Glenbrook Vintage Railway | |
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JA1250 leads a passenger train on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway at the railway's workshops, 3 January 2008. | |
Locale | Glenbrook, Auckland, New Zealand |
Commercial operations | |
Name | Part of the Waiuku branch line |
Built by | New Zealand Government Railways |
Original gauge | 1067 mm |
Preserved operations | |
Owned by | Glenbrook Vintage Railway Trust Board |
Stations | Five |
Length | 7.4km |
Preserved gauge | 1067 mm |
Commercial history | |
Opened | 1922 |
Closed | 1967 |
Preservation history |
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) 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. It is an ongoing project, with items being collected and restored or replicated as time, labour and finance permit.
The GVR is run by a Trust Board, comprising three trustees elected and appointed from the Railway Enthusiasts Society membership. The Board appoints a General Manager who is responsible for the day to day operation of the GVR. The 7.4 km long railway carries up to 30,000 passengers during the normal-operating season which is from October-to-June each year and is also available for charter throughout the year.
There is a project currently being undertaken to extend the railway line to the Tamakae Reserve, in the town Waiuku.
The Railway is staffed and maintained by volunteers and RES membership provides automatic access to all activities as a volunteer. Special Events are often held, such as "Friends of Thomas" (the tank engine) weekends, Railfan Days (with display freight trains and other unique consists), Country & Western days and Night steam runs.
Contents |
The GVR is based on part of the old Waiuku branch line which opened in 1922 and closed (to Waiuku) in 1967.
The initial concept for a steam powered tourist railway was initiated when the New Zealand Government Railways announced closure of the line - a popular route for excursions operated by the parent body (Railway Enthusiast's Society)
Re-construction of the GVR began in 1970, with a huge amount of work slashing back overgrown gorse that had inundated the line, renewing rail and building the Pukeoware Depot and station terminal at Glenbrook.
Delivery of items of rolling stock occurred over time - including the well remembered "delivery" rail-tours bringing in the steam locomotive fleet from the South Island back to Auckland for eventual use at Glenbrook. Carriages were sourced out of stock being retired from the Auckland commuter network at the time, and in some cases (such as carriage "Manukura"), where the item of rolling stock had sentimental value to the members of the Railway Enthusiast's Society.
In 1977 the railway opened between Glenbrook and Pukeoware.
In 1986 an extension was completed to Fernleigh, 6 km from Glenbrook. The opening took place on 6 December, with Prime Minister David Lange doing the honours after the arrival of two special excursion trains from Auckland. JA 1250 and DA 529 hauled a large public excursion out to Glenbrook station from Auckland dubbed the "Sunset Coast Express", and the second train, consisting of NZR rolling stock pulled by DC 4444 and 6 Cityrail branded carriages made the run from Auckland to Fernleigh (including the GVR section).
Acquisitions and improvements to track and structures occurred during the late 1980s and 1990s. In 1995 initial plans were laid out for the extension of the railway line from the Fernleigh Terminal into the actual town of Waiuku. Planning, lobbying public support and fundraising continued until the major physical works began in 1999.
The initial 1.5 kilometre track now continues from Fernleigh station to a temporary terminal at Victoria Avenue. The new station known as "Victoria Ave" has been constructed behind the Cosmopolitan Club and gives passengers access to the town. When the final extension is completed, it is intended that Victoria Ave will remain. Member preview trains ran on Easter Saturday 2010 and at Labour Weekend, 2010 the new route was opened to regular service by former Waiuku Mayor Kevan Lawrence and the current Mayor of Auckland Len Brown. A heritage 1922 concrete bridge, known as Black Bridge has been strengthened to allow trains to operate beneath it, and laying of newly welded rail onto concrete sleepers (a first at the railway) has been completed. Work continues on planning the requirements of the final extension to Tamakae reserve.
The 1,000,000 passenger was carried on the 7 January 2007.
The Railway operates every Sunday and public holiday weekend (except on Christmas Day) between Labour Weekend and Queens Birthday Weekend. Consecutive daily running normally occurs from Boxing Day onwards for period between a week and ten days.
Steam train services depart from the Glenbrook Terminal every 75 minutes between the hours of 11:00 am and 4:00 pm, with a round trip taking approximately 60 minutes. The return journey consists of a twenty minute non-stop run from Glenbrook to Victoria Avenue, a five-minute stop where the engine will move from one end of the train to the other, a ten minute run back to Pukeoware Workshops, a fifteen minute workshop inspection visit and a ten-minute run back to Glenbrook Terminal.
While the train is not at Glenbrook station, hand jigger rides are available within the station yard and motor jigger rides are available to Morley Road level crossing; a round trip of four kilometres.
During the course of an operating season, special events are occasionally organised featuring a range of unique operations. These may range of special display trains, to "all-out" operations to cater for extra demand.
The most popular of all events operated by the railway, two operating fleets depart Glenbrook station on a half-hourly basis between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, usually built up to six carriages long.
A smaller "shuttle train" operates in the siding linking the railway to Ontracks national network. Often hauled by a small diesel locomotive "Basil" in earlier years, the service has also been operated by Ww 480 "Terry the Tank Engine" and more recently by "Thomas the Tank Engine" himself - a visitor to the railway.
A number of other visitors have been present at these events over the years including double-decker busses, traction engines, vintage cars and the like.
On "Thomas" weekends, trains only travel to Fernleigh, before returning to Pukeoware and Glenbrook.
The first Railfan's was held in February 1996, specifically a celebration to dedicate the National Network fleet van "FM" 1133 to the memory of past long time treasurer Arthur Tichener and celebrate the completion of the overhaul of historic carriage "C" 472. A variety of passenger a mixed freight trains were run culminating in an impressive triple headed steam train pulled by Silver Stream Railway's engine C 847, Ww 480 and Number 4 (Mallet).
Since then various similar events have been held with special passenger and freight workings featuring a range of historic rolling stock and locomotives.
Popular all over the world, Steam Festivals combine displays of various steam powered vehicles on one major site. The Glenbrook Vintage Railway staged its first festival in Easter 2002, to celebrate its Silver Jubilee.
A myriad of visiting railway locomotives, steam boats, miniature locomotives, static steam engines and even a steam powered car were features. Trains operated on a half-hourly basis each of the four days of the festival and the visiting Pleasant Point Model T railcar also operated in the schedule.
Two DC locomotives pulled a special train on Saturday from Wellsford to Glenbrook and back (and associated empty runs from Otahuhu to Wellsford and back before and after the passenger service) to bring patrons to the event and the following day, Mainline Steam's J 1211 pulled a train from Auckland City, whilst JB 1236 returned the train to Auckland. Numerous steam train runs also operated across the Mission Bush branch line to Pukekohe on the Sunday also.
A following steam festival operated in February 2007, incorporating a visit from Showmans Steam traction engine Quo Vadis and associated Carousel. The weekend also celebrated the re-launch of Ww 644 into service after 37 years in storage and overhaul.
A third steam festival took place at Waitangi Weekend 2009. The opening event was a special evening Thursday 5 February. Historic 19th century visiting tank engine L 207 (from MOTAT) operated a demonstration freight train (including a rare mainline appearance by historic 3-axle carriage C 472), followed by the recreation of an original New Zealand "trial rail-motor" from the beginning of the 20th century (which comprised one small tank engine pulling one of four purpose built 60 ft car/vans). See Youtube Video. The train comprised L 207 and the recently restored Dining Car Van "Kurahaupo" (AF 1182), which was one of the original purpose-built "trial rail-motor" carriages.
Between Friday 6 February and Sunday 8 February a large array of activities including ploughing, steam boats, steam cars, stalls, heritage displays and equipment were taken part in. Steam trains ran half-hourly throughout the weekend including appearances by L 207, WW 644, JA1250 and Mainline Steam's JA1275 which had arrived under her own power from Parnell on Saturday morning See Youtube Video. WW 480 was on standby duties outside the depot along with a number of locomotives normally in storage or awaiting overhaul such as recent arrivals A 423 and WAB 800.
Over the course of the railways history, various other events have been staged. These events have usually brought their own unique taste to the railway and include the likes of "Railroad Country", "The Great Train Race","Santa Day" and a "Military" weekend.
The two core teams at the heart of every operational day the railway has are the Operations Branch and the Commercial Branch. Typically the Commercial Branch members can be identified by their roles associated with the functions of Glenbrook Station, while the Operations Branch can be identified by their roles associated with the functions of physically operating the train and manning the signalling system at Glenbrook Station and Pukeoware Depot.
Based at Glenbrook Station, primary roles include the preparation of the station service scape and cleanliness prior to customers arrival, selling of tickets from the ticket office, sales of stock from the bookstall and souvernir shop, the preparation and sales of refreshments from the refreshment rooms, operation of hand-powered and motorised jiggers, assisting of parking on special operating days and customer service within the station complex. Volunteers come from an unlimited range of backgrounds and a very broad range of age groups. New volunteers are always welcome to join the team by contacting the Railway Enthusiasts Society Office, or the Commercial Manager.
Based at Pukeoware Depot, roles in the operation team usually require training and qualification - usually gained after experience at entry level roles such as those in the Commercial Branch teams or as Assistant Guards aboard the train. Volunteers come from an unlimited range of backgrounds, a very broad range of age groups and are always welcome to join the team by contacting the Railway Enthusiasts Society Office, or the Operations Manager.
The summary of key roles are (and by any means this is only a very brief summary)...
Membership of the Railway Enthusiasts Society is recommended to all volunteers of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. Many members voluntary efforts at the railway leads to greater involvement in other facets of Railway Enthusiasts Society activities - not only attending meeting or travelling aboard excursion, but even crewing and organising domestic and overseas excursions and tours for the Railway Enthusiasts Society on some occasions. Volunteers are enthusiastic and passionate about the railway and its wider activities and form strong relationships and friendships with each other during the course of their involvement in activities.
Although commissioned as a project of the Railway Enthusiasts Society, the Glenbrook Vintage Railway is an independent legal entity in its own right (a Charitable Trust). However the two organisations remain closely linked.
The three board members are either directly elected by financial members of the Society at the Annual General Meeting (usually held mid August to late September), or appointed by the elected members of the Railway Enthusiasts Society committee, by motion and majority vote.
The three trustess are...
It is normal practice for the Society President to automatically become Chairman of the Glenbrook Vintage Railway, however on a number of occasions the President has reserved the right to offer the position of Chairman to another trustee, who is appointed to the position by agreement of the Trustboard and notified to the Railway Enthusiasts Society committee.
The Trustboard appoints a manager to each of the key branches of the railway such as Commercial, Operations, Buildings & Facilities etc. These managers, known as the Heads of Branches (HOB's) meet monthly in the Glenbrook Vintage Railway's registered office at 38 Alfred Street, Onehunga (the office of the Railway Enthusiasts Society). The Railway's Trustboard also meets monthly at this location. It is not unusual for the Trusboard and HOB's to occasionally also make specific site visits, or hold meetings on site at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway to review certain projects (on top of their own regular contributions to Glenbrook Vintage Railway & Railway Enthusiasts Society activities).
The Heads of Branches management team are responsible for the proper functioning of their area and also ensuring that the volunteers in their branch get satisfaction from their efforts on the railway as well as directing contributions to key projects which fit into the strategic directions of the HOB's and Trustboard.
At the beginning of the Annual General Meeting, along with the Railway Enthusiasts Society committee, the Trustees of the railway relinquish their roles, but are able to be nominated for re-election during the course of meeting proceedings.
Relocated from Waiuku, and restored in 1995, Glenbrook House serves as the GVR's Glenbrook caretakers home. Located alongside the railway line in the best traditions of the railway house the building also comes in handy as a preparation & storage area prior to large events such as steam festivals and the Friends of Thomas events.
The Railway prides itself on undertaking impressive restoration projects at its workshop, located at Pukeoware, some four kilometres from Glenbrook. The site consists of a heavy engineering workshops in its main yard (with facilities for locomotive overhaul & mechanical engineering), a car & wagon shop in the north yard (specialising in carpentry and paint work) and three carriage storage sheds. The railway has been recognised on numerous occasions at the annual Federation of Rail Organisations NZ (formerly National Federation of Rail Societies) conference awards evening for various locomotive and carriage restorations.
Each track in a carriage shed holds between three and four standard 50 ft (15 m) carriages. As an example the third shed currently holds 12 standard 50 ft (15 m) carriages across three tracks, with a recently added lean-to addition adding another eight carriage lengths to the shed's capacity. A further extension to the rear of the shed is now being planned after approval of a grant by the ASB Community Trust. This ensures ongoing conservation of historic railway items.
Apart from maintaining and restoring items for use on the GVR and national excursions, the workshops have also been involved heavily in contracted restoration work of other organisations rolling stock such as Silver Stream Railways C 847 in 1994 and Mainline Steams KA 942 in 1990. The workshop also assisted in the preparation of two carriages for the Carriage's Cafe restaurant in Kumeu, and filming of episodes of the Heroes television series on the Tangiwai disaster and Who Dares Wins (game show).
A converted former guard's van has been converted into "Shady Rest" - two basic units for volunteers staying overnight. Originally built for husband and wife teams (and each unit comprising 1x double bed, and 2x bunk beds). The unit has been valuable for volunteers when preparing for major events at the railway or excursions away with the GVR's national network fleet.
Glenbrook Station is the site for the restored former Auckland City 'B' box. The box use to stand in the former Auckland yards, near Gladstone Rd, on the location where the current North Island Main Trunk line now passes to go towards Britomart Transport Centre. The box has been fully restored and received a rail heritage trust award in recognition of the work . Work has been completed on connecting signals and the facing mainline points in the Glenbrook yard. Two more signals are yet to be connected to the box.
The railway has a number of historic station buildings in its care, all being from former New Zealand Railways stations.
The GVR steam roster currently comprises:
The diesel roster used mainly for Ways and Works purposes, comprises:
The Glenbrook Vintage Railways domestic passenger fleet comprises late 19th and early 20th century rolling stock. Most vehicles are the traditional narrow-bodied A series wooden carriages, turned out in a red livery, featuring opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end. These carriages either have side-facing longitudinal seating or arrangements of paired seating on one side of the aisle and singular seating on the other. These carriages are named after the Maori migration canoes that brought the Maori people to New Zealand from Hawaiki.
The Core Fleet of carriages currently includes...
Notable unique carriages which are operated on special occasions include...
The Glenbrook Vintage Railway now owns a fleet of carriages, known as the "mainline fleet", formerly owned by the parent body (Railway Enthusiasts Society) and leased to the railway. The fleet has undergone an overhaul and re-certification with Kiwi Rail. Previous excursions have seen them tour all around New Zealand, including tours to Gisborne, New Plymouth, Whakatane, Bay of Islands, Wellington, Christchurch, Arthurs Pass and Timaru.
Turned out in the original Glenbrook Vintage Railway livery of yellow bodies, white ceilings and chocolate lining, the fleet will consist of the following vehicles...
Four carriages built in the early 20th century for the (then) newly opened North Island Main Trunk express services, before being relocated onto Auckland commuter train services post war through to retirement in the early 1970s:
These carriages are fully certified for operations on the Kiwi Rail National Rail System, although the original "drop toilets" will be upgraded in due course with Chemical Retention Holding Tanks.
Three carriages built during World War II to replace the original North Island Main Trunk express service carriages, and later relocated onto Auckland commuter train services from the 1970s through to retirement in 1994.
Guard's Van FM 1133 was originally built as a three-module van for freight service in 1981. Withdrawn when guards were no longer required on freight trains, the Railway Enthusiasts Society converted one module into a storage area, the middle module into a crew area and the third module into a fully functioning kitchen for catering on excursion trains. The van is certified for operation on the Kiwi Rail National Rail System.
Wooden Guard's Van F 394 was built in 1913 and used on the 2008 Parliamentary Special and Governor's Special, turned out in a green livery. This vehicle is also currently certified for operations on the Kiwi Rail National Rail System.
Along with these passenger carriages, it is expected that water support wagon UC 686, steam locomotives JA 1250 and WW 644 will also be certified for national rail system operations.
Over the years, a large selection of freight wagons have been purchased, donated or leased to the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. The railway has found excellent use for many of the railway wagons that it has acquired and also takes great pride in displaying them on demonstration runs and for photographers specials. The set includes a full rake of ballast wagons and plough van, which has been of great importance during large-scale works such as the Waiuku Extension and major track renewal on the railway. Other interesting items include replica workman's hutt, refrigerated wagons, cement wagons and bulk oil tanks.