NZR 50-foot carriage

NZR A class
50-foot carriage
In service from 1908
Manufacturer New Zealand Railways Department (NZR)
Built at Otahuhu, Auckland
Addington, Christchurch
Constructed 1908 - 1935
Line(s) served various
Specifications
Car length 50 feet (15.24 m)
Track gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

The NZR 50-foot carriage of 1908 were originally constructed for the North Island Main Trunk passenger trains. The first were clad in Kauri, with open end platforms, however those built from 1930 were clad in steel, with enclosed vestibles. These main line cars were used by the NZR. From 1930, similar cars were ordered for South Island services and for North Island provincial services, in particular, for the Rotorua Limited express. All of the North Island cars were 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m) wide and the 20 South Island cars (7 first class seating 30) were 8 ft 5 in (2.57 m) wide. The North Island second class cars seated 42 passengers with four across, but the South Island cars seated 37 passengers with three across.[1] Two observation cars with lounge chairs were trialled on the Rotorua service from 1930, but did not prove successful and were converted into ordinary carriages.[2][3]

In 1934 orders for placed for cars for main line use in both islands, with the body width at the waist increased. They were 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m) long, and 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m) high. The width was 8 ft 5 12 in (2.58 m) at the waist reducing to 8 ft 4 34 in (2.56 m) at about window height. The cars had an enclosed vestibule at each end; and were divided in two by a central lavatory compartment, with a W.C. on one side and a “Lav” (handbasin) on the other side. Seating was three per row, with first class passengers in single reclining chair seats, two seats on one side and one on the other side of the aisle (except that there were double seats at either end of the compartment). In Second Class the initial Longitudional seats were replaced by "Addington" chairs and then "Scarrett" seats, a single seat on one side of the aisle and a double seat on the other side.[4] The seating for passengers was:

NZR JA class steam loco hauling two NZR 56-foot carriages followed by several NZR 50-foot carriages on an excursion train

The carriages were built at the Addington and Otahuhu Workshops. Later two first class cars were reseated as 37-seat second class cars. Some were altered to car-vans. In 1963-65 some were fitted with multiple-unit type seats for 63 passengers and used for suburban service; initially 7 and later another 10, total 17.[6] By 1974 some were used on the Rewanui Branch for miners’ trains. [7] The Taieri Gorge Railway used to have four of the 50-foot carriages, but has been replacing them with 56-foot carriages.

Earlier NZR 50 foot carriages

The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company acquired 50 ft passenger cars Class A2 from 1903 to 1906, 5 First Class and 13 Second Class. The first six were from Jackson & Sharp of Delaware, USA (later the Gilbert Car Co) and later cars were built at the WMR Thorndon Workshops. [8]

Preserved examples

Road
number
Location Notes
A 1120 Bush Tramway Club, Pukemiro Ex Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company
A 1126 Silver Stream Railway Ex Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company
A 1130 Silver Stream Railway Ex Wellington and Manawatu Railway Company
AA 1013 Mainline Steam Used on 1908 "Ministerial Special" and on centenary commemoration train. Mainline certified.
AA 1017 Body on Waiheke Island, Frame at MOTAT Used on "Ministerial Special", 1908.
AA 1024 The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum
AA 1025 Forest Lakes Camp, Otaki In use as accommodation.
AA 1030 Steam Incorporated Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1060 Rimutaka Incline Railway Heritage Trust Stored
AA 1068 Museum of Transport and Technology Formerly used at McDonalds, Paraparaumu. Display at MOTAT.
AA 1071 Steam Incorporated Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1073 Steam Incorporated Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1132 Kingston Flyer Preserved as refreshments carriage.
AA 1134 Glenbrook Vintage Railway Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1135 Unknown Formerly preserved at now-defunct Tauranga Historic Village museum.
AA 1136 Museum of Transport and Technology Stored
AA 1233 Glenbrook Vintage Railway Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1235 Silver Stream Railway In service
AA 1237 Paraparaumu Private residence
AA 1258 Glenbrook Vintage Railway Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1265 Steam Incorporated Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1267 Steam Incorporated Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1480 Museum of Transport and Technology
AA 1484 The Carriage Restaurant, Oakura Ex Goldfields Railway, Waihi
AA 1489 Mainline Steam
AA 1494 Glenbrook Vintage Railway Mainline certified excursion carriage.
AA 1601 Silver Stream Railway In service
AA 1656 Bay of Islands Vintage Railway
AA 1669 Mainline Steam Stored
AA 1670 Forest Lakes Camp, Otaki In use as accommodation.
AA 1678 Goldfields Railway
A 1702 Taumarunui Restaurant. Steel clad
A 1707 Downer EDI, Oamaru Stored. Steel clad
A 1720 Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd. Mainline certified carriage. Steel clad
A 1729 Taieri Gorge Railway Ltd. Mainline certified carriage. Steel clad
A 1730 Weka Pass Railway In service. Steel clad
A 1731 Weka Pass Railway In service. Steel clad
A 1732 Weka Pass Railway Stored. Steel clad
A 1733 Weka Pass Railway In service. Steel clad

References

  1. Passenger Rolling Stock Development in New Zealand by C.L.S. Green in The New Zealand Railway Observer, October 1945 p72
  2. Churchman & Hurst 1990, p. 118.
  3. Lee 2003, p. 31.
  4. Passenger Rolling Stock Development in New Zealand by C.L.S. Green in The New Zealand Railway Observer October 1945 p71
  5. Lee 2003, p. 33-36.
  6. The New Zealand Railway Observer: Vol 21 No 111 p75 & Vol 22 No 106 p133
  7. Lee 2003, pp. 34,35.
  8. Cassells 1994, pp. 170,174,175.