Nelson Railway Society facts for kids

The Nelson Railway Society runs a fun, short heritage railway line in Founders Heritage Park in Nelson, New Zealand. This society helps keep old trains and railway history alive! They use old station buildings, like the one from Tui Railway Station, to make the experience feel real.

The society uses a cool DSA class diesel locomotive for their train rides. They also worked hard to restore a W^F class steam locomotive, W^F 403. However, this steam engine isn't running yet because its big wheels can't go around the tight curves on their track.

Dsa 262 outside Tui Station.

The Society's Beginning

The Nelson Railway Society first began as the "Grand Tapawera Railroad Company." Their big dream was to build a railway line on the old tracks near Motupiko. This shows how passionate they were about bringing railway history back to life!

Trains and Carriages

The Nelson Railway Society has a collection of different trains and carriages. These are called "rolling stock." They work hard to keep these old vehicles in good shape. Some are used for rides, while others are being fixed up.

Steam Locomotives

• W^F 403: This is a steam locomotive built in 1907. It has been beautifully restored, but it's not running on the tracks yet. Its design means its six driving wheels can't handle the sharp turns on the society's line.
• D 143: This steam locomotive was built way back in 1874! It used to work on the Nelson Section tracks. It is currently being restored, meaning it's getting fixed up to run again.

Diesel Locomotives

• D^SA 262: This diesel locomotive was built in 1957. It's currently in service, which means it's the main engine used to pull trains for visitors. It's a powerful engine used for moving wagons around.
• T^R 62: This smaller diesel engine, built in 1950, is called a shunting tractor. It's also in service and is used for moving carriages and wagons around the railway yard.

Tr 62 with a work train.

Passenger Carriages

The society also has several carriages for passengers to ride in:

• Rm 1: This is a special open-side railcar built by the Nelson Railway Society itself in 2009! It can carry 14 passengers, giving them a great view of the park.
• A 173: This is an older wooden passenger carriage from 1898. It's still in service, letting visitors experience what train travel was like long ago.
• A 785: Another wooden passenger carriage, this one built in 1903. It's also in service, adding to the historic feel of the rides.
• Nb 527: This wagon was originally built in 1975 to carry sheep! The society cleverly changed it into an open-side passenger carriage, making it a unique way to ride the rails.

Other Wagons

The society also has various other wagons that were used for different purposes in the past:

• F 491: This is a wooden guard's van from 1928. Guards used to ride in these to keep an eye on the train. It's currently in service.
• Z 647: A wooden box wagon from 1962, this one is used for a model railway display.
• H 1569: This is a flat deck wagon from 1959, originally built to carry cattle.
• Nc 1137: Another flat deck wagon, built in 1966.
• Q 1401: A flat deck wagon from 1953.
• W 1213: A wooden insulated box wagon from 1960.
• La 42641: A steel high-side wagon from 1948.
• Yb (Unknown): A ballast wagon, used for carrying stones to maintain the tracks.
• Yc 785: Another ballast wagon, built in 1961.
• Lb 2969: A wooden high-side wagon from 1890, currently stored as just a chassis.