Pleasant Point Museum and Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pleasant Point Museum and Railway |
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Pleasant Point Station.
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| Locale | Pleasant Point, Canterbury, New Zealand |
| Terminus | Pleasant Point |
| 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 Trust |
| 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 |
The Pleasant Point Museum and Railway is a special railway in Pleasant Point, a small town in Canterbury, New Zealand. It's a 'heritage railway,' which means it keeps old trains and railway history alive. You can find it inland from Timaru.
History of the Railway
The railway is based at the old Pleasant Point station. This station was once a key stop on the 'Fairlie Branch' railway line. For about a year, starting in 1875, Pleasant Point was the very end of the line. Later, it became a regular country station.
The Fairlie Branch railway closed down on 2 March 1968. But people in the area wanted to save the old station. A group called a historical society was formed. They wanted to keep the original station building, which was built in 1875.
The society successfully saved the station, its train yard, and about 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) of the old track. Today, the railway runs between Pleasant Point station and Keane's Crossing station.
Cool Trains and Engines
The Pleasant Point Railway has many interesting trains and engines. These are called 'motive power' because they make the trains move. Here are some of the special ones:
- AB 699: This is a steam locomotive built in 1922. It's a 'tender locomotive,' meaning it has a separate car (tender) to carry its fuel and water.
- D 16: This is another steam engine, built in 1878. It's a 'tank locomotive,' which means it carries its water and fuel right on the engine itself.
- TR 18: This is a diesel 'shunter' from 1936. A shunter is a small engine used to move train cars around the yard.
- A PWD Ruston and Hornsby diesel shunter: This diesel engine was built in 1955.
- A Model T Ford railcar replica: This is a copy of a unique train car built in 1925. The original was scrapped in the 1930s.
The Model T Ford railcar is very rare. Only one other copy exists in the United States, but it's built differently. This special railcar makes the Pleasant Point Railway very popular. It takes many trips on days when the railway is open.
The railway runs trains during the summer and on other holiday periods. They also have old passenger cars, including New Zealand's only "half birdcage" carriage from 1895. The steam engines (AB 699, D 16) and the diesel shunter (TR 18) are often used.
Museum and Movie Theatre
The Pleasant Point Museum has many old railway items and even vintage computers. The society also runs an 'Old Time Movie Theatre.' It's a great place to learn more about history and see how things used to be.
See also
- Railway preservation in New Zealand
