Bush Tramway Club facts for kids
The Bush Tramway Club is a special railway that keeps old trains working. It's located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) west of Huntly in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The club runs its restored train engines along a 5.4 kilometer (3.4 mile) section of an old railway line. This line used to be part of the Glen Afton Branch, which connected coal mines to the main railway network. You can visit the club on the first Sunday of every month to see these historic trains in action!
The Bush Tramway Club started in 1965. Its main goal was to save old equipment from New Zealand's "bush tramways" and other small industrial railways. These were special railway lines used to move timber from forests or coal from mines to places like dairy factories. The club began using the Rotowaro-Glen Afton railway section in 1974. Since then, they have bought most of the land where the tracks are. The original Glen Afton Branch Line was built in 1915 and closed in 1973.
The club has many different types of old train engines, called locomotives. These include unique geared steam engines like Climax and Heisler models. They also have an old F class steam engine (No. F 185) from the New Zealand Railways Department. Plus, there are several diesel shunting engines and small rail vehicles called "jiggers."
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Train Engines and Cars
The Bush Tramway Club works hard to keep many different types of old train engines and cars running or preserved. Here's a look at some of the interesting ones they have:
Steam Engines from New Zealand Railways
These are steam engines that once worked for the main New Zealand railway system.
| Original name and number | Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F 185 | Dubs & Co. | 1874 | This engine started working for New Zealand Railways in 1879. It was later sold to coal companies before the club bought it in 1972. It has been restored and used for many years, helping to show how old steam trains worked. It is currently waiting for more repairs. |
Industrial Steam Engines
These steam engines were used by different companies, often for logging or mining, rather than the main railway lines.
| Type | Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB | A & G Price | 1927 | This engine was first used to help build a dam. It then worked for timber companies before the club got it in 1974. It was fully restored and has been running since 1996. |
| Climax | Climax Manufacturing Co. | 1924 | This special geared steam engine worked for a timber company. It was later sold to the club in 1977 and is now being restored. |
| E | A & G Price | 1924 | This engine also worked for timber companies. The club bought it in 1958. It is currently being restored to be put on display. |
| Heisler style | Stearns Manufacturing Company | 1904 | This engine was used by a large timber company. The club bought it in 1966. It was used for a while at Pukemiro but is now stored. |
| Peckett | Peckett and Sons | 1923 | This engine worked at the State Mines in Rotowaro. The club bought it in 1972. It was restored and returned to service in 2013. |
Diesel Engines from New Zealand Railways
These are diesel engines that were once part of the main New Zealand railway fleet.
| Original name and number | Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F 216 | Neilson and Company | 1888 | This engine was originally a steam engine, the very last of its kind! It was later converted to a diesel engine in 1936. The club bought it in 1985, and it is currently stored. |
| TR 16 | Drewry | 1936 | This small diesel shunting engine joined NZR service in 1936. It is now used for parts to help keep another engine, TR 34, running. |
| TR 34 | Drewry | 1939 | This engine started working for NZR in 1940. The club bought it in 1985, and it is currently in service. |
Industrial Diesel Engines
These diesel engines worked for various industries and companies.
| Original number | Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | Drewry | 1957 | This engine worked for the New Zealand Electricity Department. The club bought it in 1997 and restored it to working condition in 2005. It's now called BTC 1. |
| 402 | Drewry | 1957 | Like 401, this engine also worked for the Electricity Department. The club bought it in 1997 and restored it in 2005. It's now called BTC 2. |
| D3 | Planet | 1939 | This engine worked for different companies before the club bought it from the Goldfields Railway. It is currently in service. |
| A & G Price | 1971 | This engine was used at the A & G Price factory in Thames. The club bought it in 1988. | |
| Union Foundry | 1947 | This engine worked for Ellis & Burnand, a timber company. The club bought it in 1968. |
Battery Engines
These special engines run on batteries!
| Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Goodman Mfg Co | 1922 | This battery engine was built for a box-making factory in Frankton. It was fully repaired and returned to service between 2002 and 2008. |
Motor Jiggers
Jiggers are small, light rail vehicles used for inspecting tracks or carrying small loads.
| Original name and number | Builder | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unidentified | n/a | This jigger is currently stored at the club. |
Bush Jiggers
These jiggers were specifically used on bush tramways, often for logging operations.
| Builder | Year built | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| O. W. Smith | 1948 | This jigger was built for the New Zealand Railways Department for the Mamaku Tramway. It was later restored and has even visited other heritage railways. It is currently in service. |
| O. W. Smith | 1948 | This jigger is a sister to the one above, also from the Mamaku Tramway. It is currently being restored. |
