The Canterbury Railway Society Incorporated, based at the Ferrymead Heritage Park, is celebrating 60 years since it began  the Ferrymead Railway project – the first heritage railway to be established in Canterbury. The Canterbury Branch of the  New Zealand Railway & Locomotive Society, which later became the Canterbury Railway Society, was donated a small steam  locomotive from a West Coast sawmill in late 1964. This became the first piece of rolling stock for the Ferrymead Railway.  As a temporary measure the locomotive was stored in the front garden of a member’s property along Clyde Road in Ilam. A  site to establish an operating railway was finally settled upon at Ferrymead, along the embankment of the very first public  railway to open in NZ. This original line had opened on 1 December 1863 and was to the broad gauge of 5 foot and 3 inches.  It was used to transport goods and passengers from the river port at Ferrymead to Christchurch. It was only ever intended  to be a temporary railway, as work was underway constructing the Lyttelton Railway Tunnel which was completed in  December 1867 and the Ferrymead line closed shortly after. 

The dedicated volunteers began the arduous work of establishing an operational railway. Physical groundwork at Ferrymead  started in late 1965. Track, sleepers, fitting, and other necessary pieces of equipment were acquired. They started to lay a  completely new railway, to the narrow gauge (NZ standard) of 3 feet and 6 inches. Two tractors, one fitted with a blade, was  to become invaluable in clearing the old formation of scrub enabling the railway construction to begin. The first piece of  rolling stock to arrive onsite at Ferrymead was an 1880’s era brake van which had been used at a Camp near Annat, it arrived  in January 1966. 

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Steam returned to Ferrymead after an absence of almost 100 years in March 1967 with the steaming of Wd 357, an American  built steam locomotive from 1901. It was donated by the Timaru Harbour Board and was first used at Ferrymead as part of  the Queen Carnival fundraiser held on 18 March 1967. The only rolling stock for passengers was a four-wheel open wagon  and a Fell type brake van (formerly used on the Rewanui and Roa Inclines on the West Coast) both attached behind Wd 357.  This was the first operating day of the Ferrymead Railway and raised the equivalent of $1,250 in today's money travelling  along a mere 160-metres of track near the Heathcote County Council dump. By comparison, the Ferrymead Railway today  has around 3.5 km of mainline track available for passenger running. 

The Ferrymead Railway grew from that first donated steam locomotive into the largest collection of preserved rolling stock  in the South Island with over 70 items. These range from the oldest carriage in NZ, built in 1874 – restored as part of the  Heritage Train; the oldest operating steam locomotive in NZ built in 1872 – F 13 Peveril; through to operational heritage  electric locomotives Ec 7 and Eo 3 formerly used in Christchurch and Otira respectively built in the 1920’s; and three Vulcan  railcars. Most of the collection items have links with being used in the Canterbury Region, or within the South Island. 

The largest building to be relocated by the railway was the former Templeton signal box which was purchased in the late  1960’s and is now an integral part of the railways Safe Working system, it is one of only two preserved operational mechanical  signal boxes in NZ. An undercover restoration area was required, and the former Flemings Flour Mill in Riccarton was made  available for demolition. This became the railways workshop, and was dismantled piece by piece, and then erected at  Ferrymead by a team of volunteers over a couple of years. 

This workshop enabled the railway to undertake restoration and maintenance of their rolling stock; half a dozen steam  locomotives have been either restored front he ground up, or had heavy repairs and maintenance undertaken within this  space, and nearly a dozen carriages have been restored over this period.

The Ferrymead Railway relies on gathering funds from operating the railway, and by way of grant funding for specific projects. This helps keep our railway heritage preserved, operational, and accessible for future generations to enjoy and experience. 

The volunteers, their families, and supporters will celebrate 60 years of the Railway on the Saturday of Labour Weekend with  an enthusiast’s photography day, a commemorative book launch, finished off with a celebratory buffet dinner. 

Over Sunday & Monday of Labour weekend the Ferrymead Railway will be showcasing its extensive collection with guided  tours behind the scenes as well as operating passenger services predominantly using steam motive power. Entry to  Ferrymead Heritage Park is required, and train tickets can be purchased from Moorhouse village station within the Park on  the day. 

On Sunday, the Sumner Silver Band will be performing at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm near Moorhouse square within the  Ferrymead Heritage Park.

© Scoop Media