportunities elsewhere in the economy. Aicken had previously been Staff Superintendent and Chief Legal Advisor to the Department, and considered using diesel locomotives for trains on the NIMT to be too expensive. He turned his attention to electrification, mainly because be saw that it could relieve the coal situation and prevent high expenditure on imported fuels.
He commissioned a study into electrification, which concluded that a low frequency alternating current
system could be cheaper than the 1500 V DC system. Aicken sent a technical mission of four senior officers overseas in March 1949, and travelled overseas himself to negotiate a tentative contract with a British construction company. The Chief Mechanical Engineer and Chief Accountant specified and costed the system and Aicken was able to complete a substantial report justifying the NIMT electrification and submit it to the Government.
Officers from New Zealand Treasury
and the Ministry of Works
and two experts from Sweden
commented on the proposal and in December 1950 the Government granted approval in principle and agreed to appoint Thelander as a consultant. However, Aicken fell out with the then National Government, and retired as General Manager in July 1951. With the change in regime the electrification proposal disappeared.
A key assumption of Aicken's report was that traffic on the NIMT would grow by 50% from 1948 to 1961. Since a diesel-electric locomotive was in fact a travelling power station, the savings through electrification compared to diesel could be regarded as the difference between the cost of buying bulk electrical energy generated substantially from New Zealand resources and the cost of generating electricity in small plant using imported diesel fuel.
However, the Royal Commission on Railways created following Aicken's tenure rejected the report's findings. Aicken's successor, H.C. Lusty, terminated the tentative contract and ordered DA class
diesel-electric locomotives.
The 411 km (255.4 mi) section between Palmerston North
and Hamilton
was electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC
, opened in June 1988 as one of the previous Muldoon
National Government's
"Think Big
" energy development projects. An overall cost in excess of $100 million had been projected, with some 40% being for the locomotives, but the final cost was about $250 million. The overall economics of the project were greatly undermined by the fall of the price of oil in the 1980s and the deregulation of land transport, which removed the long-distance monopoly NZR held when the cost benefit report was written.
The electrification of the section (which had its genesis in a study group set up in June 1974 to report on measures to be taken to cope with increasing rail traffic volumes) received approval in 1980. This led to a technical study carried out with assistance from the Japan Railway Technical Service. The report stated that increases track capacity would be created by electrification because such traction is faster and more powerful. The report stated, for example, that whereas a diesel locomotive could haul 720 tonne trains at 27 km/h (17 mph) up the Raurimu Spiral
, an electric locomotive could haul 1100-1200 tonne trains at 45 km/h (28 mph), cutting 3–5 hours off journey times. Less fuel would be needed and employing regenerative braking in electric locomotives lowers the fuel consumption further.
Electrification's advantages were reflected in the economic evaluation in the report, which showed a rate of return of 18%. Sensitivity analysis showed that this high rate of return gave the project robustness against lower traffic volumes than expected (the return remained positive even if traffic fell), against significant increases in construction cost, and against lower than expected rises in the diesel fuel price.
Part of the project included replacing the old copper wire communications system with a new fiber optic communications cable (due to interference caused by AC power with the DC copper wire system). The fiber optic cable was installed from Wellington to Auckland. In 1994 New Zealand Rail Limited sold the fiber optic cable to Clear Communications
for telephone traffic, leasing it back for signalling traffic.
A further extension of the Wellington electrification was opened on 20 February 2011. Funded by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, the extension coincides with the delivery of new Matangi electric multiple units.
.
There is a 80.8 km (50.2 mi) gap from Waikanae to the central NIMT electrification, which starts at Palmerston North. If the electrification is extended to Otaki, there will be a 65 km (40.4 mi) gap. Since the systems are different, multi-current locomotives or multiple units (such as the Japanese EH500
) would be required for through working should the two systems be joined (the EF class electric locomotives are AC only and the EO class
locomotives are DC only), or the Kapiti Line and the Wellington suburban network would need to be re-electrified to 25 kV AC.
There have been numerous proposals to electrify the Auckland suburban rail network
, some dating from the 1960s. Most of these proposals coincided with proposals to electrify the NIMT in its entirety. The most recent proposals (2005), which the government has decided to implement, are to electrify the network at 25 kV AC, the same system as on the central NIMT. This includes 49.5 km (30.8 mi) of the NIMT (the Eastern Line
from Britomart to Papakura), leaving a gap of 87.1 km (54.1 mi) to the central NIMT electrification at Te Rapa, north of Hamilton. Electrification may be extended south as the Auckland suburban system expands, but this will depend on further government funding. In February 2008 Auckland Regional Council Chairman Mike Lee
suggested the initial electrification might be extended to Pukekohe
, leaving a 60 km gap to Te Rapa
. Work on electrification of 80 km of the Auckland network, including 33 km of the NIMT between Papakura and Britomart, began in 2010 and is to be completed by 2013.
to Auckland. It carried the Prime Minister, stopping overnight in Taihape before continuing on to Taumarunui and then Auckland. Tickets were by invitation only. The carriage was restored by the Mainline Steam
Trust.
A series of stamps were issued to commemorate the centennial, see Stamps:
and on the North Island Volcanic Plateau
. This included the building of the famous Raurimu Spiral
to allow trains to manage the steep grade from the Whanganui River
valley onto the Volcanic Plateau. The NIMT also contains nine major viaducts, of which five are over 70 metres (230 ft) high - Makohine (73 m (240 ft)), South Rangitikei (78 m (256 ft)), Kawhatau (73 m (240 ft)), North Rangitikei (81 m (266 ft)), and Makatote (79 m (259 ft)).
The NIMT's entire 681 km length totals 352 bridges, and includes 14 tunnels.
X class
was introduced to handle heavy traffic over the mountainous central North Island section.
Four G class
Garratt
-type locomotives were introduced in 1928, but these locomotives were not as effective as anticipated. In 1932 the 4-8-4
K class
was introduced, and later improved in 1939 with the KA
.
The introduction of the English Electric DF class
in 1954 began the end of the steam era, and in 1955 with the introduction of the DA
major withdrawals of steam locomotives began. 1972 saw the introduction of DX
locomotives and the Silver Fern
railcars: the latter remained in service between Auckland and Wellington until 1991.
With electrification and the introduction of the EF class
electric locomotives in the late 1980s, the DX class was mainly re-assigned to other areas of the network, including hauling the coal freight on the Midland Line
in the South Island
. Since then services between Te Rapa and Palmerston North have been worked mainly by the electrics, although some services are still diesel operated, such as those originating from or terminating on other lines, or originating from within the central section like the paper pulp freight trains from Karioi to Wellington.
As of 2011, regular rolling stock on the NIMT include:
Between 1963 and 1968 daytime services on the line were known as the Scenic Daylight
. In 1968, an RM class
88-seater
railcar
was refurbished and repainted in a distinctive blue scheme that led to it being nicknamed the Blue Streak. It initially operated an unsuccessful service between Hamilton
and Auckland in early 1968, and was transferred to the Auckland-Wellington run on 23 September 1968.
In 1971 NZR
introduced the Silver Star, a luxury sleeper train. The service was not economically viable, and was withdrawn in 1979. Much more successful was the Silver Fern
, a daytime railcar
service, introduced in 1972 to replace the "Blue Streak". This service was withdrawn in 1991 and replaced by The Overlander, now operated by Tranz Scenic
.
On 25 July 2006 Toll announced that the Overlander would cease at the end of September 2006, but on 28 September 2006 the train's continuation on a limited timetable was announced. It now runs daily each way during the summer months and thrice-weekly for the balance of the year.
Tranz Scenic also operates the weekday once-daily return Capital Connection between Palmerston North
and Wellington.
Organisations such as the Railway Enthusiasts Society
run charters.
between Britomart and Pukekohe suburban trains runs on the NIMT at regular intervals. Services terminate at Britomart Transport Centre
, all using the NIMT from Quay Park Junction.
Eastern Line (Pukekohe, Papakura and Otahuhu to Britomart via Glen Innes) trains run along the NIMT between Pukekohe and Britomart.
Southern Line (Pukekohe, Papakura and Otahuhu to Britomart via Newmarket) trains run along the NIMT from Pukekohe to Westfield, the North Auckland Line to Newmarket, and the Auckland-Newmarket Line
to the NIMT at Quay Park junction.
, includes the southern portion of the NIMT between Wellington and Waikanae, known as the Kapiti Line. Services terminate at Wellington railway station.
(train) of 11 hours 34 minutes in 1960, and the Standard
railcar time of 9 hours 26 minutes (running time 8 hours 42 minutes) in 1967.
The North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) is the main railway line in the North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
of 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...
. The line links the nation's capital Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, with the largest city Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, via Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It lies in the Kapiti Coast, 50 kilometres north of the nation's capital city, Wellington....
, Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
, Taihape
Taihape
Taihape is the Northern gateway town of the Rangitikei District, located near the middle of the North Island of New Zealand. It services a large rural community and lies on State Highway 1, which runs through the centre of the North Island.- Economy :...
, National Park
National Park, New Zealand
National Park is a small town on the central plateau of the North Island of New Zealand. Also known as National Park Village it is the highest urban township in New Zealand at 825 metres. As the name suggests, it borders the World Heritage Tongariro National Park, New Zealand's first national...
, Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti
Te Kuiti is a small town in the south of the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It lies at the junction of State Highways 3 and 30 and on the North Island Main Trunk Railway, 80 km south of Hamilton....
, Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
, and Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
.
The NIMT is 681 kilometres (423.2 mi) in length, built to the standard New Zealand rail gauge of . Most of the line is single track with frequent passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s, with double track existing for most of the distance between Wellington and Waikanae, and Hamilton and Auckland. Around 460 kilometres (285.8 mi) of the line is electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
: 55 km at 1500 V DC between Wellington and Waikanae, and 412 km at 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
between Palmerston North and Te Rapa in Hamilton. The 34 km between Papakura and Britomart is currently being electrified as part of the Auckland railway electrification
Auckland Railway electrification
The Auckland railway electrification has been proposed for several decades, but physical works only began in the late 2000s. After investment into new infrastructure and improved services created massive patronage gains on Auckland's commuter rail network in the middle 2000s, the long-discussed...
.
The first section of what became the NIMT opened in 1873. The construction of the line began in 1885, and was completed in 1908 and was fully operational by 1909. The line is credited for having been an economic lifeline for the young nation, and for having opened up the centre of the North Island to European settlement and investment. In the early days, a passenger journey along the whole length could take more than 20 hours, today, the remaining tourist services today take approximately 12 hours between Auckland and Wellington.
The North Island Main Trunk has been described as an "engineering miracle", with numerous engineering feats such as viaducts, tunnels and spirals built to overcome large local elevation differences with grades suitable for steam engines.
Auckland to Te Awamutu
Auckland's first railway southwards was the 13 km (8.1 mi) line between Point Britomart and OnehungaOnehunga
Onehunga is a suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand and the location of the Port of Onehunga, the city's small port on the Manukau Harbour. It is eight kilometres south of the city centre, close to the volcanic cone of One Tree Hill, Maungakiekie....
, opened in 1873. It included what is now the Onehunga Branch from Penrose, branching off the line intended to be built to the Waikato, possibly to support the Invasion of the Waikato
Invasion of the Waikato
The Invasion of Waikato or Kingitanga Suppression Movement was a campaign during the middle stages of the New Zealand Wars, fought in the North Island of New Zealand from July 1863 to April 1864 between the military forces of the Colonial Government and a federation of Māori tribes known as the...
. From Penrose the line was extended south to Mercer by 20 May 1875, with 29 km (18 mi) from Ngaruawahia
Ngaruawahia
Ngāruawāhia is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 20 km north-west of Hamilton at the confluence of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers...
being constructed by the Volunteer Engineer Militia and opened on 13 August 1877. It was extended to Frankton by December 1877, and to Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu is a town in the Waikato in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the council seat of the Waipa District and serves as a service town for the farming communities which surround it...
in 1880. An economic downturn stalled construction for the next five years, and Te Awamutu remained the operating railhead. There were also protracted negotiations with local Māori, and the King Country
King Country
The King Country is a region of the western North Island of New Zealand. It extends approximately from the Kawhia Harbour and the town of Otorohanga in the north to the upper reaches of the Whanganui River in the south, and from the Hauhungaroa and Rangitoto Ranges in the east to near the Tasman...
was not accessible to Europeans until 1883.
Wellington to Marton
The WellingtonWellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
-Longburn (near Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
) section was constructed between 1881 and 1886 by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR). The company was acquired by the New Zealand Railways Department
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...
in 1908.
The Longburn to Marton section of the line was constructed as part of the Foxton to Wanganui railway line.
Central North Island
From Te Awamutu it was proposed that the line be built via either TaupoTaupo
Taupo is a town on the shore of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is the seat of the Taupo District Council and lies in the southern Waikato Region....
(see Taupo Railway Proposals
Taupo railway proposals
There have been a number of proposals to build a Taupo Line as a branch railway linking the township of Taupo in the central North Island of New Zealand to New Zealand's rail network...
) or via Taumarunui
Taumarunui
Taumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, the eventual route.
Construction of the final central section of line began on 15 April 1885, when Wahanui Maniopoto paramount chief turned the first sod outside of Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu
Te Awamutu is a town in the Waikato in the North Island of New Zealand. It is the council seat of the Waipa District and serves as a service town for the farming communities which surround it...
. It was 23 years before the two lines met, as the central section was difficult to survey and construct. The crossing of the North Island Volcanic Plateau
North Island Volcanic Plateau
The North Island Volcanic Plateau is a volcanic plateau covering much of central North Island of New Zealand with volcanoes, lava plateaus, and crater lakes....
with deep ravines required the construction of nine viaducts and the world-famous Raurimu Spiral
Raurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
. By the beginning of 1908, there was a 39 km (24.2 mi) gap between Erua and Ohakune, with a connecting horse-drawn coach service. From Ohakune south to Waiouru the Public Works Department operated the train, as this section had not yet been handed over to the Railways Department.
Opening
The gap was closed on 7 August 1908 for the first through passenger train, the 11-car Parliamentary Special carrying the Prime MinisterPrime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
Sir Joseph Ward
Joseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
and other parliamentarians north to see the American Great White Fleet
Great White Fleet
The Great White Fleet was the popular nickname for the United States Navy battle fleet that completed a circumnavigation of the globe from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 by order of U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt. It consisted of 16 battleships divided into two squadrons, along with...
at Auckland. But much of the new section was temporary, with some cuttings north of Taonui having vertical batters and some unballasted sections of track. Ward drove the last spike on 6 November 1908. The 'Last Spike' monument is at Manganui-o-te-Ao 39°16.44′S 175°23.37′E, near Pokaka
Pokaka
Pokaka is a locality south of National Park Village in Ruapehu District, Manawatu-Wanganui Region, the Central North Island of New Zealand.Pokaka is located inside the Tongariro National Park....
. A two-day NIMT service started on 9 November, with an overnight stop at Ohakune.
On 14 February 1909 the first NIMT express left Auckland for Wellington, an overnight trip scheduled to take 19 hours 15 minutes, with a sleeping car, day cars with reclining seats, and postal/parcels vans. The dining car went on the north express from Wellington to Ohakune, then transferred to the south-bound express, so avoiding the heavy gradients of the central section.
Track upgrades
Several sections of the line have been upgraded and deviated:In 1930 the Westfield deviation was opened, creating a new eastern route from Auckland to Westfield via Glen Innes and Hobsons Bay, running into the new Auckland Railway Station and providing better access to the Port of Auckland. The original section between Auckland to Westfield via Newmarket then ceased to be part of the NIMT. The section from Auckland to Newmarket became the Auckland-Newmarket Line while the section between Westfield and Newmarket became part of the North Auckland Line (NAL) between Westfield to Whangarei.
In 1935 the Tawa Flat deviation
Tawa Flat deviation
The Tawa Flat deviation is a double-track section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway just north of Wellington, New Zealand. It includes two tunnels, Tawa No. 1 and Tawa No. 2 , separated by the Ngauranga Gorge. No. 2 tunnel passes under Newlands and comes out at Glenside, on the way to Tawa...
was opened, bypassing most of the original WMR line between Wellington and Tawa
Tawa
Tawa may refer to:*Tava, an Indian cooking implement*Tawa , after which the New Zealand suburb is named*A early variation on the name of the Ottawa tribe*Tawa , a solar deity in Pueblo mythology; see also List of solar deities...
. Constructed to alleviate issues with increasingly heavier freight traffic on the steep twisting original route, it was built as double track, with a pair of tunnels under the Wellington hills and later electrified at 1500V DC. Most of the original line has been retained as the Johnsonville Line.
In the 1950s the line north from Tawa north to Pukerua Bay was also duplicated. The section between Porirua
Porirua
Porirua is a city in the Wellington Region of New Zealand, immediately north of the city of Wellington, with their central business districts 20 km apart. A large proportion of the population commutes to Wellington, so it may be considered a satellite city. It almost completely surrounds...
to Plimmerton
Plimmerton
The township of Plimmerton is adjacent to one of the more congenial beaches in the northwest part of the Wellington urban area of Porirua in New Zealand...
was straightened at the same time by reclaiming land along the eastern shore of Porirua Harbour.
Between 1964 and 1966 the line was deviated away from the centre of Palmerston North to run via Milson on the edge of the city. In 1967 the floors of the tunnels on the original WMR section between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay were lowered to enable the DA class
NZR DA class
The NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive....
locomotives to pass through and travel all the way to Wellington.
Between 1973 and 1981 a major deviation
Mangaweka deviation
The Mangaweka Deviation is a 7 km single track deviation of the North Island Main Trunk railway line in the central North Island of New Zealand, between the settlements of Mangaweka and Utiku, south of Taihape...
was built between Mangaweka
Mangaweka
Mangaweka is a township on State Highway One , in the North Island of New Zealand, with a population of just over 200. It is between Taihape to the north and Hunterville to the south...
and Utiku in the central section. This deviation required the construction of three new viaducts, all over 70m tall, to cross the Rangitikei and Kawhatau rivers.
The central section of the line, from Te Rapa near Hamilton to Palmerston North, was electrified at 25 kV AC between 1984 and 1988 as part of the ‘Think Big
Think Big
The New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon and his New Zealand National Party government in the early 1980s sponsored Think Big as an interventionist state economic strategy. The Think Big schemes saw the government borrow heavily overseas, running up a large external deficit, and using the...
’ government energy programme. In addition to the electrification work some tunnels were opened out or bypassed by deviations while in others clearances were increased. As well as this some curves were also eased. The section between Ohakune
Ohakune
Ohakune is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Tongariro National Park, close to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu. Part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region, the town is 70 kilometres northeast of Wanganui, and 25 kilometres west...
and Horopito was completely realigned with three viaducts replaced to handle higher loads and speeds. The most notable bridge replaced was the original curved wooden viaduct at Hapuawhenua by a modern concrete structure, though the original has been restored as a tourist attraction.
In 2011 work to duplicate the line between Paekakariki and Waikanae was completed as part of the upgrade and expansion of the Wellington suburban network.
Electrification
Electrification of the NIMT was mooted by electrical engineer Evan Parry in the first volume of the New Zealand Journal of Science and Technology in November 1918. In light of a national coal shortage following World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Parry argued that the network was under great strain due to ever-increasing volumes of freight, and the use of steam traction was partly to blame. Parry also noted that there was great potential for cheap hydro-electricity generation in the central North Island to power electrification.
The first part of the NIMT to be electrified was the Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
-Paekakariki
Paekakariki
Paekakariki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. It is 22 km north of Porirua and 45 km north-east of Wellington, the nation's capital city....
section to Paekakariki
Paekakariki Railway Station
Paekakariki Railway Station in Paekakariki on the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand is an intermediate station on the Kapiti Line for Metlink's electric multiple unit commuter trains from Wellington. Paekakariki was the terminal station of the commuter service from 1940 to 1983, when the service was...
via the Tawa Flat deviation
Tawa Flat deviation
The Tawa Flat deviation is a double-track section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway just north of Wellington, New Zealand. It includes two tunnels, Tawa No. 1 and Tawa No. 2 , separated by the Ngauranga Gorge. No. 2 tunnel passes under Newlands and comes out at Glenside, on the way to Tawa...
in 1940, at 1500 V DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
. Electric traction in this section is now used only by Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
for its suburban passenger services on the Kapiti Line, and was extended to Paraparaumu
Paraparaumu Railway Station
Paraparaumu Railway Station in Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand is an intermediate station on the Kapiti Line for Tranz Metro's electric multiple unit commuter trains from Wellington...
in 1983 and Waikanae
Waikanae Railway Station
Waikanae Railway Station in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast, New Zealand is the terminal station on the Kapiti Line for Tranz Metro's electric multiple unit commuter trains from Wellington...
in 2011.
From 1948 to 1951 the General Manager of the Railways Department, Frederick Aicken, advocated electrification of the entire line, despite protests from his engineering staff.
Following the Second World War railway services suffered due to skill and coal shortages. Skilled staff sought employment opportunities elsewhere in the economy. Aicken had previously been Staff Superintendent and Chief Legal Advisor to the Department, and considered using diesel locomotives for trains on the NIMT to be too expensive. He turned his attention to electrification, mainly because be saw that it could relieve the coal situation and prevent high expenditure on imported fuels.
He commissioned a study into electrification, which concluded that a low frequency alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
system could be cheaper than the 1500 V DC system. Aicken sent a technical mission of four senior officers overseas in March 1949, and travelled overseas himself to negotiate a tentative contract with a British construction company. The Chief Mechanical Engineer and Chief Accountant specified and costed the system and Aicken was able to complete a substantial report justifying the NIMT electrification and submit it to the Government.
Officers from New Zealand Treasury
New Zealand Treasury
The New Zealand Treasury is a public sector organisation and the Government’s lead advisor on economic and financial policy. Its role is to help the Government improve economic performance and manage scarce resources...
and the Ministry of Works
New Zealand Ministry of Works
The New Zealand Ministry of Works, formerly the Department of Public Works and sometimes referred to as the Public Works Department or PWD, was founded in 1876 and disestablished and privatised in 1988...
and two experts from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
commented on the proposal and in December 1950 the Government granted approval in principle and agreed to appoint Thelander as a consultant. However, Aicken fell out with the then National Government, and retired as General Manager in July 1951. With the change in regime the electrification proposal disappeared.
A key assumption of Aicken's report was that traffic on the NIMT would grow by 50% from 1948 to 1961. Since a diesel-electric locomotive was in fact a travelling power station, the savings through electrification compared to diesel could be regarded as the difference between the cost of buying bulk electrical energy generated substantially from New Zealand resources and the cost of generating electricity in small plant using imported diesel fuel.
However, the Royal Commission on Railways created following Aicken's tenure rejected the report's findings. Aicken's successor, H.C. Lusty, terminated the tentative contract and ordered DA class
NZR DA class
The NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive....
diesel-electric locomotives.
The 411 km (255.4 mi) section between Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
and Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
was electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
, opened in June 1988 as one of the previous Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
National Government's
Third National Government of New Zealand
The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...
"Think Big
Think Big
The New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon and his New Zealand National Party government in the early 1980s sponsored Think Big as an interventionist state economic strategy. The Think Big schemes saw the government borrow heavily overseas, running up a large external deficit, and using the...
" energy development projects. An overall cost in excess of $100 million had been projected, with some 40% being for the locomotives, but the final cost was about $250 million. The overall economics of the project were greatly undermined by the fall of the price of oil in the 1980s and the deregulation of land transport, which removed the long-distance monopoly NZR held when the cost benefit report was written.
The electrification of the section (which had its genesis in a study group set up in June 1974 to report on measures to be taken to cope with increasing rail traffic volumes) received approval in 1980. This led to a technical study carried out with assistance from the Japan Railway Technical Service. The report stated that increases track capacity would be created by electrification because such traction is faster and more powerful. The report stated, for example, that whereas a diesel locomotive could haul 720 tonne trains at 27 km/h (17 mph) up the Raurimu Spiral
Raurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
, an electric locomotive could haul 1100-1200 tonne trains at 45 km/h (28 mph), cutting 3–5 hours off journey times. Less fuel would be needed and employing regenerative braking in electric locomotives lowers the fuel consumption further.
Electrification's advantages were reflected in the economic evaluation in the report, which showed a rate of return of 18%. Sensitivity analysis showed that this high rate of return gave the project robustness against lower traffic volumes than expected (the return remained positive even if traffic fell), against significant increases in construction cost, and against lower than expected rises in the diesel fuel price.
Part of the project included replacing the old copper wire communications system with a new fiber optic communications cable (due to interference caused by AC power with the DC copper wire system). The fiber optic cable was installed from Wellington to Auckland. In 1994 New Zealand Rail Limited sold the fiber optic cable to Clear Communications
Clear Communications
Clear Communications was a telecommunications company based in New Zealand. Until merging into Telstra's operations in 2001, it was the biggest rival to Telecom New Zealand....
for telephone traffic, leasing it back for signalling traffic.
A further extension of the Wellington electrification was opened on 20 February 2011. Funded by the Greater Wellington Regional Council, the extension coincides with the delivery of new Matangi electric multiple units.
The future
With the opening of the extension to Waikanae, there are now calls for the electrification to be extended again by 15 km (9.3 mi) to OtakiOtaki, New Zealand
Otaki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District of the North Island of New Zealand, situated half way between the capital city Wellington, 70 kilometres to the southwest, and Palmerston North, 70 kilometres to the northeast. It marks the northernmost point of the Wellington Region. The town's...
.
There is a 80.8 km (50.2 mi) gap from Waikanae to the central NIMT electrification, which starts at Palmerston North. If the electrification is extended to Otaki, there will be a 65 km (40.4 mi) gap. Since the systems are different, multi-current locomotives or multiple units (such as the Japanese EH500
JR Freight Class EH500
The EH500 class of electric locomotives are two-unit multi-system AC/DC freight locomotives operated by JR Freight in Japan. They have a Bo-Bo+Bo-Bo wheel arrangement.The locomotives are built at the Tōshiba factory in Fuchū, Tokyo...
) would be required for through working should the two systems be joined (the EF class electric locomotives are AC only and the EO class
NZR EA class
The NZR Ea class were used by New Zealand Railways between 1968 and 1997 on the OtiraArthur's Pass section of the Midland line in the South Island, through the Otira Tunnel...
locomotives are DC only), or the Kapiti Line and the Wellington suburban network would need to be re-electrified to 25 kV AC.
There have been numerous proposals to electrify the Auckland suburban rail network
Auckland Railway electrification
The Auckland railway electrification has been proposed for several decades, but physical works only began in the late 2000s. After investment into new infrastructure and improved services created massive patronage gains on Auckland's commuter rail network in the middle 2000s, the long-discussed...
, some dating from the 1960s. Most of these proposals coincided with proposals to electrify the NIMT in its entirety. The most recent proposals (2005), which the government has decided to implement, are to electrify the network at 25 kV AC, the same system as on the central NIMT. This includes 49.5 km (30.8 mi) of the NIMT (the Eastern Line
Eastern Line, Auckland
The Eastern Line in Auckland, New Zealand is the name given to Auckland suburban part of the North Island Main Trunk. Suburban services are operated by Veolia under the MAXX brand...
from Britomart to Papakura), leaving a gap of 87.1 km (54.1 mi) to the central NIMT electrification at Te Rapa, north of Hamilton. Electrification may be extended south as the Auckland suburban system expands, but this will depend on further government funding. In February 2008 Auckland Regional Council Chairman Mike Lee
Mike Lee (New Zealand politician)
Michael Lee is a councillor on the Auckland Council and the former chairman of the Auckland Regional Council, both in Auckland, New Zealand...
suggested the initial electrification might be extended to Pukekohe
Pukekohe
Pukekohe is a town in the Auckland Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Located at the southern edge of the Auckland Region, it is approximately 50 kilometres south of Auckland City, between the southern shore of the Manukau Harbour and the mouth of the Waikato River. The hills of Pukekohe...
, leaving a 60 km gap to Te Rapa
Te Rapa
Te Rapa is a mixed light industrial, large scale retail and semi-rural suburb to the northwest of central Hamilton, New Zealand.Stretching in a long, thin north-south axis, Te Rapa is home to a large number of factories including Te Rapa Dairy Factory, one of the largest of its kind in the world...
. Work on electrification of 80 km of the Auckland network, including 33 km of the NIMT between Papakura and Britomart, began in 2010 and is to be completed by 2013.
Centennial
On 6 August 2008 at 9 am a train including the 100-year-old carriage AA1013 departed Wellington in a re-enactment of the original 7 August 1908 Parliamentary Special carrying the Prime Minister Sir Joseph WardJoseph Ward
Sir Joseph George Ward, 1st Baronet, GCMG was the 17th Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century.-Early life:...
to Auckland. It carried the Prime Minister, stopping overnight in Taihape before continuing on to Taumarunui and then Auckland. Tickets were by invitation only. The carriage was restored by the Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam
Mainline Steam is a New Zealand organisation devoted to the restoration and operation of historic New Zealand Railways mainline steam locomotives. Regular day excursions and multi-day tours are operated over rail lines throughout New Zealand...
Trust.
A series of stamps were issued to commemorate the centennial, see Stamps:
- 50c - Last Spike Ceremony Manganui-o-te-ao - a photo of actual event
- $1.00 - TaumarunuiTaumarunuiTaumarunui is a town in the King Country of the central North Island of New Zealand. It is on State Highway 4 and the North Island Main Trunk Railway....
, 1958 - photo of steam locomotive KA 947 pulling into the old railway station. - $1.50 - Makatote Viaduct, 1963.
- $2.00 - Raurimu SpiralRaurimu SpiralThe Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
, 1964. - $2.50 - Overlander, Hapuawhenua Viaduct, 2003.
Infrastructure
The North Island Main Trunk has been described as an "engineering miracle", with numerous engineering feats especially along the Rangitikei RiverRangitikei River
The Rangitikei River is one of New Zealand's longest rivers, 185 kilometers long.Its headwaters are to the southeast of Lake Taupo in the Kaimanawa Ranges. It flows from the Central Plateau south past Taihape, Mangaweka, Hunterville, Marton, and Bulls, to the South Taranaki Bight at Tangimoana, 40...
and on the North Island Volcanic Plateau
North Island Volcanic Plateau
The North Island Volcanic Plateau is a volcanic plateau covering much of central North Island of New Zealand with volcanoes, lava plateaus, and crater lakes....
. This included the building of the famous Raurimu Spiral
Raurimu Spiral
The Raurimu Spiral is a single-track railway spiral, starting with a horseshoe curve, overcoming a 132 m height difference, in the central North Island of New Zealand, on the North Island Main Trunk Railway. It is a notable feat of civil engineering, having been called an 'engineering masterpiece'...
to allow trains to manage the steep grade from the Whanganui River
Whanganui River
The Whanganui River is a major river in the North Island of New Zealand.Known for many years as the Wanganui River, the river's name reverted to Whanganui in 1991, according with the wishes of local iwi. Part of the reason was also to avoid confusion with the Wanganui River in the South Island...
valley onto the Volcanic Plateau. The NIMT also contains nine major viaducts, of which five are over 70 metres (230 ft) high - Makohine (73 m (240 ft)), South Rangitikei (78 m (256 ft)), Kawhatau (73 m (240 ft)), North Rangitikei (81 m (266 ft)), and Makatote (79 m (259 ft)).
The NIMT's entire 681 km length totals 352 bridges, and includes 14 tunnels.
Rolling stock
Due to its high volume and high value of traffic to NZR and the steep grades in the central section, the NIMT has used the most powerful locomotives in New Zealand.History
When the NIMT opened in 1909, the powerful 4-8-24-8-2
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
X class
NZR X class
The NZR X class was a pioneering class of eighteen 4-8-2 steam locomotives designed by A. L. Beattie that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand...
was introduced to handle heavy traffic over the mountainous central North Island section.
Four G class
NZR G class (1928)
The NZR G class was a type of Garratt steam locomotive used in New Zealand, the only such Garratt type steam locomotives ever used by New Zealand Government Railways. They were ordered to deal with traffic growth over the heavy gradients of the North Island Main Trunk and to do away with the use of...
Garratt
Garratt
A Garratt is a type of steam locomotive that is articulated in three parts. Its boiler is mounted on the centre frame, and two steam engines are mounted on separate frames, one on each end of the boiler. Articulation permits larger locomotives to negotiate curves and lighter rails that might...
-type locomotives were introduced in 1928, but these locomotives were not as effective as anticipated. In 1932 the 4-8-4
4-8-4
Under the Whyte notation classification of steam locomotives, 4-8-4 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , eight powered and coupled driving wheels on four axles, and four trailing wheels on two axles .Other equivalent classifications are:UIC classification: 2D2...
K class
NZR K class (1932)
The NZR K class of 1932 was a class of mixed traffic 4-8-4 steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's railway network. The locomotives were developed following the failure of the G class Garratts...
was introduced, and later improved in 1939 with the KA
NZR Ka class
The NZR KA class of 1939 was a class of mixed traffic 4-8-4 steam locomotives that operated on New Zealand's railway network. They were built after the success of the K class to meet the increasing traffic demands of the New Zealand Railways Department...
.
The introduction of the English Electric DF class
NZR DF class (1954)
The NZR DF class of 1954 was the first class of mainline diesel-electric locomotives built for New Zealand's national railway network, built by English Electric...
in 1954 began the end of the steam era, and in 1955 with the introduction of the DA
NZR DA class
The NZR Da diesel-electric mainline locomotive class ran on the New Zealand railway system between 1955 and 1989. With 146 locomotives, it was the most numerous class to operate in New Zealand, just five more than the AB class steam locomotive....
major withdrawals of steam locomotives began. 1972 saw the introduction of DX
NZR DX class
The NZR DX class is a class of 49 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives that currently operates on New Zealand's national railway network.Built by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, they were introduced to New Zealand between 1972 and 1976. The class is based on the General Electric...
locomotives and the Silver Fern
NZR RM class (Silver Fern)
This article is about the New Zealand railcar service and the railcars themselves. For other uses, see Silver Fern .The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by...
railcars: the latter remained in service between Auckland and Wellington until 1991.
With electrification and the introduction of the EF class
NZR EF class
The NZR EF class is a class of 22 25 kV AC electric locomotives that operate on the North Island Main Trunk between Palmerston North and Te Rapa in New Zealand...
electric locomotives in the late 1980s, the DX class was mainly re-assigned to other areas of the network, including hauling the coal freight on the Midland Line
Midland Line
Midland Line refers to the following rail lines:*Midland railway line, Perth, Australia*Midland Line, New Zealand*Midland Line in Massachusetts, United States...
in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
. Since then services between Te Rapa and Palmerston North have been worked mainly by the electrics, although some services are still diesel operated, such as those originating from or terminating on other lines, or originating from within the central section like the paper pulp freight trains from Karioi to Wellington.
Current stock
The North Island Main Trunk today is operated by a combination of diesel and electric locomotives and multiple units.As of 2011, regular rolling stock on the NIMT include:
- DX classNZR DX classThe NZR DX class is a class of 49 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives that currently operates on New Zealand's national railway network.Built by General Electric in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, they were introduced to New Zealand between 1972 and 1976. The class is based on the General Electric...
- all sections - DFT classNZR DF class (1979)The NZR DF class of 1979 is a class of 30 Co-Co diesel-electric locomotives built by General Motors Diesel of Canada between 1979 and 1981. Between 1992 and 1997, all the locomotives were rebuilt as the DFT class, a turbocharged version of the DF....
- all sections - DC classNZR DC classThe NZR DC class locomotive is the most common class of locomotive currently in operation on the New Zealand rail network. Primarily employed to haul freight trains operated by KiwiRail, the class is also used for long-distance passenger trains operated by Tranz Scenic and suburban passenger trains...
- all sections - DBR classNZR DB classThe NZR Db diesel-electric locomotive class was built in 1965-1966. They were a lighter version of the Da class to operate on secondary North Island lines from which the Da was excluded due to its weight. One of the principal lines which the Db dominated was the East Coast Main Trunk to Tauranga...
- Auckland and Wellington suburban - EF classNZR EF classThe NZR EF class is a class of 22 25 kV AC electric locomotives that operate on the North Island Main Trunk between Palmerston North and Te Rapa in New Zealand...
- Palmerston North to Te Rapa - EO classNZR EA classThe NZR Ea class were used by New Zealand Railways between 1968 and 1997 on the OtiraArthur's Pass section of the Midland line in the South Island, through the Otira Tunnel...
- Wellington suburban - EM class - Wellington suburban
- FP class (Matangi) - Wellington suburban
- ADK/ADB class - Auckland suburban
- ADL/ADC class - Auckland suburban
- NZR 56-foot carriageNZR 56-foot carriageThe NZR 56-foot carriage is a class of 17.07m-long railway passenger car formerly used on almost all long-distance rail transport in New Zealand, and still in service. Some have been preserved.-1927: Prototypes:...
s - all sections - NZR British Rail Mark 2 carriageNZR British Rail Mark 2 carriageBritish Rail Mark 2 carriages used in New Zealand were imported from the United Kingdom and rebuilt/refurbished and re-gauged in New Zealand.The carriages are used on the Capital Connection , owned operated by Tranz Scenic; MAXX commuter trains in Auckland , owned by Auckland Transport and...
s - Wellington to Palmerston North and Auckland suburban
Connecting lines
The following lines connect with the NIMT:- Auckland-Newmarket Line, also known as Newmarket Branch, at Quay Park Junction.
- North Auckland Line, at Westfield.
- Mission Bush BranchWaiuku and Mission Bush BranchesThe Waiuku and Mission Bush Branches are two branches on the New Zealand railway network which are closely linked. The Mission Bush Branch connects the North Island Main Trunk railway to the Mission Bush Steel Mill.-History:...
(formerly Waiuku Branch), at Paerata. - Glen Afton Branch (closed), at Huntly.
- Glen Massey Branch (closed), at Ngaruawahia.
- East Coast Main Trunk, at Hamilton.
- Stratford - Okahukura Line (mothballed), at Okahukura.
- Raetihi Branch (closed), at OhakuneOhakuneOhakune is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the Tongariro National Park, close to the southwestern slopes of the active volcano Mount Ruapehu. Part of the Manawatu-Wanganui region, the town is 70 kilometres northeast of Wanganui, and 25 kilometres west...
. - Marton - New Plymouth Line, at MartonMarton, New ZealandMarton is the hub of the Rangitikei district of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. It is situated 35 kilometres southeast of Wanganui and 40 kilometres northwest of Palmerston North. The population was 4752 .-History:...
. - Taonui Branch (closed), at Taonui.
- Palmerston North - Gisborne LinePalmerston North - Gisborne LineThe Palmerston North – Gisborne Line is a secondary main line railway in the North Island of New Zealand. It branches from the North Island Main Trunk Railway in Palmerston North and runs east through the Manawatu Gorge to Woodville, where it meets the Wairarapa Line, and then proceeds to...
, at Palmerston NorthPalmerston NorthPalmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
. - Foxton BranchFoxton BranchThe Foxton Branch was a railway line in New Zealand. It began life as a tramway, evolved into a railway by 1876, and operated until 1959. At Himatangi there was a junction with the Sanson Tramway, a line operated by the Manawatu County Council that was never upgraded to the status of a...
(closed), at Longburn. - Wairarapa LineWairarapa LineThe Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
, at KaiwharawharaKaiwharawharaKaiwharawhara, formerly known as Kaiwarra, is an urban seaside suburb of Wellington in New Zealand's North Island. It is located north of the centre of the city on the western shore of Wellington Harbour, where the Kaiwharawhara Stream reaches the sea from its headwaters in Karori. It is a...
. - Johnsonville Line, at Wellington.
Long-distance
From the opening of the line there have been regular passenger services between Wellington and Auckland.Between 1963 and 1968 daytime services on the line were known as the Scenic Daylight
Scenic Daylight
The Scenic Daylight was a short-lived daytime express train in New Zealand that operated between Auckland and Wellington along the North Island Main Trunk Railway...
. In 1968, an RM class
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...
88-seater
NZR RM class (88 seater)
The NZR RM class 88-seaters were a class of railcar used in New Zealand, known unofficially as 'articulateds', 'twinsets', 'Drewrys' and 'Fiats'. They were purchased to replace steam-hauled provincial passenger trains and mixed trains...
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...
was refurbished and repainted in a distinctive blue scheme that led to it being nicknamed the Blue Streak. It initially operated an unsuccessful service between Hamilton
Hamilton, New Zealand
Hamilton is the centre of New Zealand's fourth largest urban area, and Hamilton City is the country's fourth largest territorial authority. Hamilton is in the Waikato Region of the North Island, approximately south of Auckland...
and Auckland in early 1968, and was transferred to the Auckland-Wellington run on 23 September 1968.
In 1971 NZR
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...
introduced the Silver Star, a luxury sleeper train. The service was not economically viable, and was withdrawn in 1979. Much more successful was the Silver Fern
NZR RM class (Silver Fern)
This article is about the New Zealand railcar service and the railcars themselves. For other uses, see Silver Fern .The NZR RM class Silver Fern is a class of railcar in New Zealand. The three air-conditioned and sound-proofed 723-kW 96-seater diesel-electric twin-set railcars were built by...
, a daytime 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...
service, introduced in 1972 to replace the "Blue Streak". This service was withdrawn in 1991 and replaced by The Overlander, now operated by Tranz Scenic
Tranz Scenic
Tranz Scenic is the long-distance passenger train brand of KiwiRail, formed from the New Zealand Railways Corporation InterCity Rail services. Tranz Scenic was renamed along with the other operating divisions of Tranz Rail in 1995...
.
On 25 July 2006 Toll announced that the Overlander would cease at the end of September 2006, but on 28 September 2006 the train's continuation on a limited timetable was announced. It now runs daily each way during the summer months and thrice-weekly for the balance of the year.
Tranz Scenic also operates the weekday once-daily return Capital Connection between Palmerston North
Palmerston North
Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...
and Wellington.
Organisations such as the Railway Enthusiasts Society
Railway Enthusiasts Society
The Railway Enthusiasts Society Incorporated is a New Zealand railway enthusiast society registered under the Incorporated Societies Act 1908 on 17 July 1958.-Objectives:The RES objectives are as follows:...
run charters.
Auckland suburban
Within the Auckland RegionAuckland Region
The Auckland Region was one of the sixteen regions of New Zealand, named for the city of Auckland, the country's largest urban area. With one third of the nation's residents, it was by far the biggest population and economy of any region of New Zealand, but the second-smallest land area.On 1...
between Britomart and Pukekohe suburban trains runs on the NIMT at regular intervals. Services terminate at Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre
Britomart Transport Centre is the CBD public transport hub of Auckland, New Zealand, and the northern terminus of the North Island Main Trunk line. It combines a bus interchange with a railway station in a former Edwardian post office, extended with expansive post-modernist architectural elements...
, all using the NIMT from Quay Park Junction.
Eastern Line (Pukekohe, Papakura and Otahuhu to Britomart via Glen Innes) trains run along the NIMT between Pukekohe and Britomart.
Southern Line (Pukekohe, Papakura and Otahuhu to Britomart via Newmarket) trains run along the NIMT from Pukekohe to Westfield, the North Auckland Line to Newmarket, and the Auckland-Newmarket Line
Newmarket Branch Line
The Auckland–Newmarket Line, or the Newmarket Branch, is a railway line in Auckland, New Zealand. It is 2.64 km long and runs between Quay Park Junction, near Britomart Transport Centre, and Newmarket Train Station...
to the NIMT at Quay Park junction.
Wellington suburban
Wellington's suburban network, operated by Tranz MetroTranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
, includes the southern portion of the NIMT between Wellington and Waikanae, known as the Kapiti Line. Services terminate at Wellington railway station.
Record runs
Record runs on the NIMT from Auckland to Wellington were the 1960 Moohan RocketMichael Moohan
Michael Moohan was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party.-Early life:Born in Garrison, County Fermanagh, Ireland he served in the British Army in World War I, and emigrated to New Zealand in 1919...
(train) of 11 hours 34 minutes in 1960, and the Standard
NZR RM class (Standard)
The NZR RM class Standard railcars were a class of railcar operated by the New Zealand Railways Department in the North Island of New Zealand. Officially classified as RM like all other railcar classes in New Zealand, they acquired the designation of 'Standard' to differentiate them from others...
railcar time of 9 hours 26 minutes (running time 8 hours 42 minutes) in 1967.
See also
External links
- The Overlander; the current passenger service.
- A history of the NIMT & Overlander, with video & sound clips
- NZ Engineering Heritage NIMT page
- Centenary of the opening of the North Island Main Trunk Railway official website
- Centenary celebrations website
- The Romance of the Rail by James Cowan c1928
- Maori station names on the NIMT