Canterbury Railway Society


The Canterbury Railway Society is an organisation of railway enthusiasts based in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island, best known for their operation of The Ferrymead Railway at the Ferrymead Heritage Park.

Beginnings

The Canterbury Branch of the New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society came into existence in the late 1950s. In its early years, one of its major activities was in the operation of passenger excursions on the national rail network, then operated by the New Zealand Railways Department. In that era, there were far more excursion trains than there are today, and far more railway lines in general, including the many branch lines that were closed in the 1960s and 70s. Steam traction was used in the South Island for longer than in the North Island, and a variety of motive power could be found on any of these trains.
Aside from a handful of locomotives placed on public display, little thought up to this time had been given to any serious notion of rail preservation. The catalyst proved to be the wholesale scrapping of steam traction which began in the mid 1950s and continued until 1971 when the last JA class locomotives were withdrawn from the Main South Line. In addition at this time, a large number of branch lines were closed and ripped up, and some of the earliest preservation efforts were based on these closed lines, while others took advantage of the opportunity to obtain cheap supplies of recovered rail materials for use elsewhere.
The idea of becoming involved in railway preservation in New Zealand did not become a reality for any group in New Zealand until the 1960s, when New Zealand Railways accelerated the pace of dieselisation, resulting in wholesale scrapping of its steam locomotive fleet. At that time, there was a nationwide move to save railway equipment which resulted in the large-scale purchase of locomotives and rolling stock and the establishment of the major preservation sites in New Zealand.

Ferrymead Railway

The Ferrymead Railway has been the main project of the Canterbury Branch since 1964. The railway has been established on the historical site of New Zealand's first public railway which opened in 1863 and closed in 1867. Work on the site had progressed sufficiently far by 1972 to allow train running to begin, and the railway officially opened in 1977. It was the major focus of 1988's Rail 125 commemorations, a celebration of 125 years of railways in New Zealand, and it has hosted numerous local events since, often in conjunction with the Ferrymead Heritage Park or other rail preservation societies.

Other activities

As noted above, excursion trains were a major early activity of the Canterbury Branch. It also held monthly members' meetings, often on railway premises, and organised special conventions and festivals. In the diesel era, the most notable of these was the aforementioned Rail 125. Passenger shuttle services and excursions operated daily throughout the week of this festival, which was attended by locomotives, rolling stock and railfans from all around the country. Following the reintroduction of excursions to the NZR mainline in the late 1970s, the Branch or individual members operated a number of diesel hauled trains, and were well placed to take advantage of the reintroduction of mainline steam in the mid 1980s.
Changes in New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society membership rules in 1984 resulted in the elimination of membership of Local Branches of the NZRLS. When the requirement for full membership of the parent society began to be enforced there was a move for the Canterbury Branch to follow the lead of the former Auckland, Wellington and Otago Branches and form a separate Society. Constitutional amendments were passed in 1990 which resulted in the Branch becoming the independent Canterbury Railway Society.
During the 1990s, the restructuring and privatisation of New Zealand Railways had a major impact upon the activities of many rail societies. Excursion train costs rose substantially and the number of such trains operated annually dropped off dramatically. Such trains then became mainly the preserve of two or three larger organisations with their own passenger carriage and/or locomotive fleets. Changes in employment law and working patterns for most New Zealand citizens resulted also in a major reduction in voluntary resources for groups all around the country. In general, this has resulted in most other activities of the Canterbury Railway Society dropping away, and the Society is now exclusively based at Ferrymead and forms most of its activities around the site.

Locomotives, railcars and rolling stock

Ex-NZR Steam locomotives

NumberNamesBuilderBuilders numberYear builtYear arrivedNotes
C 864NZR Hillside Workshops272Purchased in 1971, and arrived in the following year. Operated from 1972 to 1982 when withdrawn for overhaul. Returned to in 1984, and used until 1994 for tender repairs and tyre replacement. Currently in storage.
D 140Scott Brothers36Donated in 1968. Operated 2003 to 2013. Currently undergoing overhaul.
F 12Yorkshire Engine Company24118741968Purchased in 1967. In storage.
F 13PeverilNeilson Brothers1692Originally named Edie Ochiltree. Donated in 1967. Recommissioned on 21 April 1984 after overhaul. Withdrawn from service in 1994, and overhauled again from 2006 to 2015. Re-entered service on 5 January 2015, and officially recommissioned on 3 April 2015. It is New Zealand's oldest operating locomotive.
W 192NZR Addington Workshops1Operated from 2003 to 2014. Currently out of service awaiting a 10-year overhaul. Owned by the Rail Heritage Trust.
WD 357Baldwin Locomotive Works19261Donated in 1967. Restored 1987–88. Operated until 2001. Now stored. First locomotive to run on the Ferrymead Railway.
WF 393A & G Price519041968Donated in 1968. Currently in storage.

Ex-Industrial steam locomotives

TypeNamesBuilderBuilders numberYear builtArrivedNotes
BagnallThe GasbagW.G.Bagnall185719091970Ex-Christchurch Gas works. Donated to the CRS in 1970 Leased to the Pleasant Point Museum and Railway for restoration in 1979,Returned in 1994. In outside storage.
BarclayAndrew Barclay Sons & Co.189419261961Ex-Lake Brunner Saw Milling Co., Ruru. In outside storage. Last steam locomotive imported to work on a bush tramway.
CBA & G Price11319271968Ex-New Forest Sawmilling, Ngahere. Donated in 1968. Restored in 1975, and overhauled again in 1981 and 1998. Stored since 2008
HeislerStearns Manufacturing Co.145019221966Ex-New Forest Sawmilling Company. Donated in 1966. Arrived with a current boiler ticket and operated during the early days of the Ferrymead Railway. It is now currently stored..
Manning WardleKermitManning Wardle184119141975Ex-Christchurch Meat Company, Islington. Donated in 1975 and restored to working order. Withdrawn from service in 1985, and is on static display in the Hall of Wheels at Ferrymead.

NZR diesel locomotives

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restorationStoredStatic displayScrapped

In addition:
Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restorationStoredStatic displayScrapped

In addition:
NumberBuilderBuilder's numberYear builtArrived at the Ferrymead Heritage ParkNotes
RM 51Vulcan Foundry4846Entered service in June 1941 for the NZR. Withdrawn in September 1978 and purchased by the CRS in the same year. It arrived in March 1979. Used until 1990 it failed for an excursion with RM 56 for the 1990 Sesqui-Centennial. It was dedicated in 1995 to the memory of the late Gordon Jory, a founding member of the Canterbury Railway Society, who was instrumental in the preservation of it. In 2000 it returned to service but failed again with forcing it in storage. Stored until 2009 when an overhaul commenced for it be return to service. It was returned to service on 9 September 2013.
RM 56Vulcan Foundry4851Entered service in January 1942 for the NZR. Withdrawn in September 1978. Purchased by the National Federation of Railway Societies and arrived on 1 October the same year. It was used in the 1988 Ferrymead 125 celebrations and in 1990 for the Sesqui-Centennial with excursions on the West Coast and most notably between Westport and Hokitika. In 2008 it was donated to the CRS and repaired in time for the 125th celebrations of the Otago Central Railway in October 2009.
RM 57Vulcan Foundry4852Entered service in January 1942 for the NZR. Withdrawn in April 1978. Purchased by the CRS in the same year. It arrived in March 1979. It has been in outside storage since.

Electric multiple units

Key:In serviceIn service, Mainline CertifiedUnder overhaul/restorationStoredStatic displayScrapped

Carriages

Original class and cumberTMS class and numberBuilderTypeYear builtArrivedNotes
A 47NZR Addington Workshops39' 7" wooden body, passenger coachN/AEntered NZR service in 1891 as a Saloon/Birdcage car. In 1954 it was moved to a private property in Winters, Oxford.
A 104NZR Addington Workshops44' 0" wooden body, passenger coachN/AEntered NZR service as C 104. Reclassified In June 1883 at Hillside Workshops as A 104. Reclassified to EA 1942. Withdrawn on 12 September 1964.
A 222Oldbury Car Company43' 9" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1880 as C 222 as a 33' 6" wooden body. It was converted to a bogie carriage and reclassified as A 222 in 1889 at Hillside Workshops. In 1945 it was reclassified and renumbered as EA 1943 by the Ways and Works Department. It was again used by the NZR from 1965 and 2005. It was then leased to the society by the Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand and placed into storage. Ownership changed in 2010 to the society after being owned by the Rail Heritage Trust since the 1990s. Restored in 2010 and won the 2010 FRONZ restoration award.
A 463NZR Addington Workshops43' 9" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1894. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966 at Greymouth and sold to the society. In the 2000s it was leased to the Waimea Plains Railway.
A 516NZR Addington Workshops43' 9" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1896. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966. Stored until 1971 and sold to the society. Restored in the 1980s. A part of the Heritage train.
A 518NZR Addington Workshops43' 9" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1896. Used as by the Ways and Works Department as EA 5590. Withdrawn on 3 December 1966 and sold to the society.
A 585NZR Hillside Workshops43' 9" wooden body, passenger coachN/AEntered NZR service in 1900. In 1964 it was used by the Ways and Works department as EA 3558. Withdrawn on 9 September 1978.
A 1177NZR Addington Workshops50' 0" wooden body, passenger coachN/AEntered NZR service on 31 March 1912. Withdrawn on 04 November 1967. It was purchased by the Christchurch Model Railway Club. It was later sold to the society and restored in 2007. Its interior is now being overhauled.
A 1535NZR Hillside Workshops47' 6" wooden body, passenger coachN/ABody from A 1381. It was operated by the Ways & Works Department as their EA 3178 from 1959 to 1977. Withdrawn on 14 September 1968.
A 1552NZR Addington Workshops47' 6" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1924. Withdrawn on 26 April 1969. Restored in the 2000s.
A 1617NZR Addington Workshops47' steel-panelled mainline coachEntered NZR service on 31 March 1927. Used as a Royal car until a few years later after being commissioned it was used as a Ministerial Car. In 1953 it was then converted to a Royal Support car. A year later it was converted back to a Ministerial Car. Withdrawn on 7 December 1957. It was stored in Arthurs Pass until 1992 when it was then stored at Moana. In 2003 it was then stored in Dunedin until 2006 when it was purchased by the society. Currently stored.
A 1825NZR Addington Workshops50' steel-panelled mainline coachEntered NZR service on 31 March 1935. In 1969 it was converted to a Dynamo-meter Car and reclassified as EA 3950. Then renumbered as EA 1559. Used as a Royal Carriage in 1953/54. Withdrawn in 1999.
A 1880A 1320NZR Otahuhu Workshops56' steel-panelled mainline coachsEntered NZR service on 20 August 1937 as a NZR sleeper car. In 1981 it stored, but wasn't official written off until 20 June 1987. It was later purchased by the society.
AF 863NZR Addington Workshops47' 6' wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1904 as A 863. Converted to a carvan type of car and reclassified as AF 863. Used by the Ways and Works Department as amenities car EA 3566. Later renumbered as EA 883. Withdrawn in April 1981 Took part in the Otago Central Railways 125 celebrations.
1981 Ferrymead Railway
B 231Oldbury Carriage Company31' wooden body, passenger coachN/AEntered NZR service in 1874 as C 231. In 1889 it was rebuilt at Addington Workshops with a new style 'clerestory' roof, and 2 - 4 wheel bogies replacing the original 6 wheels. In 1941 it was used by Ways and Works Department as EA 1739. Sold to the society in 1971 and placed into storage. Restored in 2005. A part of the Heritage train.
D 26Oldbury Carriage Company21' 6" wooden body, passenger coachEntered NZR service in 1875. Withdrawn in 1916. Sold to Homebush Brick Tile and Coal Co. It was later stored at Tara Homestead. Arrived in 1967 and stored. Restored in 1999. A part of the Heritage train.
D 137Oldbury Carriage Company21' 6" wooden body, passenger coachN/AUnderframe is stored in the carriage shed.

In addition:
Original class and cumberTMS class and numberBuilderTypeYear builtArrivedNotes
F 24N/A30' wooden body, guards' vanN/A
F 67NZR Hillside Workshops30' wooden body, guards' vanN/AWithdrawn on 31 January 1970.
F 78NZR Addington Workshops20' wooden body, guards' vanEntered NZR service in 1884. Withdrawn in 1942. Stored at Addington Workshops uintil 1963 when it was donated to the society. A part of the Heritage train.
F 79NZR Addington Workshops20' wooden body, guards' vanEntered NZR service in 1884. Used by the Ways and Works Department as E 1739 for use as a portable tool store. Withdrawn and sold to the society in 1968. Won the 2002 A & G Price restoration award. A part of the Heritage train.
F 199N/A20' wooden body, guards' vanLeased to Waimea Plains Railway
F 372NZR Hillside Workshops30' wooden body, guards' vanEntered NZR service in January 1911. Withdrawn on 25 May 1975.
F 624NZR Addington Workshops14' wooden body, guards' vanEntered NZR service in 1943 as a Fell Break van for the Rewanui Incline. Withdrawn on 25 February 1967. On display in the Hall Of Wheels.
F 634F 2482NZR Addington Workshops30' steel-panelled guards' vanN/A
NH 399FH 16NZR Addington WorkshopsSteel-panelled guards' vanN/AN/AEntered NZR service as NH 8362. Later reclassified FH 16 and E 8362. Used as W 192's support van.

Gallery