Steam Incorporated
Encyclopedia
Steam Incorporated, often abbreviated to Steam Inc., is a railway heritage and preservation society based at the Paekakariki Railway Station
, Paekakariki
at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast
, approximately 50 minutes north of Wellington
on the west coast of New Zealand
's North Island
. Unlike some societies who operate on preserved sections of closed branch lines (e.g. the Kingston Flyer
on the Kingston Branch or the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
on the Fairlie Branch
), Steam Incorporated own a depot ("The Engine Shed") beside one of the country's most important railway lines, the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and restores heritage locomotive
s and rolling stock
for use on excursions on the regular national rail network.
opened. Paekakariki Railway Station
was a large station despite the settlement's small size, as it was ideally located as a locomotive changeover point - powerful engines were required to tackle the difficult grades between Wellington and Paekakariki, while lighter and more nimble ones were better suited to the gentle grades and straight track through the Kapiti Coast
and Horowhenua to Manawatu. The New Zealand Railways Department
(NZR) took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway in December 1908, but Paekakariki's status as an important depot remained unchanged. In 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekakariki was electrified and Paekakariki's depot was altered: it became the changeover point from electric to steam motive power, or electric to diesel from the 1950s onwards. In the late 1960s with steam power coming to an end, the locomotive depot in Paekakariki was closed and the diesel locomotives which replaced steam were based out of Wellington instead. The main engine shed was demolished along with a number of other buildings, but the Rail Air Shed, two signal boxes, two water vats and a turntable remained when Steam Incorporated acquired the site. New sheds were constructed to replace those demolished, and the Rail Air Shed was acquired when it became available.
In addition:
, NZR's successor, repainted their carriages in a blue livery in the early 1990s, Steam Incorporated reverted to the "Midland Red" paint scheme that had been used for most passenger carriages in New Zealand since the 1920s.
Steam Incorporated own a variety of carriage types, such as five widebody Aa class 50ft wooden passenger carriages with balcony ends. In 2008, these carriages were painted in "Pullman Green" for use in the North Island Main Trunk Railway centenary celebrations. In addition, Steam Inc. have a number of 50-foot and 56-foot
steel-clad passenger carriages, one of which has been converted for use as a buffet/souvenir car. The active fleet stands at 10 fully restored and main line certified carriages, with a number under restoration (2) and a few more stored (5).
Along with carriages, the society owns a number of guards vans and former goods wagons, some of which are certified for main line operation as locomotive service wagons.
, to the centennial celebrations at Dunedin Railway Station
in 2006, and to the centennial celebrations at Feilding in 2008. Some excursions are operated solely by Steam Incorporated crews with the society's own equipment (with the locomotive driver and fireman supplied by Kiwirail), while others have been in conjunction with other New Zealand preservation societies and their locomotives, such as the "double drivers" excursions featuring two KA class locomotives.
Some of the more notable involvements Steam Incorporated have had were in 1993 when KA 945
and Steam Inc carriages toured for 3 weeks around New Zealand on the "Crunchie Train", and in 2008 when Steam Incorporated operated the Parliamentary Special NIMT Centennial train on behalf of Ontrack
, using primarily Steam Incorporated carriages and a mix of Steam Inc. and other mainline certified locomotives.
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...
, 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....
at the southern end of the Kapiti Coast
Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast is the name of the section of the coast of the south-western North Island of New Zealand that is north of Wellington and opposite Kapiti Island. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Regional Council...
, approximately 50 minutes north of 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...
on the west coast 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...
's 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...
. Unlike some societies who operate on preserved sections of closed branch lines (e.g. the Kingston Flyer
Kingston Flyer
The Kingston Flyer is a vintage steam train operating in the South Island of New Zealand at the southern end of Lake Wakatipu. It uses 14 kilometres of preserved trackage that once formed a part of the Kingston Branch.-History:...
on the Kingston Branch or the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
thumb|right|Pleasant Point Museum and Railway YardThe Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is a narrow gauge heritage railway located in the small country town of Pleasant Point in southern Canterbury, New Zealand, inland from Timaru. Its main terminal is located at Pleasant Point station, which was...
on the Fairlie Branch
Fairlie Branch
The Fairlie Branch was a branch line railway in southern Canterbury which formed part of New Zealand's national railway network. Construction began in 1874, and at its farthest extent, it terminated just beyond Fairlie in Eversley...
), Steam Incorporated own a depot ("The Engine Shed") beside one of the country's most important railway lines, the North Island Main Trunk Railway, and restores heritage locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s and rolling stock
Rolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
for use on excursions on the regular national rail network.
History of the depot
Paekakariki's close association with the railway began in 1886 when the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company's line from Wellington to LongburnLongburn
Longburn is a rural settlement just outside of Palmerston North in the Manawatu-Wanganui area of New Zealand. Made up of large dairy processing plants Longburn is often mistaken to be a small township and not seen as a large satellite town of Palmerston North...
opened. Paekakariki Railway Station
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...
was a large station despite the settlement's small size, as it was ideally located as a locomotive changeover point - powerful engines were required to tackle the difficult grades between Wellington and Paekakariki, while lighter and more nimble ones were better suited to the gentle grades and straight track through the Kapiti Coast
Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast is the name of the section of the coast of the south-western North Island of New Zealand that is north of Wellington and opposite Kapiti Island. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Regional Council...
and Horowhenua to Manawatu. 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...
(NZR) took over the Wellington and Manawatu Railway in December 1908, but Paekakariki's status as an important depot remained unchanged. In 1940, the line from Wellington to Paekakariki was electrified and Paekakariki's depot was altered: it became the changeover point from electric to steam motive power, or electric to diesel from the 1950s onwards. In the late 1960s with steam power coming to an end, the locomotive depot in Paekakariki was closed and the diesel locomotives which replaced steam were based out of Wellington instead. The main engine shed was demolished along with a number of other buildings, but the Rail Air Shed, two signal boxes, two water vats and a turntable remained when Steam Incorporated acquired the site. New sheds were constructed to replace those demolished, and the Rail Air Shed was acquired when it became available.
Steam Incorporated
As steam started to disappear from the NZR network, a group of enthusiasts united to preserve steam locomotives with the express intention of running them on the NZR main line network. At the time, all locomotives that had been preserved were solely for use on heritage railways or for static display, and as the NZR sold locomotives on the proviso that they would never again run on the NZR network, it was a radical concept. However Steam Incorporated was formed and locomotives were purchased by the society or for the society by members.List of Locomotives
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Builder's Number | Year Built | Arrived at Steam Inc | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WF 386 NZR Wf class The NZR WF class were steam locomotives designed, built and used by New Zealand Railways Department. Their wheel arrangement is described by the Whyte notation 2-6-4T and the first members of the class entered service in 1904. The locomotives were tank engines designed by the Railways Department's... |
NZR Addington Workshops | 66 | 1905 | 1976? | Previously on display at Taumaranui. Previously owned by Taumaranui District Council, some overhaul work carried out but currently stored. |
| Barclay 1181 | Andrew Barclay & Sons | 1181 | 1909 | 1976? | Purchased by Len Southward, loaned and later donated to Steam Inc. Restoration begun by Barclay Boys, however work is currently suspended. |
| AB 608 NZR Ab class The NZR AB class was a class of 4-6-2 Pacific tender steam locomotive that operated on New Zealand's national railway system. Originally an improvement on the 1906 A class, 141 were built between 1915 and 1927 by NZR's Addington Workshops, A & G Price Limited of Thames, New Zealand, and North... |
NZR Addington Workshops | 163 | 1915 | 1994 | First AB built. Preserved by NZR&LS, previously static display at Ferrymead. Leased to Steam Incorporated, under restoration. |
| K 917 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... |
NZR Hutt Workshops | 294 | 1934 | 1997 | Used as a boiler supply prior to preservation. Stored, missing many parts. Boiler intended as spare for KA 945. |
| KA 945 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... |
NZR Hutt Workshops | 328 | 1939 | 1975? | First KA built. Purchased by Len Southward, loaned and later donated to Steam Inc. Restored to mainline standard, first ran in 1985. Withdrawn 1995 for overhaul, currently stored in a dismantled state. |
| J 1234 NZR J class (1939) The NZR J class steam locomotives were a class of locomotive used in New Zealand. Following the success of the K class on NZR main lines, there was an urgent need for a modern, powerful locomotive capable of running over secondary lines laid with lighter rails. Thus a new "Mountain" 4-8-2 type... |
North British Locomotive co. | 24557 | 1939 | 1974 | Restored for main line use 1992, leased to Glenbrook Vintage Railway from 1998. Currently stored Glenbrook Vintage Railway out of use, awaiting overhaul. |
| DA 1410 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.... |
General Motors | A800 | 1955 | 1988 | Currently leased to Glenbrook Vintage Railway, stored out of use. |
| DS 202 NZR DS class The NZR DS class is a class of 16 diesel shunting locomotives built by the Vulcan Foundry and supplied by the Drewry Car Co from 1949 - 1955.-Operation:The locomotives were largely allocated to shunting yards, and later industrial service.-Withdrawal:... |
Drewry/Vulcan | 2526 | 1955 | ? | Used as yard shunter. |
| JA 1271 NZR Ja class The NZR JA class were a type of 4-8-2 steam locomotive used on the New Zealand railway network. The class was built in two batches, with the second batch possessing some differences from the first... |
NZR Hillside Workshops | 394 | 1956 | 1978 | Acquired as stripped hulk. Comprehensively restored to main line use, used from 1997. Currently used on main line excursions. |
| DA 1431 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.... |
General Motors | 57-135 | 1957 | 1988 | Painted in unique livery for NZ Sesquicentennial, 1990. Formerly leased to Glenbrook Vintage Railway. Main Line certified. |
| ORB No.2 | Mitsubishi | 1476 | 1967 | ? | Used as yard shunter. |
In addition:
- J 1211 and KA 942NZR Ka classThe 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...
, now of Mainline SteamMainline SteamMainline 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...
were originally stored at Steam Incorporated before restoration at the Glenbrook Vintage RailwayGlenbrook Vintage RailwayThe Glenbrook Vintage Railway is a steam railway in Glenbrook, New Zealand. One of New Zealand's premiere rail heritage sites, it is not a museum as such, but rather a fully self-supporting, operating steam railway, built almost entirely by volunteer labour...
, Auckland. - DA 1471NZR DA classThe 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....
, owned by KiwiRailKiwiRailKiwiRail Holdings Limited is the rail operations subsidiary of the New Zealand Railways Corporation, which trades as KiwiRail. Headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, KiwiRail is the largest rail transport operator in New Zealand. Since July 2010 John Spencer has been the Chairman...
, was under the care of Steam Incorporated for a time until requisitioned. It is currently stored at Hutt Workshops. - WMR #9/N 453NZR N classThe N class were 12 steam locomotives that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand. They were built in three batches, including one batch of two engines for the private Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company, the WMR, by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1885, 1891, and 1901...
owned by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway TrustWellington and Manawatu Railway TrustThe Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust is a charitable trust based in Wellington, New Zealand, and is actively restoring former Wellington and Manawatu Railway locomotive No.9 , to full working order.-The trust:...
is currently based at Steam Incorporated, with some work having been carried out towards its restoration. - NRZNational Railways of ZimbabweThe National Railways of Zimbabwe is the parastatal railway of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe railway system was largely constructed during the time of British colonial rule, and part of it represents a segment of the Cape-Cairo railway...
Garratt 15A 398, owned by the Flying Fifteen Locomotive Society arrived at Steam Incorporated in May 2011. The locomotive is being prepared for long term storage, however the group have eventual plans to run it on the main line.
Rolling stock
Steam Incorporated owns one of New Zealand's largest fleets of heritage passenger carriages certified for mainline operation on the regular national network. Originally painted in a unique chocolate brown livery with yellow lining to differentiate them from carriages in service on regular trains, the paint was found to fade and look shabby, and when Tranz RailTranz Rail
Tranz Rail, formally Tranz Rail Holdings Ltd , was the main rail operator in New Zealand from 1991 until it was purchased by Toll Holdings in 2003.- Formation :...
, NZR's successor, repainted their carriages in a blue livery in the early 1990s, Steam Incorporated reverted to the "Midland Red" paint scheme that had been used for most passenger carriages in New Zealand since the 1920s.
Steam Incorporated own a variety of carriage types, such as five widebody Aa class 50ft wooden passenger carriages with balcony ends. In 2008, these carriages were painted in "Pullman Green" for use in the North Island Main Trunk Railway centenary celebrations. In addition, Steam Inc. have a number of 50-foot and 56-foot
NZR 56-foot carriage
The 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:...
steel-clad passenger carriages, one of which has been converted for use as a buffet/souvenir car. The active fleet stands at 10 fully restored and main line certified carriages, with a number under restoration (2) and a few more stored (5).
Along with carriages, the society owns a number of guards vans and former goods wagons, some of which are certified for main line operation as locomotive service wagons.
Excursions
Steam Incorporated has operated or participated in excursions to almost all parts of the national railway network that has been open since the late 1970's. As one of the first organisations to operate a private carriage fleet, excursions have been run since 1978. During the early years of the society's existence, NZR would not permit heritage operators to use their own locomotives on the national network, thus limiting the society's locomotive activities to the area of The Engine Shed. Since 1985 however, this policy has been abandoned and Steam Incorporated have run the majority of their excursions using society owned Steam and Diesel locomotives. Popular excursions have been through the central North Island, annual "Art Deco" expresses to NapierNapier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
, to the centennial celebrations at Dunedin Railway Station
Dunedin Railway Station
Possibly the best-known building in the southern half of New Zealand's South Island, Dunedin Railway Station is a jewel in the country's architectural crown. Designed by George Troup, the station is the fourth building to have served as Dunedin's railway station...
in 2006, and to the centennial celebrations at Feilding in 2008. Some excursions are operated solely by Steam Incorporated crews with the society's own equipment (with the locomotive driver and fireman supplied by Kiwirail), while others have been in conjunction with other New Zealand preservation societies and their locomotives, such as the "double drivers" excursions featuring two KA class locomotives.
Some of the more notable involvements Steam Incorporated have had were in 1993 when KA 945
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...
and Steam Inc carriages toured for 3 weeks around New Zealand on the "Crunchie Train", and in 2008 when Steam Incorporated operated the Parliamentary Special NIMT Centennial train on behalf of Ontrack
OnTrack
OnTrack was a regional rail line that operated in Syracuse, New York from 1994 to 2007. During its operation, Syracuse was the smallest city in the United States to have regional train service. The line ran from Colvin Street on the city's south side via Syracuse University and Armory Square to the...
, using primarily Steam Incorporated carriages and a mix of Steam Inc. and other mainline certified locomotives.