Driving Creek Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Driving Creek Railway |
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Tunnel No 3, just beyond the fourth reversing point at Horopito. The railcar Linx can just be seen at the far end of the tunnel.
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| Locale | Coromandel, New Zealand, New Zealand |
| Terminus | 'Eyefull Tower' |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Barry Brickell |
| Original gauge | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | Two |
| Length | ca 3km |
| Preserved gauge | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1975 (initially for private use only) |
The Driving Creek Railway is a special narrow-gauge railway. It's located near the town of Coromandel on New Zealand's North Island. This unique railway climbs up a mountain. It takes you to a viewing platform called the 'Eyefull Tower'. From there, you can see amazing views of the Coromandel west coast.
History of the Railway
The Driving Creek Railway was built by a talented potter named Barry Brickell. He bought land in 1961 to start a pottery workshop. In 1975, he began building the railway line. At first, he used it mainly to carry clay and wood fuel to his pottery kilns.
Later in 1975, Barry bought more land. He decided to expand the railway. The new line would be 15 in (381 mm) wide. This is a very narrow size for a railway track. It still helped him move clay and firewood. But it also had another important job. The railway helped him replant the hillsides. He planted native trees like kauri on his property.
The Driving Creek Railway (DCR) grew slowly over 25 years. It became one of the few new railway lines built in New Zealand recently. Building it was a big challenge. The land was very steep and tricky. Engineers had to do a lot of special work. They built the famous Double-Deck Viaduct. There are also three tunnels and ten bridges. Some parts of the track are very steep. A trip on the railway usually takes about one hour.
The railway ends at the Eyefull Tower. This building was finished in 2004. Its design looks like the Bean Rock Lighthouse in Auckland. In 2005, a large viewing deck was added. Barry Brickell thought the view from the tower was incredible.
Today, over 30,000 people visit the railway each year. The money earned helps fund nature conservation. This means it helps protect local plants and animals.
The 2004 Washout
In 2004, very heavy rain caused a big landslide. This landslide damaged the railway track. It happened near the Double-Deck Viaduct. Another slide occurred near the Cascade switchback. Because of the damage, trains could not go all the way to the end. Passengers could see the damage from the train.
The railway was repaired soon after. Workers built two new bridges. They also built a concrete wall at Cascade. This wall helps stop future landslides.
Trains on the Line
The Driving Creek Railway uses several special vehicles. The most important ones are three diesel railcars. These were built right at the railway's own workshops.
- Possum (built in 1999) can carry 14 people.
- Snake (built in 1992) and Linx (built in 2004) are larger. They can carry 36 people each. They are made of three connected parts.
The railway also has two diesel locomotives.
- Dieselmouse (built in 1979) was the first locomotive used. It's smaller and used for moving things around the pottery.
- Elephant (built in 1980) is more powerful. It's used for work trains. It can also pull the railcars if they have a problem. Sometimes, it pulls a special passenger carriage called the 'Vintage Train'. This happens when more seats are needed.
Cool Things to See
The railway climbs the hill behind Barry Brickell's pottery. It changes direction five times using special "reversing points". This makes the train zigzag up the hillside.
At the very top is the "Eyefull Tower". This is a fun play on words, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But its design is actually based on the Bean Rock Lighthouse in Auckland Harbour. From the tower, you get amazing views of the land and sea.
There are many other interesting things to see along the way:
- Areas where native forests are growing again, including kauri trees.
- A wildlife sanctuary, which is a safe place for animals.
- A sculpture park with unique pottery and brick artworks. You can even see retaining walls made of glass bottles!
