Bealey River facts for kids

The Bealey River runs towards the top of the photo in the centre. The Waimakariri runs from left to right.

The Bealey River close to the township of Arthur's Pass

The Bealey River is a small river in the Southern Alps of New Zealand. It flows into the larger Waimakariri River. The valley of the Bealey River is the main way to reach Arthur's Pass from the east. Both the river and a nearby village are named after Samuel Bealey. He was an important person in Canterbury Province in the 1800s.

Trains in the River: A Strange Story

Why Were Old Trains Dumped Here?

For many years, in the early 1900s, the New Zealand Railways Department (NZR) did something unusual. They dumped old trains and wagons into the Bealey River. This might sound strange, but they had a good reason. They wanted to stop the river banks from washing away. This was especially important near the railway bridge over the river. The heavy train parts helped to hold the river banks in place.

What Happened to the Trains?

Over time, some of these old trains and wagons have been pulled out of the river. Groups interested in history and old trains have worked to save them. They hope to fix them up so they can run again. One example is an old train called WMR No. 9. It was later known as NZR N 453. The Wellington and Manawatu Railway Trust rescued it in 2003. Many other train parts were either buried deeper or broken up for scrap metal. Another old train, WMR No. 10 (NZR N 454), is thought to be buried further up the river.

In the 1920s, NZR used an old quarry near Cora Lynn station. This was like an outdoor workshop. Workers would take useful parts off old trains before they were dumped. Many train parts were found here. This included the frame of an old train called V 132. This frame was special because it had been changed in 1898. After this frame was saved in the late 1990s, a clean-up happened. Many remaining train parts were buried to make the area tidy.

Old Carriages Too!

The Bealey River was also used for getting rid of old wooden passenger carriages. This happened in the 1950s and 1960s. These carriages came from the Addington Railway Workshops in Christchurch. They were brought to the riverbed. Then, they were burned to get the metal parts. These metal parts could be used as scrap or as spare parts for other trains.

Other Train Dumpsites

The Bealey River was not the only place where old trains were dumped. Here are some other locations:

• Branxholme
• Mōkihinui River
• Oamaru
• Omoto
• Waimakariri River
• Westfield
• Mararoa