NZR
Standard Railcars
These railcars
entered service in 1938/1939. Two units (R.M.30 &
R.M.31) operated a fast Wellington-New Plymouth return
service. Three other units were based in Wairoa,
operating initially between there and Napier and from
1943, to Gisborne. On Sundays only a Napier-Wellington
return service operated which enabled the fourth unit
retained in Wellington as a spare to be rotated in
service and to facilitate service and
overhauls.
Upon the
introduction of the Drewry (Fiat) Twin-set railcars in
mid 1950's, they operated for a time alongside these new
cars on the Wellington-Napier-Gisborne (as well as to New
Plymouth) before being concentrated onto the
Wellington-New Plymouth route. They also ran some
Wellington-Masteron-Palmerston North services after the
Rimutaka Tunnel was opened in 1955. They were withdrawn
from service in December 1972.
photo:
J A Murphy - 30 June 2001
All
six were also named after famous ancient Maori
canoes...
Rm 30
"Aotea"
Rm 31
"Tokomaru"
Rm 32
"Pangatoru"
Rm 33
"Takitimu"
Rm 34
"Tainui"
Rm 35
"Tikitere"
4 have
been preserved.
- 2 by the
Silverstream Railway (Rm30 Rm34)
- 1 by the
Waikato Branch NZRLS (Rm32)
- 1 by Pahiatua
Railcar Society Inc.(Rm31) (This Railcar is on a
long-term lease to us from John A.
Murphy)
-
|
Type
|
Diesel-Mechanical Railcar
|
|
Seating
|
48 to 52
|
|
Introduced
|
1938
|
|
Number in class
|
6
|
|
Manufacturer
|
N.Z.R (Hutt Workshops)
|
|
Gauge
|
3' 6"
|
|
Axles
|
A1 - 1A
|
|
Length
|
67'-11" over buffers
|
|
Width
|
8'-9" over body
|
|
Weight in working
order
|
29t.10cwt. ; adhesive weight 15t.7cwt.
|
|
Engines
|
(2) 6 cyl. Meadows; bore / stroke
5"
|
|
Transmission
|
Diesel mechanical through
gearbox
|
|
Power
|
2 x 85 kW / 115 hp
|
|
Max Speed
|
62mph
|
Restoration
Status
RM31 has now had both air compressors overhauled and refitted.
The fuel and water tanks have been replaced and the majority of the
work needed before the railcar can be inspected and test run sometime
in early 2008 has been done.
