Pleasant Point Museum and Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society |
|
|---|---|
Pleasant Point Railway Station 15 March 2005.
|
|
| Locale | Pleasant Point, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Terminus | Pleasant Point Station and Keane's Crossing Station |
| Coordinates | 44°15′40″S 171°07′52″E / 44.2612°S 171.1312°E |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Formerly part of the Fairlie Branch |
| Built by | New Zealand Government Railways |
| Original gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Operated by | Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society |
| Stations | Two |
| Length | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Preserved gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 24 December 1875 |
| Closed | 2 March 1968 |
| 1983 | First Operation of Trains |
The Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society is a special heritage railway in New Zealand. It's located in the small town of Pleasant Point in Canterbury. This railway lets you experience what train travel was like a long time ago! It's a fun place to visit and learn about old trains.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: The Railway's Story
The main station for the Pleasant Point Railway is called Pleasant Point Station. This station was once a very important stop on a bigger railway line called the Fairlie Branch.
How the Railway Began
On December 24, 1875, Pleasant Point became the end of the line for a little over a year. This was while the railway tracks were still being built further inland. Once the full line was finished, Pleasant Point Station worked like any other country train station.
Saving the Railway
The Fairlie Branch railway line eventually closed on March 2, 1968. But people in the area didn't want to lose the historic Pleasant Point Station. So, a group of people formed a historical society. Their goal was to save the station building, which was built in 1875. It even had a booking office added in the 1930s.
The society successfully saved the station, the train yard, and about 2.5 kilometers (1.6 miles) of track. Today, the railway runs between Pleasant Point Station and Keane's Crossing Station.
Amazing Trains and Vehicles
The Pleasant Point Railway has many cool trains and vehicles. These are called "motive power" because they make the trains move!
- AB 699: This is a steam locomotive from 1922. It's a powerful engine that uses steam to pull carriages.
- D 16: Another steam locomotive, this one is a "tank locomotive" from 1878.
- TR 18: This is a diesel shunter from 1936. A shunter is a small engine used to move train cars around the yard.
- PWD Ruston and Hornsby: A diesel shunter built in 1955 by the New Zealand Ministry of Works.
- Model T Ford Railcar: This is a special replica of an experimental railcar from 1926. It looks like a car on train tracks!
The Unique Model T Railcar
The Model T Ford railcar is a copy of a unique train car built in 1925. The original was taken apart in the 1930s. This replica is very rare! There's only one other like it in the United States, but it's built differently. Because it's so special, the Model T railcar is very popular. It makes many trips on days when the railway is open.
Passenger Carriages
The railway also has different types of train cars. This includes New Zealand's only "half birdcage" passenger carriage. This special carriage dates all the way back to 1895!
The steam locomotives AB 699 and D 16, and the diesel shunter TR 18, are all regularly used. You might even get to ride on one!
More to Explore
Besides the trains, the Pleasant Point Railway has a museum. Here you can see old railway items and even vintage computers. The society also runs an "Old Time Movie Theatre." It's a great place to learn about history and have fun!
See also
- Railway preservation in New Zealand
External links
- Pleasant Point Museum and Railway
- Article about the development of the Railway
{{subst:RMassist|Pleasant Point Museum and Railway|Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society|reason=New name is proper name for the railway, Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is the branding name, Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society is the legal and trading name}}
