NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company

The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company (WMR or W&MR) was a private railway company, operating a line between Thorndon in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, and Longburn, near Palmerston North in the Manawatu. Its successful operation in private ownership was unusual for early railways in New Zealand. For the first Duke of Wellington, see Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington. ... Palmerston North (MÄori: ) is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. ... Manawatu is a district in the Manawatu-Wanganui region in the North Island of New Zealand. ...

History

At the time of the company's founding in 1881, the government had already constructed a railway linking Palmerston North and Foxton, the Foxton Branch, and had completed surveys of lines down the west coast to Wellington. The government of Sir George Grey had approved the construction of the line, which was included in the Public Works Estimates of 27 August 1878. The final details of the survey were completed, and the first workers were hired for the construction of the line on 21 August 1879. A short section of the line, from Wellington to Wadestown, had been partially constructed, however, Sir George Grey's government was defeated at the general election of September 1879 and left office in October 1879, with the government of Sir John Hall was appointed in its place. Hall had the line removed from the Public Works Estimates, and then created a Royal Commission to review the government's public works program, with a view to reduce government expenditure. The Commission reviewed the Wellington - Manawatu Line in March 1880, and concluded that work should be abandoned^[1]. Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The deMolen Windmill Foxton is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Foxton Branch was a railway line in New Zealand. ... George Edward Grey Statue of Sir George Grey in Albert Park, Auckland For other men with a similar name, see George Grey or George Gray Sir George Edward Grey KCB (April 14, 1812â€“September 19, 1898) was a soldier, explorer, Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Governor... The New Zealand general election of 1879 was held between August 15 and September 1 to elect a total of 88 MPs to the 7th session of the New Zealand Parliament. ... Sir John Hall (c. ...

Company formation

Backed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, a group of prominent Wellington businessmen decided instead to form a company to fund the railway's construction. They did so on 15 February 1881, issuing 100,000 shares at ₤5 each. By May 1881, 43,000 shares had been sold, including a substantial package to Maori land owners in the Manawatu, who exchanged land along the proposed route for shares in the company^[1]. At the same time, the company negotiated with the government, and agreed in a contract signed in May 1881 to purchase the land, formation and materials used for building the line so far. The government made certain undertakings for the company's profitability, and made substantial grants of Crown land to prevent land speculation, and make the railway a viable entity. The contract also included a clause for the government to purchase the company at some stage in the future at a "fair value", something that was later to prove contentious^[1]. In August 1881, the Railways Construction and Land Act was passed, allowing joint-stock companies to build and run private railways, as long as they were built to the governments' standard gauge (3 foot 6 inch) and connected with the governments' railway lines. The Act had the effect of authorising the WMR's operations ^[1]. is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Construction on the line commenced again on 25 September 1882. Track laying was completed on 27 October 1886, with the first train running on 3 November of that year^[1]. is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Operations

The WMR was relatively successful, and generated a considerable amount of revenue for its owners. Its land holdings proved to be a major revenue stream for the company; as sections of the lines opened, the land value around it increased and thus the WMR profited from its own operations.

The railway's operations were advanced by standards of the time, having comfortable carriages, dining cars, electric lighting, and telephone communication between stations.

Dissolution

The WMR was bought by the government in 1908, and integrated into the New Zealand Railways Department. 1908 (MCMVIII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar). ... The New Zealand Railways Department, or NZGR (New Zealand Government Railways), often known as the Railways, was a government department charged with owning and maintaining New Zealands rail infrastructure. ...

The line

The WMR line ran for about 134 kilometres (83 miles). From Thorndon it wound through the hills to Johnsonville, Tranz Metro's Johnsonville Line following its route. The line then proceeded to Tawa, roughly along the line of the State Highway 1 motorway. From Tawa to Longburn the North Island Main Trunk line generally follows its route, through Porirua, Paekakariki, Paraparaumu, Otaki, and Shannon. The decision to pass through Shannon meant that the line joined the existing Palmerston North - Foxton line in the middle, at Longburn, rather than at Foxton — the routing was strongly debated, and was chosen as being more direct. A number of new towns were established along the route, notably Plimmerton, named after company director and "Father of Wellington" John Plimmer, and Levin, named after William Hort Levin, a director of the company. The Wellington and Manawatu Line is a section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway between Wellington and Palmerston North. ... Johnsonville is a large suburb in northern Wellington, New Zealand. ... Tranz Metro is the suburban rail system in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand. ... It has been suggested that Crofton Downs Railway Station be merged into this article or section. ... Tawas main shopping centre, photographed in December 2005. ... State Highway 1 State Highway 1 is the most significant single element of the New Zealand roading network State Highway 1 can be considered as a single highway running the length of both main islands, a total of 2027 km. ... The North Island Main Trunk line (NIMT) connects Auckland and Wellington, the two major cities of New Zealands North Island. ... Porirua is a city in New Zealand, 20 km north of Wellington. ... Paekakariki is a town in the Kapiti Coast District in the south-western North Island of New Zealand. ... Paraparaumu Airport Paraparaumu is a town in the south-western North Island of 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. ... Shannon is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealands North Island. ... The Foxton Branch was a railway line in New Zealand. ... The township of Plimmerton surrounds one of the more congenial beaches in the northwest part of the Wellington urban area in New Zealand. ... John Plimmer (1812 â€“ 1905) has been called the He was a member of the Wellington Provincial Council from 1856 to 1857, the first Wellington Town Board (1863) and was on the Wellington City Council from 1870 to 1871. ... Levin is a town in the North Island of New Zealand. ...

Motive power

The WMR operated 22 locomotives in revenue service, of which 20 were acquired by the government. The WMR classified its locomotives by number without class distinction: when they were acquired by the government, some joined existing classes (N and V), while others had new class designations established for them.

The original Nos 3 and 5 were sold, and their numbers re-used. The NZR NC class was a class of two steam locomotives built by Baldwin Locomotive Works built for service on New Zealands private Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR). ... The N class was a class of twelve steam locomotives that operated on the national rail network of New Zealand. ... The OB class was the first class of steam locomotives constructed by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) in New Zealand. ... The OA class, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) in New Zealand, consists of a solitary steam locomotive. ... The NA class was a class of two steam locomotives that operated on the privately owned Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) and then the publicly owned national rail network in New Zealand. ... The OC class, built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works for the Wellington and Manawatu Railway (WMR) in New Zealand, consists of a solitary steam locomotive. ... The BC class comprised a single locomotive that operated on New Zealands national rail network. ...

No. 10 became particularly famous when, on 20 July 1892, it hit 64.4 mph (103.6 km/h) hauling a test train along the level stretch of line between Levin and Shannon, at the time the world speed record for 3 foot 6 inch (1,067 mm) narrow gauge track. The locomotive was scrapped in 1928 and dumped in the Waimakariri River to help stabilise the riverbank, and its final resting place is a mystery. is the 201st day of the year (202nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1892 (MDCCCXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... Shannon is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealands North Island. ... Comparison of standard gauge (blue) and one common narrow gauge (red) width. ... Year 1928 (MCMXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Waimakariri River is a river in Canterbury, in the South Island of New Zealand. ...

The WMR also owned other locomotives, used for construction and maintenance. These included a former New Zealand Railways Department P class of 1876. Known as Weka, it was used by the WMR from 1882 until 1898, when it was sold to the Manawatu County Council for use on its Sanson Tramway. The P class was a class of two tank locomotives built to work on the government-owned national rail network of New Zealand in 1876. ... The Sanson Tramway was a tramway in the Manawatu region of New Zealand that operated from 1885 until 1945. ...

Surviving Relics

Despite the WMR's short history and its disappearance long before the railway preservation movement began, a number of relics have survived. Of the locomotives, only No. 9 (later NZR N 453) is known to exist, the remains of which were recovered in 2003 by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust. Sister locomotive No. 10 is believed to have been dumped complete along the Midland Line, but has yet to be discovered; railway archaeologist Tony Batchelor believes he may have found No. 7 (later NZR V 451) in Southland, but this has yet to be proven. A number of items of rolling stock survive, including four passenger carriages - 43ft car No. 35 (A 1113), owned by private interests in the Auckland region; 50ft cars No. 42 (A 1120), stored at the Bush Tramway Club at Rotowaro, and No. 48 (A 1126) and No. 52 (A 1130), both owned by the NZR&LS and stored at the Silver Stream Railway, with No. 48 under active restoration. No bogie wagons are thought to exist, but seven L class 4-wheel wagons survive - one owned by the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust, one at the Ferrymead Railway, one in a private collection in Masterton and three owned by SteamRail Wanganui, in poor condition. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust is a railway charitable trust based in Wellington, New Zealand. ... The Midland line is a famous 212 km section of railway between Christchurch (Rolleston) and Greymouth in New Zealand. ... Rotowaro was once a small coal mining township approximately 10kms west of Huntly, New Zealand. ... The Silver Stream Railway is a heritage railway located in Silverstream in the Hutt Valley near Wellington, New Zealand. ... The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust is a railway charitable trust based in Wellington, New Zealand. ... Introduction The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealands first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. ... SteamRail Wanganui is a railway preservation society based in Wanganui, New Zealand. ...

Infrastructure remains include the Johnsonville Line, a stone plaque on the eastern abutment of the bridge across Hutt Rd in Wellington, the foundations of the Belmont Viaduct near Johnsonville, most of the NIMT north of Tawa, the railway station at Shannon, the former Te Horo station, the station now at the Tokomaru Steam Museum and the Forest Lakes rail bridge. A memorial at Otaihanga on the NIMT commemorates the driving of the WMR's last spike. It has been suggested that Crofton Downs Railway Station be merged into this article or section. ... Johnsonville is a large suburb in northern Wellington, New Zealand. ... Shannon is a small town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealands North Island. ... Te Horo and Te Horo Beach are two small towns located on the Kapiti Coast of New Zealands North Island. ...

References

West of the Tararuas: An Illustrated History of the Wellington and Manawatu Railway Co by Douglas Hoy (1972, Southern Press, Wellington) The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society Inc (NZRLS) is a society of railway enthusiasts, based in Wellington. ...

External links

Categories: Rail transport in Wellington | Companies of New Zealand The New Zealand railway network consists of four main lines, six secondary lines and numerous short branch lines in almost every region of New Zealand. ... The East Coast Main Trunk Railway is the railway line running between Hamilton to Taneatua via Tauranga, connecting the Waikato with the Bay of Plenty. ... The North Island Main Trunk line (NIMT) connects Auckland and Wellington, the two major cities of New Zealands North Island. ... The Paraparaumu Line is the name given to the electrified southern portion of the North Island Main Trunk Railway between New Zealands capital city, Wellington, and Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast. ... The Main North Line, sometimes referred to as part of the South Island Main Trunk Railway, is an important railway line in New Zealand that runs north from Christchurch up the east coast of the South Island to Picton. ... The Main South Line is half of the South Island Main Trunk Railway in New Zealand and runs south from Lyttelton through Christchurch and down the east coast of the South Island to Invercargill via Dunedin. ... The South Island Main Trunk Railway runs down the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand, from Picton to Bluff. ... The North Auckland Line is a major railway line in New Zealands national rail network. ... The Palmerston North - Gisborne Line (PNGL) is a secondary main line railway in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Stratford-Okahukura Line is a secondary railway line (not a branch line) between Stratford on the Marton - New Plymouth Line and Okahukura on the North Island Main Trunk Railway in the North Island of New Zealand, with 15 intermediate stations. ... The Wairarapa line is a section of secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city Wellington with the Wairarapa region. ... The Hutt Valley Line, incorporating the former Hutt Valley Branch, is a section of the Wairarapa Line railway from Wellington to the Wairarapa by way of the Hutt Valley in the lower North Island of New Zealand. ... The Midland line is a famous 212 km section of railway between Christchurch (Rolleston) and Greymouth in New Zealand. ... The Nelson Section was an isolated, 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge, government-owned railway line between Nelson and Glenhope in the Tasman district of New Zealandâ€™s South Island. ... The Otago Central Railway or Otago Central Branch Railway was a secondary railway line in Central Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Stillwater - Westport Line (SWL) is a secondary main line that forms part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Waimea Plains Railway was a secondary railway line (not a branch line) that linked the towns of Lumsden and Gore in northern Southland, New Zealand. ... The Dargaville Branch is a branch line railway that leaves the North Auckland Line not far south of Whangarei and runs westward to Dargaville. ... The Donnellys Crossing Section (later the Donnellys Crossing Branch), also known as the Kaihu Valley Railway, was a railway line in Northland, New Zealand. ... The Kumeu-Riverhead section was a short-lived railway line located north-west of Auckland, New Zealand. ... The Auckland - Newmarket Line, sometimes called the Newmarket Branch, is a railway line in Auckland, New Zealand. ... The Okaihau Branch, sometimes known as the Kaikohe Branch and rarely the Rangiahua Branch, was a branch line railway that joined the North Auckland Line of the national rail network of New Zealand at Otiria. ... The Onehunga Branch opened in Auckland, New Zealand in 1873. ... The Onerahi Branch, sometimes known as the Grahamstown Railway, was a branch line railway in the Northland Region of New Zealand. ... The Bay of Islands Vintage Railway (sometimes erroneously called the Opua Branch, once the Otiria-Opua Industrial Line) is a former section of the North Auckland Line in the Northland Region of New Zealand between Kawakawa and the Bay of Islands township of Opua. ... The Foxton Branch was a railway line in New Zealand. ... The Gracefield Branch is a 1. ... The Greytown Branch was a five kilometre, 3 ft 6 in (1067 mm) narrow gauge branch line railway between the town of Greytown and the Wairarapa Line, the main railway line serving the Wairarapa district in New Zealands North Island. ... The Johnsonville branch line in Wellington, New Zealand runs from Wellington to the northern suburb of Johnsonville. ... The Melling Branch is a branch line railway in the Hutt Valley, north of Wellington, New Zealand. ... The Raetihi Branch was a branch line railway in the central North Island of New Zealand. ... The Taonui Branch was a minor railway line in New Zealands national network. ... The Te Aro Extension, also known as the Te Aro Branch, was a short branch line railway in Wellington, New Zealand. ... The Blackball Branch was a branch line railway of New Zealands national rail network on the West Coast of the South Island and worked from the 1900s to 1966. ... The Conns Creek Branch was a short branch line railway in the West Coast region of New Zealands South Island. ... The Eyreton Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Fairlie Branch (also known as the Eversley Branch) was a branch line railway in southern Canterbury that formed part of New Zealands national railway network. ... Introduction The Ferrymead Railway is a New Zealand heritage railway built upon the formation of New Zealands first public railway, the line from Ferrymead to Christchurch, which opened in 1863. ... The Little River Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Methven Branch was a branch line railway that was part of New Zealands national rail network in Canterbury. ... The Mount Somers Branch, sometimes known as the Springburn Branch, was a branch line railway in the region of Canterbury, New Zealand. ... The Oxford Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Rapahoe Branch is a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network and was located on the West Coast of the South Island. ... The Rewanui Branch, sometimes referred to as the Rewanui Incline[1] and known as the Point Elizabeth Branch in its early years,[2] was a branch line railway located in the West Coast region of New Zealands South Island. ... The Ross Branch, now known as the Hokitika Branch, is a branch line railway that forms part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Seddonville Branch, now truncated and operating as the Ngakawau Branch, is a branch line railway in the West Coast region of New Zealands South Island. ... The Southbridge Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Waiau Branch was a branch line railway in the northern Canterbury region of New Zealands South Island. ... The Waimate Branch was a railway line built in south Canterbury, New Zealand to the major rural town of Waimate. ... The Whitecliffs Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network in the Canterbury region of the South Island. ... The Bluff Branch is a railway line in Southland, New Zealand that links Invercargill with the port of Bluff. ... The Catlins River Branch was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Dunback and Makareao Branches were two connected branch line railways that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Fernhill Branch is a railway line in Otago, New Zealand. ... The Hedgehope Branch, also known as the Browns Branch, was a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand that started life in the 1880s as a privately owned bush tramway. ... The Kingston Branch was a major branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Kurow Branch (also known as the Hakataramea Branch) was a branch line railway that formed part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Moeraki Branch was one of the most short-lived railway lines in New Zealand. ... The Mossburn Branch was a branch line railway in New Zealand from Lumsden on the Kingston Branch to the town of Mossburn in western Southland. ... The Ngapara and Tokarahi Branches were two connected branch lines in northern Otago, New Zealand that formed part of the national railway system. ... The Outram Branch was a branch line railway near Dunedin, Otago that operated from 1877 to 1953 as part of New Zealands national rail network. ... The Port Chalmers Branch was the first railway line built in Otago, New Zealand, and linked the regions major city of Dunedin with the port in Port Chalmers. ... The Roxburgh Branch was a branch line railway built in the Otago region of New Zealands South Island that formed part of the countrys national rail network. ... The Shag Point Branch was a short branch off the Main South Line on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. ... The Tapanui Branch was a railway line located near the border of the regions of Southland and Otago, New Zealand. ... The Tokanui Branch, also known as the Seaward Bush Branch, was a railway line located in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Tuatapere Branch, including the Orawia Branch, was a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Waikaia Branch, also known as the Switzers Branch, was a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Waikaka Branch was a railway line that ran through agricultural and gold-mining country in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Wairio Branch is a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Walton Park Branch was located in Otago, New Zealand and operated from 1874 until 1957, except for the first section, which survived until 1980. ... The Wyndham Branch, also known as the Glenham Branch, was a railway line in Southland, New Zealand. ... The Dun Mountain Railway was a privately owned and operated 3 ft 0 in (914 mm) gauge, 21Â½ km long horse-drawn tramway from several chromite mines in the vicinity of Duppa Lode on the eastern slopes of Wooded Peak to Nelson Port in the Tasman District of New Zealand... The Hutt Park Railway was a privately owned and illegally constructed[1] railway that operated in Petone at the southern end of the Hutt Valley in New Zealands North Island. ... The Kaitangata Line was a branch line railway in Otago, New Zealand. ... The Sanson Tramway was a tramway in the Manawatu region of New Zealand that operated from 1885 until 1945. ... The Wellington and Manawatu Line is a section of the North Island Main Trunk Railway between Wellington and Palmerston North. ... The New Zealand Midland Railway Company was a private railway in New Zealand and partially constructed the Midland Line between Christchurch, Greymouth and Nelson in the South Island. ... The Avondale - Southdown Line is a proposed railway line in Auckland, New Zealand. ... The Canterbury Interior Main Line was a proposed railway line that would have linked many of the branch lines in the Canterbury region of New Zealands South Island. ... The Marsden Point Branch is a proposed branch line railway in the Northland region of New Zealands North Island. ... There have been various proposals to link the city of Nelson to the rest of the rail network in New Zealandâ€™s South Island, however, none have come to fruition. ... Taupo is a missing link in New Zealandâ€™s railway network. ...

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