Ocean Beach Railway facts for kids
The Ocean Beach Railway (OBR) is a special heritage railway in Dunedin, New Zealand. It runs along the city's main beach, Ocean Beach. This railway is unique for a few reasons. It was the first group in New Zealand to save a steam train with the goal of making it run again. It was also the first heritage railway in New Zealand to actually start running trains, with its first trip in 1963.
Contents
History of the Railway
Starting the Railway
In 1960, a small group of railway fans from the New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society Otago Branch bought a small steam train. It was a 9-ton Fowler locomotive, number 540, that the Public Works Department used. They bought it for just $20! This made it the very first train saved by a heritage railway in New Zealand. The train's whistle was first heard near the old Ocean Beach railway station in August 1961.
Building the Track
The group got permission to lay about 55 meters (60 yards) of track at Kettle Park. They used old tram rails from the Dunedin City Council. Passenger trains started running in 1963 during Festival Week. The little PWD 540 train, pulling a wagon with high sides, carried 2,700 passengers!
The railway decided to make the line longer, heading towards Saint Clair. They built about 200 meters (200 yards) more track. However, they had to remove this part because the sand dunes were eroding. Today, the line runs from John Wilson Ocean Drive to Moana Rua Road, covering about 900 meters (900 yards).
Growing the Collection
Over time, the Ocean Beach Railway added more trains and carriages to its collection. They received locomotives from different companies and bought old passenger carriages and goods wagons from the New Zealand Railways. They also built sheds to protect their trains and put up a tall fence to keep them safe.
Our Amazing Locomotives
The Ocean Beach Railway has many historic locomotives. Here are some of them:
| Key: | Running | Being Repaired | Stored |
|---|
| Number | Builder | Year Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 66 | Dübs & Company | 1873 | This train was used by the NZR and then by a gas works. It was on display in Dunedin for many years. The OBR bought it in 1973. It is currently stored and leased to the Waimea Plains Railway. |
| A 67 | Dübs & Company | 1873 | A 67 worked for the NZR and several coal companies. The OBR bought it in 1967 and made it run again. It is currently undergoing a big overhaul, which is paused while they find more funding. |
| D 6 | Neilson & Company | 1880 | D 6 worked for the NZR and coal companies. The OBR got it in 1965. It is currently being restored externally in Winton. It will be part of the Lumsden Heritage Trust's historic train. |
| DS 203 | Drewry | 1954 | DS 203 joined the OBR in 1982. It was taken out of service in 2005 for an overhaul. This work restarted in mid-2023, and the locomotive returned to passenger service in 2024. |
| DSA 252 | Hunslet | 1954 | DSA 252 was used by the NZR and a meat company. It came to the OBR in 2005. The OBR now fully owns it. |
| Kerr Stuart 4185 | Kerr Stuart | 1929 | This locomotive was bought by the club in 1960 and restored. It was taken out of service in 2021 because of problems with its tubes. It is now in storage. |
| Price 185 | A & G Price | 1958 | Price 185 was built for a meat works. The railway bought it in 1993. It is currently running and waiting for a full restoration. |
| PWD 540 | John Fowler & Company | 1921 | This was the very first train saved by the railway in 1960. It was restored and started running in 1963. It needs major repairs and is currently stored. |
| TR 81 | Drewry | 1939 | TR 81 was built for the Ohai Railway Board and later used by the NZR. It was restored by the OBR to look like its original Ohai Railway Board days. It is currently in service. |
| TR 157 | A & G Price | 1958 | TR 157 was built for the NZR and used for shunting in Dunedin. Members of the OBR bought it in 2021. It is used for light shunting duties around the yard and is in service. |
Our Historic Carriages and Wagons
The OBR also has many old passenger carriages, freight wagons, and even a hand crane. They are known for restoring freight wagons, and have won awards for this work. The railway can even put together a train that looks exactly like one from the late 1800s!
The OBR also has the oldest rail vehicles in its collection: the underframes of two vehicles from the Dunedin & Port Chalmers Railway Company, built in 1872.
How the Railway Operates Today
The Ocean Beach Railway usually runs trains every Sunday during the summer. In winter, they run trains on the last Sunday of each month. Diesel locomotives are used to pull the trains.
Currently, TR 81 is used for passenger trains. A67 and Kerr Stuart 4185 are out of service for their big 10-year boiler checks. DS 203 returned to passenger service in 2024 after its cosmetic overhaul. It will now take over running passenger trains. TR 81 will then be used for moving trains around the yard or as a backup. DSA 252 will also return to service once its cosmetic overhaul and new engine cooling system are finished.
