Mainline Steam Heritage Trust
Mainline 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. These excursions provide travellers with the unique opportunity to relive the days when steam was king while experiencing the magnificent New Zealand countryside. Excursions are operated by the Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch branches.
About the organisation
Mainline Steam began in 1988 based around the collection of steam locomotives that were privately owned by Mr Ian Welch, the first of which had begun operating on the main line. Depots sprang up in Christchurch and Auckland, and later Wellington. The Auckland depot, based in the old Parnell diesel depot became the organisation’s primary restoration base and most of Mainline Steam's currently active locomotives were restored there. The Wellington depot, located at Plimmerton, is a purpose-built building which replaced the formerly leased Upper Hutt goods shed and has become an important restoration base also. The depot in Christchurch is a former industrial building that used to be located at Studholme, relocated to land on the premises of CWF Hamilton.
Mainline Steam is notable for having imported a number of African steam locomotives from South Africa and Zimbabwe (including a GMAM Garratt), with some more South African and Zimbabwean steam locomotives still overseas. It has also imported former British Rail Mark 2 carriages for use on its steam-hauled excursions, and is in the process of overhauling them for NZ use – it currently relies on spare carriage stock being available from Tranz Scenic. The organisation regularly operates excursions out of Auckland and Christchurch, the latter operating excursions primarily along the highly scenic Midland Line. Mainline Steam also has a number of diesel and electric locomotives in its care.
List of NZ 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 Mainline Steam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BA 552 | NZR Addington Workshops | 128 | 1912 | 1995 | Owned by Les Hostick. Previously on static display at Te Awamutu Railway Museum, leased to Mainline Steam. Restored to main line standard, certification lapsed. At Auckland Depot. Currently having work associated with a major boiler survey and minor mechanical repairs done. |
| BB 144 | A & G Price, Thames | 85 | 1917 | 1995 | Owned by Les Hostick. Previously on static display at Te Awamutu Railway Museum, leased to Mainline Steam. Under restoration, not intended for main line use. At Auckland Depot. |
| AB 663 | NZR Addington Workshops | 188 | 1917 | 1988 | Initially intended as a spare for Kingston Flyer, stored at Dunedin and stripped of numerous parts. Purchased by Ian Welch 1984, restored to main line standard & converted to oil firing at Silverstream Railway. In use since 1997, named Sharon Lee. At Wellington Depot. |
| K 911 | NZR Hutt Workshops | 288 | 1934 | 1997 | Used as a boiler supply prior to preservation. Purchased by Ian Welch 1992, restoration begun then sidelined in favour of overhaul of KA 942. Restoration continues in limited capacity. At Wellington Depot. |
| KB 968 | NZR Hillside Workshops | 351 | 1939 | 1992 | Preserved by Ferrymead Trust through efforst of Cyril Evans. Static display at Ferrymead until 1992, leased to Mainline Steam and moved to Christchurch depot. Restoration begun 2006 towards main line use. At Christchurch Depot. |
| KA 942 | NZR Hutt Workshops | 325 | 1940 | 1988 | Intended for use as boiler supply, but not used. Purchased by Ian Welch 1974, moved to Steam Incorporated. Eventually moved to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for restoration to main line standard, in use from 1992. Named Nigel Bruce. Currently based at Christchurch in place of JB 1236. |
| J 1211 | North British Locomotive co. | 24534 | 1939 | 1988 | Purchased by syndicate from NZR 1971 and moved to Steam Incorporated. Purchased outright by Ian Welch 1978, moved to Glenbrook Vintage Railway for restoration and leased to Bay of Islands Vintage Railway 1985-86. Restored to main line standard and fitted with original style streamlining, in use from 1988. Converted to oil firing 1996, named Gloria. At Parnell Depot. |
| JB 1236 | North British Locomotive co. | 24559 | 1939 | 1988 | Purchased by Railway Enthusiasts Society 1971, onsold privately and moved to MoTaT. On static display until 1988 when purchased by Ian Welch, moved to Parnell. Restored to main line standard and converted to oil firing, in use from 2001. Named Joanne. Moved to Wellington Depot in 2011 and undergoing its ten-year overhaul. |
| JA 1240 | NZR Hillside Workshops | 363 | 1946 | 1988 | Purchased by Pete Coleman from NZR 1971 and moved to his Blenheim property. Purchased by Ian Welch 1988, moved to Parnell for restoration 1990. Restoration begun 2007 to mainline standard, completed 2012. At Glenbrook Vintage Railway for break-in testing. Restoration progress photos. |
| JA 1267 | NZR Hillside Workshops | 381 | 1950 | 2008 | Purchased by Les Hostick & syndicate 1971. On static display at Te Awamutu Railway Museum. Sold to Ian Welch 2008, moved to Parnell for eventual restoration. To be kept as coal burner. At Auckland Depot. |
| JA 1275 | North British Locomotive Co. | 27104 | 1951 | 1995 | Purchased by Les Hostick 1967. On static display at Te Awamutu Railway Museum. Leased to Mainline Steam, moved to Parnell 1995 for restoration to main line use. In use from 2004, at Auckland Depot. |
| EW 1805 | English Electric Co. | 1735/E7491 | 1952 | 2005 | Retained as part of Tranz Rail Heritage collection until 2005, purchased by Ian Welch and moved to Plimmerton depot. Overhauled to static display condition and undergoing overhaul to main line standard. At Wellington Depot. |
| DSB 313 | Drewry/Vulcan | 2516/D246 | 1955 | 1988 | Used as yard shunter at Parnell Depot, in service. At Auckland Depot. |
| TR 534 | Bagnall | 3107 | 1957 | 2003 | Used as yard shunter at Plimmerton Depot, in service. At Wellington Depot. Originally TR 151. |
| Price 213 | A & G Price, Thames | 213 | 1964 | 1988 | Built for Milburn Cement, Burnside. Sold to Mainline Steam 1988, moved to Christchurch depot and used as yard shunter. Under overhaul 2006, painted in “Fruit Salad” colours. In use at Christchurch Depot. |
| DJ3292 | Mitsubishi | 1535 | 1967 | 1990 | Purchased as motorless and alternatorless hulk. Moved to Upper Hutt depot, later to Plimmerton depot. Under restoration to main line use. |
| DJ3303 | Mitsubishi | 1536 | 1967 | 1990 | Sold by NZR to Ohai Railway Board, and later bought back. Purchased as motorless and alternatorless hulk by Richard Head and Graeme Moffatt. Moved to Upper Hutt depot, purchased outright by Richard Head and moved to Plimmerton depot. Under restoration to main line use. |
| DSC2759 | NZR Hillside Workshops | 449 | 1967 | 2002 | Occasional yard shunter at Plimmerton Depot, in service. At Wellington Depot. |
| Niigata | Niigata | NK2071 | 1983 | 1994 | Owned by Mainline Steam. Originally bought by Tasman Forestry. At Auckland Depot. |
Former MLST locomotives
Several locomotives owned by Mainline Steam have since changed their ownership. Three have been scrapped or dismantled for spare parts, while two have been sold to private owners or other groups:
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Builder's Number | Year Built | Arrived at Mainline Steam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hudswell Clarke | Hudswell Clarke | 1582 | 1926 | 1994 | Purchased from the Westfield Freezing Works in 1994 and transported to Parnell. The locomotive has now been onsold to the Rotorua Ngongotaha Railway Trust, who are restoring it to operational condition. |
| DJ3044 | Mitsubishi | 1511 | 1967 | 1990 | Purchased as motorless and alternatorless hulk. Moved to Parnell depot, stored awaiting decision on future. At Auckland Depot. Dismantled in 2011 and sold to the Taieri Gorge Railway as a source of spare parts for their DJ class locomotives. Formerly DJ 1204. |
| DJ3580 | Mitsubishi | ? | 1968 | 1990 | Purchased as motorless and alternatorless hulk. Moved to Parnell depot, later scrapped for parts. Formerly DJ 1254. |
| DSA 258 | Hunslet | 4536 | 1955 | 1999 | To Tomoana Freezing Works after NZR. Sold to the Second Chance Train Trust, Rotorua in 1997, then to Mainline Steam. Overhauled and leased to Ravensdown Awatoto, where it suffered damage while in service. Scrapped c2004 after being replaced by DSA 551. |
| DSA 261 | Hunslet | 4698 | 1957 | 2002 | Formerly in use as yard shunter at Christchurch Depot. This locomotive was sold to a private owner in Dunedin in 2009 and is being restored to running order. |
List of overseas locomotives
In addition to their core fleet of NZ locomotives, Mainline Steam also owns a number of ex-South African and Zimbabwean locomotives. Many are stored in South Africa at Bloemfontein, Germiston and Pretoria, while several engines have been shipped to the Auckland and Wellington depots. It is anticipated that some will not be shipped to New Zealand but remain in South Africa.
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Builder's Number | Year Built | Arrived at Mainline Steam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAR 19D 2695 | A. Borsig | 14746 | 1938 | 2007 | Purchased from SAR by Unicem Zimbabwe & fitted with Class 24 tender, their No.1. Purchased by Ian Welch, moved to Bulawayo Railway Museum and dismantled for shipping to NZ. Arrived Napier 2007, stored at Plimmerton Depot awaiting future restoration. At Wellington Depot. |
| SAR 15F 2976 | Beyer Peacock. | 7092 | 1944 | Purchased by Ian Welch, from United Portland Cement. Currently stored at Bloemfontein, South Africa. | |
| SAR 19D 3332 | North British Locomotive Co. | 26052 | 1948 | Purchased by Ian Welch. Currently stored at Bloemfontein, South Africa. | |
| SAR 24 3628 | North British Locomotive Co. | 26332 | 1949 | 1996 | Purchased by Ian Welch 1996 and shipped to Auckland 1997. Converted to oil firing and restored, shipped to Cairns, Australia 2004 and used on Cairns-Kuranda Steam Train. In storage Cairns, 2006. |
| SAR 25NC 3432 | Henschel & Sohn, Germany. | 28751 | 1953 | 1996 | Purchased by Ian Welch 1996 and shipped to Auckland 1997. In storage awaiting decision on future (currently too heavy for NZ track). At Auckland Depot. |
| ZNR 14A 509 | Beyer Peacock | 7582 | 1953 | 2007 | Purchased from ZNR by Unicem Zimbabwe, their No.2. Purchased by Ian Welch, moved to Bulawayo Railway Museum and dismantled for shipping to NZ. Arrived Napier 2007, stored at Plimmerton Depot awaiting future restoration. At Wellington Depot. |
| SAR 25NC 3508 | North British Locomotive Co. | 27368 | 1954 | 1996 | Purchased by Ian Welch 1996 and shipped to Auckland 1997. In storage awaiting decision on future (currently too heavy for NZ track). At Auckland Depot. |
| SAR GMAM 4148 | Henschel & Sohn, Germany. | 29607 | 1954 | Purchased by Ian Welch. Currently stored at Reefsteamers, Germiston, South Africa. | |
| SAR GMAM 4088 | Beyer Peacock | 7681 | 1956 | 1996 | Purchased by Ian Welch 1996 and shipped to Auckland 1997. In storage awaiting restoration at Auckland Depot. The locomotive comprises the engine units of GMAM 4088 and the boiler unit of GMAM 4083. |
| SAR GMAM 4135 | North British Locomotive Co. | 27787 | 1958 | Purchased by Ian Welch. Currently stored at Reefsteamers, Germiston, South Africa. |
Rolling stock register
Passenger rolling stock
Mainline Steam rosters a large fleet of carriages which will be formed into three trains:
- Train One - a 1920s-era train, painted in Pullman Green.
- Train Two - a train of 56' steel-panelled stock.
- Train Three - a train of BR MkII coaches, painted in Midnight Blue with Pearl Grey window band.
At present the stock for trains Two and Three are kept at Plimmerton (with some MkII coaches at Hutt Works). The stock for train One is at Parnell awaiting overhaul.
| Key: | In Service | In Service, Main Line Certified | Under Overhaul/Restoration | Stored | Static Display | Scrapped |
|---|
| Number | TMS Number | Builder | Year built | Carriage type | Arrived at Mainline Steam | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 391 | n/a | NZR Petone | 1908 | 60' high-capacity wooden-body suburban coach | 2010 | Only surviving 60' suburban passenger coach. Purchased in 1967 by Milson Miniature Railway, donated in 2004 to Feilding District Steam & Rail. Now in storage at Wellington depot. |
| A 2004 | A 2087 | NZR Addington | 1941 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2009 | Purchased by Mainline Steam in 2009 from private owners who had been using it as a cafe by the southern end of the Te Kuiti station platform. It is believed this carriage may have been sold in 2012. |
| A 1918 | A 56263 | NZR Otahuhu | 1939 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from KiwiRail Scenic in 2011 and moved to Parnell. |
| A 1985 | A 56742 | NZR Addington | 1943 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from KiwiRail Scenic in 2011 and moved to Parnell. Originally built as an ambulance coach during World War II. |
| A 1992 | AO 117 | NZR Addington | 1940 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from KiwiRail Scenic in 2011 and moved to Parnell. Fitted with large 'scenic' windows. |
| A 1869 | AO 209 | NZR Otahuhu | 1937 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from KiwiRail Scenic in 2011 and moved to Parnell. Fitted with large 'scenic' windows and a large end observation window at rear. |
| A 1974 | ASO 14 | NZR Otahuhu | 1945 | 56' steel-panelled mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from KiwiRail Scenic in 2011 and moved to Parnell. Fitted with a small kitchen and large 'scenic' windows. |
| AA 1013 | n/a | NZR Otahuhu | 1939 | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline coach | 2005 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from Tokomaru Steam Museum and moved to Wellington in 2005. Restored by the Wheelwright Woodworks in 2006-07, AA 1013 returned to service in 2008. Named Aotearoa. |
| AA 1489 | n/a | NZR Newmarket | 1924 | 50' wooden body, wide-body mainline coach | 2008 | Purchased by Mainline Steam from the Bush Tramway Club and moved to Plimmerton in 2007. Built as a sleeping coach in 1924 but converted to a day car in 1925. |
| AA 1669 | EA 1922 | NZR Otahuhu | 1929 | 56' steel-panelled wide-body mainline coach | 2011 | Purchased by Mainline Steam in 2008 and moved to Plimmerton. Formerly Way & Works EA 4234, attached to a steam crane as a sleeping coach for the crane crew. |
| F 458 | F 721 | NZR Newmarket | 1922 | 47' 6" wooden-bodied guards' van | 2008 | |
| F 590 | F 1255 | NZR Otahuhu | 1942 | 56' steel-panelled guards' van | Scrapped in October 2007 following an arson attack. | |
| F 664 | F 1600 | NZR Otahuhu | 1940 | 30' steel-panelled guards' van | Formerly part of the Don Allen collection at Helensville. Status unknown. | |
| FM 4 | FM 111 | Mitsubishi | 1977 | 50' steel-panelled guards' van | Underframe only - stored at Plimmerton. | |
| FM 6 | AG 32 | Mitsubishi | 1977 | 50' steel-panelled guards' van | 2006 | This vehicle is thought to be AG 32 although this has not been confirmed. The van was noted as being at Parnell in 2006. |
| FM 37 | FM 480 (FM 3027) | Mitsubishi | 1978 | 50' steel-panelled guards' van | 2001 | Converted to dining car FM 3027 at Plimmerton. Certification for mainline use pending, and will be used with the MkII rake. |
| FM | FM 1041 (FM 3010) | Daewoo | 1981 | 50' steel-panelled guards' van | 1993 | Converted to generator/viewing van FM 3010 at Plimmerton. Certification for mainline use pending, and will be used with the MkII rake. Converted to W&W EA 7144 in 1987, later Napier breakdown van EAM 24. |
| FM | FM 1185 | Mitsubishi | 1978 | 50' steel-panelled guards' van | Stored at Christchurch depot with no current plans for overhaul. | |
| FS 712 | NZR Otahuhu | 1967 | 50' aluminium-clad steam-heating van | Scrapped to provide bogies for the BR MkII cars in 2005. | ||
| FS 713 | NZR Otahuhu | 1967 | 50' aluminium-clad steam-heating van | Scrapped to provide bogies for the BR MkII cars in 2005. | ||
| FS 714 | NZR Otahuhu | 1967 | 50' aluminium-clad steam-heating van | Scrapped to provide bogies for the BR MkII cars in 2005. | ||
| BR 3299 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains First Open (FO). In the overhaul queue at Plimmerton. | |
| BR 3433 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains First Open (FO), fourth MkII overhauled. Named Mangaweka. | |
| BR 5988 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains Tourist Standard Open (TSO). In the overhaul queue at Plimmerton. | |
| BR 5915 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains Second Open (SO), second MkII overhauled. Named Raurimu. | |
| BR 5939 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains Second Open (SO), first MkII overhauled. Named Wellington-Manawatu Railway. | |
| BR 6149 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains Second Open (SO), second MkII overhauled. Named Rimutaka. | |
| BR 6091 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. | |
| BR 3409 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. | |
| BR 5914 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Virgin Trains Tourist Standard Open (TSO), fifth MkII overhauled. | |
| BR 6085 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. | |
| BR 6039 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. | |
| BR 5972 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. | |
| BR 3393 | British Rail Engineering Ltd (Derby) | 1972 | 60' steel-clad mainline passenger coach | 2008 | Ex-Gatwick Express. Stored at Hutt Workshops. |
Freight rolling stock
Mainline Steam has a large collection of freight rolling stock, mostly consisting of tank wagons used for oil and water storage, some of which are main line certified. These wagons are largely of the UC class, although there are one example each of the UCA and URK wagons preserved. The group also has a number of KP, ZA, and ZL class box wagons for use as secure storage for locomotive and carriage parts, along with several other general-use goods wagons.
Excursions
Mainline Steam operate excursions periodically, with a number of excursions operating out of Mainline Steam’s Christchurch depot. These typically involve day excursions to Arthurs Pass on the Midland Line, with a once-a-year 2 day trip along this line to Greymouth and return. The Auckland depot periodically runs excursions to National Park and Tauranga, with Wellington not having operated an excursion out of their base for over 2 years due to carriage availability. Mainline Steam also operates a 2-week New Zealand wide tour once a year, touring the country behind a large selection of Mainline Steam’s main line certified locomotives.
References
External links
