- Glenbrook Vintage Railway
Heritage Railway
name = Glenbrook Vintage Railway
caption=JA1250 leads a passenger train on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway at the railway's workshops, 3 January 2008.
locale = Glenbrook,Auckland , NZL
terminus =
linename = Part of the Waiuku branch line
builtby = New Zealand Government Railways
originalgauge = 1067 mm
preservedgauge = 1067 mm
era =
owned =Glenbrook Vintage Railway Trust Board
operator =
stations =Two
length =6km (2km under construction)
originalopen =1922
closed =1967
stageyears =
stage =
years =
events =
years1 =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 6 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.
History
The GVR is based on part of the old Waiuku branch line which opened in 1922 and closed (to Waiuku) in 1967. Construction of the GVR began in 1970 and in 1977 the railway opened between Glenbrook and
Pukeoware . In 1986 an extension was completed toFernleigh the current terminus, 6 km from Glenbrook.A 2 km extension to bring the railway to the centre of downtown Waiuku is currently being constructed, with the first kilometre of track laid beyond Fernleigh terminus to Brights Road Bridge and further intensive formation costruction work nearing completion through to the
Waiuku Cosmopolitan Club1,000,000 passengers have now travelled on the GVR as of
7 January 2007 .Buildings & Facilities
Glenbrook House
Relocated from Waiuku, and restored in 1995, Glenbrook House serves as the GVR's Glenbrook caretakers home. Located alonside 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.
Pukeoware Workshop
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 plant in its north yard (specialising in carpentry and timber work) and three carriage storage sheds. The workshops have 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 four & six standard convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on carriages. As an example the third shed currently holds 12 standard convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on carriages across three tracks, with a recently added lean-to addition adding another 4 carriage lengths to the sheds capacity. Recently removed fill from behind it, offers even more room for expansion. 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 Railway s C 847 in 1994 andMainline Steam s 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 theTangiwai disaster andWho Dares Wins (game show) .hady Rest
A converted former guards 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.
ignal Boxes
Two signal boxes are on-site at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway. The restored former Auckland City 'B' box sits at Glenbrook terminal. 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 towardsBritomart Transport Centre (the 'A' box still stands at the end of the former Auckland station's Platform 4 - now known as The Strand). The box has been fully restored and received a rail heritage trust award in recognition.The second box, is currently in storage at Pukeoware Workshop, being the former Newmarket station 'B' box, originally sited next to Remuera Road overbridge at the end of the former Newmarket station box (the Newmarket 'A' box was only decommissioned in February 2008 and is now in protective storage pending restoration).
tation Buildings
The railway has a number of historic station buildings in its care, all being from former New Zealand Railways stations.
*Glenbrook Station's terminal building is made up of the originalWaiuku Branch line Glenbrook station and Patumahoe station buildings.
*Glenbrook Station's picnic area shelter (and eventual platform 2 building) is the ex Kingsland suburban station shelter, moved to Glenbrook in 2003 to make way for the double tracking of Auckland's Western Line
*Morley Rd's station building is the originalPukeoware station building.Rolling Stock
team Locomotives
The GVR steam roster currently comprises:
* No. 4 (Ex-Taupo Totara Timber Co. Mallet No. 7)
2-4-4-2 tender. Built 1912 by theAmerican Locomotive Company atSchenectady, New York - awaiting overhaul. Known as the railways flagship engine. NZ's only Mallet Compound Steam Engine
* A 423 (Ex NZR) 4-6-2 tender. Built 1909 byA & G Price atThames ,New Zealand - awaiting restoration. Leased by agreement from private owners, arrived on-site in May 2008 .
* AB 8324-6-2 tender. Built 1925 byNorth British Locomotive Company atGlasgow ,Scotland - awaiting restoration. Leased by agreement from MOTAT, arrived on-side in October 1996.
* F 233 (Ex NZR)0-6-0 tank. Built 1885 by Robert Stephenson atNewcastle upon Tyne - awaiting restoration.(Registered No. 6 on the railways numbering system).
* J 1234 (Ex NZR) 4-8-2 tender. Built 1939 byNorth British Locomotive Company atGlasgow ,Scotland - awaiting restoration. Leased by arrangement from ownersSteam Incorporated , arrived on-site in April 1998.
* JA 1250 (Ex NZR)4-8-2 tender. Built 1949 byHillside Workshops inDunedin ,New Zealand - operational. Named "Diana".
* Wab 800 (Ex NZR)4-6-4 tank. Built 1927 byA & G Price atThames ,New Zealand - awaiting restoration. Leased by agreement from New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society Waikato Branch, arrived on-site in May 2008 .
* WW 480 (Ex NZR)4-6-4 tank. Built 1910 byHillside Workshops inDunedin ,New Zealand - operational. (Registered No. 1 on the railways numbering system)
* WW 644 (Ex NZR) 4-6-4 tank. Built 1915 byHillside Workshops inDunedin ,New Zealand - operational (Registered No. 2 on the railways numbering system)Diesel Locomotives
The diesel roster used mainly for Ways and Works purposes, comprises:
* No. 3 (Ex-MoW 30 hp Ruston Hornsby
0-4-0 ) - operational, the railway's first operational locomotive.
* No. 7 (DS 207) - under overhaul.
* No. 8 (DE 507) - operational, also used for occasional passenger service.
* No. 9 (DE 509) - stored awaiting restoration.
* No. 10 (DSA 243) - Operational, a replacement for No. 5
* No. 5 (DSA 230) was scrapped in 1993 resulting from off-site accident damage.
* DA 1410 - Stored. Leased by agreement from Steam Incorporated, arrived on-site in September 1998
* DA 1431 - Returned to Steam Incorporated, Paekakariki late August 2008elf-Motivated Equipment
* Railcar RM 32 "Pangatoru" - under restoration. Leased by agreement from New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society Waikato Branch, arrived on-site December 2001.
* Plasser & TheurerBallast tamper 864 - operational. Heavily used inCivil Engineering works on the line (recent large projects include tamping 900 metres of relaid track between Glenbrook & Morley Road, Waiuku Extension works beyond Fernleigh and a 1998 project to tamp most of the lightweight rail track on theDargaville Branch inNorthland .
* Cowens Sheldon crane 224 "Tanekaha" - operational. Heavily used in mechanical engineering and civil engineering works including lifting locomotive boilers, carriage bodies, track sets and other equipment. Can be towed in a train consist, or travel (albeit slowly), under its own power.Passenger Carriages
Domestic carriages
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 theMaori people to New Zealand fromHawaiki .The Core Fleet of carriages include...
* AF 804 "Tainui" a 47 1/2 ft carriage incorpating guards compartment and luggage area.
* A 1161 "Mataatua" a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on standard passenger car
* A 1162 "Aotea" a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on standard passenger car
* A 1222 "Te Arawa" a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on standard passenger car fitted with longitudinal seating
* F 141 "Nga Tira" a former convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on guards van, with the luggage and storage area converted into an covered outdoor viewing carriage. Fondly known as the "Chicken Coop"
* VB 624 "Waka Whenua" a former steam crane support wagon, converted into an uncovered outdoor viewing carriage.* UB 1554 "Nga Hau" was a former outdoor viewing carriage retired from service in 1998 and scrapped in 2002 following condemning. Waka Whenua was built in 1993 as a replacement.
Notable unique carriages which are operated on special occasions include...
* C 472 a very historicClemenson-Patent 6 wheeled carriage, built by theOldbury Car Company , England in 1879. Originally used on Auckland's first railway, theOnehunga Branch (which since its opening day utilised this style carriage), it was relocated by ship to theDonnellys Crossing Section . After being withdrawn in 1933, the carriage body was donated to the Donnellys Crossing Axemans Association. In 1989, theRailway Enthusiasts Society purchased the carriage & moved it toPukeoware for a full restoration, which was completed in 1996. The carriage runs at special event days, such as on free Glenbrook yard rides at the Friends of Thomas event.
* A 543 "Manakura" a 44 1/2Clerestory roof Kitchen / Diner carriage with seating for 25, coal fired range and stunning stained glass windows (in the clerestory). Withdrawn from service in 2002 for an overhaul, the carriage is currently stored.
* AF 1182 "Kurahaupo" is a convert|60|ft|m|abbr=on carriage with a guards compartment and luggage area. Originally built with 72 seats for high capacity Auckland City commuter train work, the carriage is being restored as a dining carriage in a similar style to "Manakura". The guard compartment will incorporate heating facilities for light snacks and hot drinks. The carriage is being turned out in a green livery.National Network Fleet
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 is currently undergoing an overhaul and re-certification with Ontrack which will see it re-enter service on excursion duty in 2009. Previous excursion duty has seen them tour all around New Zealand, including tours to Gisborne, New Plymouth,Whakatane , Bay of Islands, Wellington, Christchurch,Arthurs Pass and Timaru. More recently the carriages were a popular addition to theWhangamomona Republic Day trains and Broadway Limited series of steam train rides (based on Newmarket station and the circuit on Aucklands inner southern and eastern line commuter rail network).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:
* AA 1134 - a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on wide body wooden carriage with opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end.
* AA 1233 - a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on wide body wooden carriage with opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end.
* AA 1258 - a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on wide body wooden carriage with opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end.
* AA 1494 - a convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on wide body wooden carriage with opening windows and outdoor viewing balconies on each end.Three carriages built during
World War II to replace the originalNorth Island Main Trunk express service carriages, and later relocated onto Auckland commuter train services from the 1970s through to retirement in 1994.
* A 56496 (originally A 1948) - a convert|56|ft|m|abbr=on steel pannelled carriage, overhauled atUnited Group s Hutt Railway Workshop and returned toPukeoware in May 2008 for fitting out and introduction into service for the first time since arriving in 1996.
* AL 56112 (originally A 1926) - a convert|56|ft|m|abbr=on steel pannelled carriage, with vestibule guards area, currently certified for GVR domestic use, but due to visitUnited Group for an overhaul and re-certification for operation on theOntrack network.
* AL 56037 (originally A 1991) - a convert|56|ft|m|abbr=on steel panelled carriage, with separated guard / luggage compartment, currently certified for GVR domestic use, but due to visitUnited Group for an overhaul and re-certification for operation on theOntrack network.Guard 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 will be re-certified, with the rest of the fleet.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 network operations at the same time as the passenger fleet, with the potential to also certify A 423 and WAB 800 after restoration on consultation with their respective owners. Several 1930's A series convert|50|ft|m|abbr=on steel panneled passenger carriages were also originally purchased for network operations, however they have recently been deconstructed to anti-collision ends and underframe only as a result of the framework being substandard.
Freight Wagons & Way & Works Vehicles
Over the years, a large selection of vintage and heritage freight wagons have been purchased, donated or least 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.
See also
*
List of New Zealand railway museums and heritage lines External links
* [http://www.railfan.org.nz/ Glenbrook Vintage Railway]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPx1QTiHTI Youtube Video:] Ww 644, underway from Pukeoware depot passes the north end of #3 Carriage Shed.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFDukWhQYdc Youtube Video:] Ww 480 storms up the hill to Shakespeare Rd bridge, about 1km from Pukeoware Depot.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI5q6rZsouc Youtube Video:] Riding the northern end of GVR'sWaiuku railway extension from Country Club lane, around the corner to the north end of the present terminal at Fernleigh.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_aoHxxXWBk Youtube Video:] Special photographers freight at Cornwall Rd - included are Ww 480, Ww 644, No. 8, Cowans Sheldon crane "Tanekaha", carriages "Mataatua" and "Tainui" trailing.
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvLLGJ4qIZY Youtube Video:]Ja1250 "Diana" on theONTRACK National Network at Te Kauwhata station, pullingThe Overlander , operated byTranz Scenic
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VNQ1L5X2_k Youtube Video:] Pulled by a Tranz Scenic Dcp locomotive, GVR's National Network fleet passesPapatoetoe station on Auckland's southern commuter line.
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